Washington — So much for the plan to have Manny Acta’s patient optimism lead the Washington Nationals out of the doldrums. The abysmal won-loss record became too much to stomach, costing him his job at the All-Star break and adding another layer of instability to the worst team in baseball.

Acta was fired after the team reached the unofficial halfway mark of the season with a 26-61 record, on pace to clear the 100-loss mark for the second consecutive year. Acting general manager Mike Rizzo — himself an interim placeholder — announced Acta’s dismissal Monday morning.

“We feel that the team has underachieved,” Rizzo said. “We feel we have a better ballclub than we’ve shown on the field. … We feel with a different voice and possibly a different feel in the clubhouse that we can have a more successful second half of the season.”

Acta was informed Sunday night after the team returned home following a 5-0 loss at Houston, Washington’s seventh in 10 games. Bench coach Jim Riggleman, who has a 522-652 record over nine seasons managing the Padres, Cubs and Mariners, was named the interim replacement — which means the Nationals now have a GM and a manager with a temporary label next to their names.

“I’m very uncomfortable with that,” team president Stan Kasten said. “I’ve strived my whole career valuing stability and consistency, and I want to get to that here. We’re not there yet. I think we’re working toward that. Sometimes you encounter these unfortunate, unforeseen bumps in the road.”

Acta joins Colorado’s Clint Hurdle and Arizona’s Bob Melvin as major league managers who have been fired this season.

“It was a great learning experience, I have no regrets,” Acta said in a statement released by the team. “As I move forward, I wish the Nationals all the best. I was very fortunate to work with and meet a lot of wonderful people while here.”

Acta was 158-252 over 21/2 seasons in his first managerial job.

The team’s winning percentage dropped progressively from Year 1 until now, although his record had much to do with the talent — or lack thereof — assembled for him by the front office.

MLB

Agents pushing union

St. Louis — As Michael Weiner prepares to take over from Donald Fehr as head of the players’ association, several agents are pushing the union to file a collusion grievance against teams over their behavior during the free-agent market last winter.

“There’s a general level of suspicion in the air,” said Jeff Borris, an agent whose clients include Barry Bonds, Brian Fuentes and Jason Isringhausen.

The decision on whether to go ahead with a grievance will be one of the first major decisions for the union since Fehr announced his pending retirement last month and its executive board recommended Weiner, the union’s general counsel, for the top job.

Leyritz can post bond

Fort Lauderdale, Fla. — Former major leaguer Jim Leyritz, jailed earlier this month on a charge of domestic battery against his ex-wife, will be allowed to await his upcoming DUI manslaughter trial on bond, a judge ruled Monday.

Broward Circuit Judge Marc Gold decided Leyritz could be released from custody once he has posted $1,000 bond for the domestic battery charge. Leyritz would be allowed to live in a friend’s unoccupied house in nearby Weston, and communication between Leyritz and his ex-wife must take place only through their lawyers.

Cubs exploring bankruptcy

Chicago — The corporate owner of the Chicago Cubs is considering having the baseball team file for bankruptcy protection as a legal step to hasten its long-awaited sale.

Tribune Co., which itself filed for bankruptcy protection in December, intends for the Cubs’ own stay in Chapter 11 to be as short as a day or two. If pursued, the filing would be done to give the team’s next owners as “clean” a title to the Cubs as possible — to protect them from possible future claims by Tribune creditors.

Obama featured as guest

St. Louis — President Barack Obama will be in the Fox broadcast booth for tonight’s All-Star game.

Fox spokesman Lou D’Ermilio said Monday that Obama will join Joe Buck and Tim McCarver for the telecast from Busch Stadium but that the inning had not yet been determined.

Reds’ Bruce out 6-8 weeks

Cincinnati — The Cincinnati Reds say outfielder Jay Bruce’s broken right wrist shows no damage to tendons or ligaments, but he is expected to be out for six to eight weeks.

CEO not judging Manny

Jerusalem — The Los Angeles Dodgers’ CEO says slugger Manny Ramirez has “paid the penalty” for violating baseball’s drug policy and it’s not for her to judge his actions.

Jamie McCourt, in Israel for the 18th Maccabiah Games, said Monday she was as surprised as anyone when Ramirez was suspended. He recently returned from a 50-game suspension.

“Not everyone is perfect and I am not going to judge what anyone does in their lives,” McCourt said. “But he has paid the penalty and it is now up to us to welcome him back to the team.”

NBA

Magic match Mavs offer

Orlando, Fla. — Getting paid $34 million to back up Dwight Howard on the Orlando Magic for the next five years might sound like a good gig.

It’s just that Marcin Gortat was looking forward to having the chance to start for Dallas.

The Magic surprised — and disappointed — Gortat and the Mavericks on Monday, matching an offer sheet to keep the Polish big man.

Gortat’s agent, Guy Zucker, said the center “was definitely very disappointed today.” He said Gortat was back in his native Poland, where he’d already been telling everyone he was headed to the Mavericks.

Iverson to Clippers?

Las Vegas — Talks between the Los Angeles Clippers and free-agent guard Allen Iverson have been characterized as “very serious,” according a source close to Iverson who was not authorized to speak publicly about the situation.

One of Iverson’s other potential suitors, the Miami Heat, is reportedly unwilling to offer him more than $2 million for one season.

Hawks sign Bibby, Pachulia

Atlanta — The Atlanta Hawks, who traded for guard Jamal Crawford last month, on Monday announced they have re-signed unrestricted free agents Mike Bibby and Zaza Pachulia.

Nuggets trade for Afflalo

Denver — The Denver Nuggets acquired Arron Afflalo and Walter Sharpe from Detroit on Monday in exchange for a future second-round draft pick.

The Nuggets also received cash in the deal. The Pistons freed up close to $1.8 million in salary cap space.

Boxing

Wife targeted in Gatti death

Rio De Janeiro — Police investigating the death of former boxing champion Arturo Gatti are working on the assumption his wife, Amanda Rodrigues, strangled him with her purse strap while he drunkenly slept. The woman’s lawyer, however, insists she is innocent and was too “fragile” to kill a boxer.

Lead investigator Moises Teixeira told The Associated Press on Monday nothing is being ruled out but he is certain the woman acted by herself.

NFL

Ravens’ Mason retiring

Baltimore — Ravens wide receiver Derrick Mason told a sports Web site on Monday he’s retiring from the NFL.

“After 12 years, I have seen it all and done it all,” Mason told jocklife.com. “Right now, I am content with the decision I am making. All good things come to an end, and I am ready to see what else life has to offer.”

Mason started all 16 games and led the Ravens in receptions (80) and yards receiving (1,037) last year.

Golf

LPGA commissioner resigns

Daytona Beach, Fla. — Carolyn Bivens resigned as LPGA Tour commissioner Monday, bowing to pressure from players who were upset about the organization’s economic woes and her leadership.

Woods, Ishikawa grouped

Turnberry, Scotland — Tiger Woods can expect even more attention than usual the first two rounds of the British Open. He is playing with Lee Westwood of England and Japanese sensation Ryo Ishikawa.

Woods has never played with the 17-year-old Ishikawa, who made history at 15 when he won on the Japan Golf Tour, the youngest winner on a sanctioned circuit.