2009 Washington Nationals season
The Washington Nationals' 2009 season was the fifth season for the American baseball franchise of Major League Baseball in the District of Columbia, and the 41st since the original team was started in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It involved the Nationals attempting to win the National League East after a disappointing 59–102 season the year before.
| 2009 Washington Nationals | ||
|---|---|---|
| League | National League | |
| Division | East | |
| Ballpark | Nationals Park | |
| City | Washington, D.C. | |
| Record | 59–103 (.364) | |
| Divisional place | 5th | |
| Owners | Lerner Enterprises | |
| General managers | Jim Bowden, Mike Rizzo | |
| Managers | Manny Acta, Jim Riggleman | |
| Television | MASN WDCW (CW 50) Bob Carpenter, Ray Knight, Rob Dibble | |
| Radio | WWWT Charlie Slowes, Dave Jageler | |
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On July 12, manager Manny Acta was fired and replaced with bench coach Jim Riggleman, though only as an interim manager. Under Acta, the Nationals compiled an MLB worst 26–61 record in 2009 through the All-Star break and a 158–252 record in Acta's three seasons with the Nationals. Riggleman would be named full-time manager in November 2009.
The Nationals finished the year with a 59–103 record, worse than the year before by one loss. For the second straight season, they finished with the worst record in Major League Baseball.
Nationals' third baseman Ryan Zimmerman won a Gold Glove Award as the best defensive third baseman in the National League and a Silver Slugger Award as the best offensive third baseman in the league. It would be the final season the Nationals lost a hundred games for 13 years.