Nationals Are Managing Just Fine With Acta

"That was probably one of the more miserable games I've played in my life," said Zimmerman, who hit the first home run into the yellow seats in the upper deck since baseball returned to RFK, off the stairs to the right of Section 533.

One wretched afternoon does not obscure the clubhouse foundation that the Nationals are building. "In a way, our players should be proud," Acta said. "We're ahead of some teams and we're close to some other clubs, like the Cubs, with all those big-time payrolls. But I don't want to be satisfied."

When Acta first mentioned this goal, in his comments on the first day of spring training, he seemed dangerously daft. Now, perspective has changed. If the Nats play as well for the rest of the season as they have since their 1-8 start, they would equal last season's total of 71 wins. Find one person who predicted that. Even if you can, they didn't predict that it could be done with Mike Bacsik, Micah Bowie and Lavale Speigner in the rotation for the foreseeable future.

This season, regardless of results, is part of a larger process of building an organization and setting its tenor for many years. That starts with a handful of players, including Kearns, Felipe Lopez, Brian Schneider, Cordero and, most remarkably, the 22-year-old Zimmerman, who has gotten hot, driving in 22 runs in his last 23 games.

"We try to play the game the right way. That's how you get respect here. We have guys who love to play hard," Zimmerman said. "This is a young, fun group. But it starts with Manny. He doesn't call you out in front of everybody. He pulls you aside to teach you. If we lose, we'll be upset for 15 minutes, then we'll be ready to win tomorrow.

"When Stan [Kasten] and Jim [Bowden] bring in new guys, they're going to have to blend in," said Zimmerman, referring to free agents, trades and the five players in the first 70 picks that the Nats will draft on Thursday. "They're going to have to be like us. We're not going to be like them. That's how you build a winner for 15 or 20 years."

Last offseason, the Nats cut adrift any possible problem players and added veterans such as Ronnie Belliard and Ray King, who were good clubhouse influences and embraced their limited roles. When Young arrived after substance abuse nightmares in '06, he rediscovered the playful personality that had endeared him to former Reds teammates such as Kearns.

That's what the best clubhouses, managers and organizations can do. The strongest hands define the culture. Then, the occasional reclamation project sometimes can be helped and, in the hard times, the Basciks and Bowies suddenly feel at home.

It's a good thing the Nats have so much resilience. Until the team's halt and lame return, the Nats will have lots more chances to practice what they do best: Turn a whole lot of attitude into a little bit of altitude.