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Ernie: In regard to your post-game comments last night, I prefer to think of the stadium as half full, rather than half empty. I know last night was one of frustration, all of us in NatsTown experience that, but I would prefer to refer to home attendance with a "thank you" to the fans who do show up and who do support a last place team. Two teams in Florida, one in Maryland, and several more in MLB would love to have our fan base. Imagine what it will be like when things get rolling.

Manny Acta: Hi Ernie, Under no circumstances were my comments directed to our fans who show up day in and day out. Since I've been here, I've always been very thankful for the patience and support that you guys show to our kids. As for the half-full way to look at things, if you know me, you should know that's how I look at everything. When it comes to our attendance, Stan always says, "We'll get what we deserve"... and I agree. And I deeply appreciate our fan base, specifically those who are supporting our team during the rough times. Our comment was to let some of our kids know that the crowd pressure wasn't going to be a valid excuse.

Andrew Stromberg: Good morning Mr. Acta and the coaches and players of the Washington Nationals. I want to thank you all first and foremost for the exciting games and your will to win ballgames. All of you should be very proud at they way you conduct yourselves on and off the feild. I'm proud of you. Since the move from Montreal to Washington, I have been watching your games as much as possible and just wanted you to know that the Nats are my favorite NL team and nothing will change that. Keep hitting the ball hard and play the fundamentals - just remember to have fun playing the game and the game will work in your favor. I have faith in you all. God bless and be safe.

Manny Acta: Hi Andrew Stromberg, Thanks for your support - our kids and coaching staff are committed to work and make things better.

John Janaro: Dear Manny, We were glad to hear about Joe Beimel's progress on TV last night. My son and I live in Front Royal, Virginia, which is a couple of hours west of Natstown, but we watch every game on TV...well, we do switch back and forth for the Caps on their playoff run (: John Paul will be twelve on June 1; he has "grown up" on the Nationals and his blood runs Nationals red. We do live on "Washington Avenue"! Its hard for us to get in for a game, though (I'm disabled), but we'll make a try for this summer. We haven't been since 2006 so we still haven't seen the ballpark except on TV. We want Joel Hanrahan to know that we think he is great and we are totally behind him pitching on this team. He has the ability and he knows how to use it, but all that has been going on surely has a cumulative mental effect. We think there is a difference between Joel and some of the other guys in Syracuse. His bullpen outings haven't gone well, because of the home runs, but perhaps that just shows that his role lies elsewhere. Maybe he could be the first guy out of the bullpen? Or as a starter if a spot opens up. Hang in there, Joel. You are right, Manny. Lets plunge into May. We remember how things turned around in 2007 after the nine wins and twenty something? (John Paul says 25) losses at the beginning. You guys are better than that team and you WILL turn it around. God bless you. -John and John Paul

Manny Acta: Hi John Janaro, Thanks for your support, especially toward Hanrahan. We are trying to build his confidence back by pitching him in the middle of the games. His teammates have been very supportive and we all think that he will regain his job back. You are right, we are better than our record indicates, but we can't keep thinking about all those games where we blew the lead; let's move forward and have a better May. God bless you and John Paul.

Ed Chigliak: Hello, Mr. Acta. I think the fact that you're writing a blog to share your thoughts with the fans is forward-thinking and admirable. Since you said in previous posts that you'd entertain questions, I thought I'd ask: Keeping Mr. Virdon's advice that you quote in your post in mind, is there anyone in the system that you see developing into the kind of closer you're both referring to? and Are you the one who was behind swiping Jesus Flores from the Mets? If so, thank you, thank you. If not, and if you can say, who in the Nationals' organization had him scouted? Let's Go Nats!!

Manny Acta: Dear Ed Chigliak, I hope all is well. The closer situation is not as simple; we don't have that many options in our system. And we've been waiting for the development of Adam Carr and Zinicola. Usually at least two closers are developed as starters in the minors and then converted to the role. As a minor league manager in the Houston Astros system, I had Billy Wagner and Brad Lidge both pitch for me as a starters, then they were converted to closers at the MLB level.

The Flores deal was a total team effort; I knew Flores well from my years with the NY Mets (both years he was in big league camp as an invitee). John Stearns, our double A manager, used to be with the Mets, so he was also familiar with Flo. Davey Johnson was doing some scouting for Bowden that year and recommended Flores to Jim... So when we went to the meetings, Jim asked me about Flores and I fully supported Davey and Stearns' evaluation of Flo... Jim made the decision and I'm glad he trusted the three guys working for him. Flo has a chance to be a good one.

PhD Brian: Manny, Keep heart man. We are much closer than most think to contending. The starting pitching is solid and sometimes really good. Even Cabrera has been solid so far. All you need is a set up man, a closer, a few more guys who can play average defense (other than at 3rd) and this team is a contender.
Some of those gloves could already be on the team. I say give an extended look at Harris in center. Maybe give him a shot at leading off as well. Guzman does not walk enough. Hernandez is supposed to field better than he has, so he should get better, and he seems to hit in the 8th spot. Maybe leading off was stressing him out. Flipping Dunn between LF and RF seems to work to get guys playing time. One thing though, tell Rizzo he has to move Willingham soon. He is costing the others at bats, and does not seem to like his role on the team. Try to get creative on the bullpen. No one in the current pen is a closer. They have all proven so to me. But most are decent BP arms for other roles. So maybe try Cabrera as the closer. Show him what a closer earns and see if he wont give it a month. Just an idea. Oh Mike O'Conner's minor league stats make me think he belongs with the major league team again. He had a dozen or so very solid starts for the Nats a couple of years ago. Maybe he could setup? I know, no great pitches, but the craftiness and control is there. Just some ideas. Take care, Brian "Go Nats" Jones,
the biggest diehard Nats fan in Memphis!

Manny Acta: Hey PhD Brian, Thanks for your comments. We are blessed to have a guy like Dunn, who doesn't care where he plays as long as he is helping the team. Willingham is a very good player, we would love to get him out there more often... He wants to play every day, but he understands the situation he is in and has been very professional about it.

We like Cabrera better as a starter, his command is not suited right now to close games. O'Connor is also better suited to start, he is pitching well down there and is one of those guys that we can go to, if anything happens up here.

Take care Natstown...

-MA