Getting their Acta together

VIERA, Fla. — Manny Acta lay awake in his bed much of Wednesday night, and even when he did manage to close his eyes, he was haunted by a nightmare in which his electricity went out, causing him to oversleep and miss the first workout of his major league managing career.

In a way, Acta actually was relieved he had the bad dream.

“Once I had that, I felt normal,” he said. “You don’t go through any of that stuff when you’re a coach. But when you’re managing, whether it’s minor league, winter ball or here in the major leagues, I just find that you’ve got to have that.

“Everybody has to be nervous and have a little bit of butterflies on your first day.”

The Manny Acta Era officially got under way yesterday, with Washington Nationals pitchers and catchers holding their first organized workout of the spring, all under the watchful eye of their rookie manager.

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These things are typically mundane affairs, and rarely does one team’s camp look much different from another. Fielding drills. Baserunning drills. Bullpen sessions. Batting practice.

But there was a different vibe at the Nationals’ morning workout, something not seen in previous years. Guys were enthusiastic, drills were crisp and when someone shifted from one field to another, he didn’t walk. He ran.

“There’s no walking in baseball,” Acta said.

All of this was a reflection of Washington’s new 38-year-old manager, the youngest in any major league camp this spring. Acta is high-energy and hands-on when he takes the field, and he sets an example for his players by joining them in every activity.

He stretched with them. He jogged with them. He joked with them. And he would have hit grounders and played catch with them if he had the chance.

“It’s the first time I don’t have to throw BP or hit fungoes or be on one field directing traffic,” said Acta, who still carried a bat and glove with him all morning. “So it’s kind of boring for me. Not enough action.”

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