Acta's 'Kids' Do Better Than Expected, But That's Not Saying Much

WASHINGTON (AP) _ Manager Manny Acta likes to use the word ``kids'' when talking about his Washington Nationals. <br/><br/>Ask third baseman Ryan Zimmerman to assess 2007, and out comes the phrase

Monday, October 1st 2007, 2:34 pm

By: News On 6

WASHINGTON (AP) _ Manager Manny Acta likes to use the word ``kids'' when talking about his Washington Nationals.

Ask third baseman Ryan Zimmerman to assess 2007, and out comes the phrase ``baby steps.''

The Nationals were not the greenest club in baseball _ their final roster was the eighth-youngest in the majors, according to the Elias Sports Bureau _ but the feeling in the organization is that even if the here-and-now is only so-so, just wait and see what's on the horizon.

``I wanted to win more games. But that being said, I thought we took some steps for the future,'' Acta said. ``We accomplished what we wanted to accomplish, if you take away the W's and L's.''

Ah, yes, ``the W's and L's'' _ wins and losses, the reason teams play the games. The Nationals finished 73-89 and fourth in the NL East, hardly anything to get excited about unless viewed through the prism of expectations.

For, let's not forget, the 2007 Washington Nationals were widely predicted to be a disaster.

``People said we might lose 130 games, be the worst team ever,'' Zimmerman is quick to remind.

This was a franchise that finished in last place each of the preceding three years, winning 71 games in 2006. A club that went to spring training with more than 35 pitchers, but only one guaranteed a spot in the rotation (John Patterson). That lost Alfonso Soriano, Jose Guillen, Jose Vidro and Livan Hernandez. That trimmed its payroll by about $25 million to the third-lowest in the majors. That wasn't sure when first baseman Nick Johnson would return from a broken leg (he never did play this year).

Then, on opening day, two members of the starting lineup _ shortstop Cristian Guzman and center fielder Nook Logan _ were sidelined by injuries. How's that for an omen?

Supposed No. 1 starter Patterson wound up making only seven appearances, going 1-5 with a 7.47 ERA before missing the rest of the season and having surgery. Other key veterans disappointed, too: catcher Brian Schneider (.235 batting average), shortstop Felipe Lopez (.245), right fielder Austin Kearns (.266, 16 homers).

There was a 1-6 first week, during which Washington failed to hold a lead at any time when a pitch was thrown. And there was a 9-25 record on May 10.

But after that?

The Nationals went 64-64. Not only did they not wind up as the worst team ever, they wound up with a better 2007 record than eight clubs.

``I'm very happy with the progress,'' Acta said.

The youngest manager in the majors (he's 38) is fond of saying he'd rather be optimistic than realistic, and that attitude clearly rubbed off on Acta's players.

``A lot of good things have happened this year _ a lot more good than bad, I think,'' Zimmerman said. ``We're just a bunch of young guys pretty much getting our feet wet. ... We needed to learn from our mistakes and grow up together, and we've done that.''

True, there were significant contributions made by older players such as first baseman Dmitri Young and second baseman Ronnie Belliard, both of whom were signed to two-year contract extensions instead of being dealt at the trade deadline.

Young (.320 average) provided the Nationals' most intriguing individual story line, coming back from personal, professional, legal and health problems to make the NL All-Star team.

``This is a place,'' he said, ``that's on its way up.''

That sentiment is popular in Washington's clubhouse, in part because of discoveries such as 22-year-old catcher Jesus Flores (a Rule 5 pick never above Class-A before this season) and 24-year-old left-hander Matt Chico (never before above Double-A, he was 7-9 with a 4.63 ERA in 31 starts _ 10 more than anyone else on the roster).

``I've got somewhat of a long way to go,'' Chico said, ``but I feel like I've progressed over the year.''

He could have been speaking for the club as a whole.

There's more reason for optimism. Shawn Hill (3.42 ERA) and Jason Bergmann (4-1 over his last six starts) proved they are legitimate major leaguers, although both need to be more durable. Left-hander John Lannan went all the way from Class-A to the majors.

Still, even general manager Jim Bowden quickly followed the phrase, ``We're going in the right direction,'' with this one: ``We have a long way to go.''

Bowden and team president Stan Kasten tout progress made behind the scenes this year, including building the scouting operation and upgrading the minor league system.

What really matters in the end, of course, is the major league record.

And Acta is convinced that will keep improving, too.

``It really boosts my confidence and my belief in everything that I brought into this season, just seeing what we tried to put in place in spring training worked during the season. Did I want to have more wins? Obviously,'' Acta said.

``Despite our shortcomings,'' he said, ``these kids showed a lot of heart.''