Castrovince: Indians Name Manny Acta Manager
by Ryan on Oct 25, 2009 4:20 PM EDT
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Anthony Castrovince is reporting that the Indians have hired Manny Acta as manager:
Acta was the first candidate to come to Cleveland for a formal interview, and he left a lasting impression. He has been signed by the Tribe to a three-year contract through 2012, with a club option for 2013.
Acta beat out Bobby Valentine and Torey Lovullo for the job. The Indians were expected to interview Don Mattingly this week.
Manny Acta began his coaching career in 1991 while still playing minor-league baseball. He got his first managerial assignment in 1993 with Auburn (New York-Penn League) at age 24, and worked his way up the Astros system, culminating with AAA New Orleans in 2001. He then left the Astros organization to coach third base with the nomadic Montreal Expos, then was hired by the New York Mets as an on-field coach in 2005. Meanwhile, he managed Winter League teams in Venezuela (1999-2000) and the Dominican Republic (2002-2004). He also coached his native Dominican Republic in the inaugural World Baseball Classic in 2006. So when the Washington Nationals tabbed him to replace Frank Robinson as manager in 2007 at age 38, he had been a minor-league manager or major-league coach for 14 seasons.
His 2.5 seasons with the Nationals is difficult to evaluate, since Washington's talent level was the worst in baseball during his tenure. His first season, the Nationals finished 73-89, and he received votes for NL Manager of the Year. The Nationals lost 102 games the following season, but I don't really think they underachieved. That season, the Nationals finished 15th in the NL in OPS, and gave up the second-most runs in the league. In 2009, with no appreciable talent additions, the Nationals started 26-61, and Acta was fired in August. The Nationals rebounded under interim manager Jim Riggleman to finish 59-103.
Acta brings several things to the table. He's managed at virtually every level of organized baseball, including in the Winter Leagues. He's fluent in English and Spanish, which is a major plus with the current makeup of major league rosters, including the Indians. Terry Pluto noted Acta's preparation, both for his interview with the Indians and when manager of the Nationals:
Many baseball people gave glowing reviews of Acta, but perhaps the most meaningful came from Atlanta manager Bobby Cox. He called the Indians unsolicited to say Acta was exactly the kind of energetic manager the team needed, adding that he thought Acta was "well-prepared" when Cox managed against him.
When the Indians hired Eric Wedge in 2003, many people in baseball raved about Wedge. In my research on Acta, I've seen similar endorsements. Obviously the difference this time is that Acta has already made his rookie managerial mistakes, though in baseball a manager's strategy rarely will turn a bad baseball team into a good one or vice versa. Ultimately the wins and losses come indirectly through player development, whether it be a young player breaking into the majors or a veteran player turning his career around. I'll be paying close attention to any impact this hire has on players like Kelly Shoppach, Fausto Carmona, and Jhonny Peralta, for if those players don't turn things around, Manny Acta's eighth inning pitching moves will be irrelevant.
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That’s going to be an awkward interview for Mattingly.
Steel Nick
by nickjs21 on Oct 25, 2009 4:24 PM EDT reply actions 16 recs
It’s just upseting to me that I give my input only to be criticized for it. I was told on my first post ever, that I had to wait and comment before I could post my own fanshots, so I did, proving I wasn’t just a fly by poster. After that I started commenting and i was shot down. All I asked for was the slightest bit of respect yet, I still haven’t gotten it
by ClevelandCrazy29 on Oct 25, 2009 4:28 PM EDT reply actions
This is why i tend to be negative, not because I don’t respect others opinions, but because no one respects mine.
by ClevelandCrazy29 on Oct 25, 2009 4:30 PM EDT up reply actions
Well, I don’t think it’s a matter of respect, but it has more to do with the typical cleveland.com vibe your comments have. Nobody will attack you for not being a fan of this move. However, when you back it up with useless facts or fail to see the bigger picture, people will get into a discussion with you. Saying stuff like “Acta took the job so he can become the coach with the most losses” won’t help your case either.
I was being sarcastic. Just like others on this blog? This continues to bring up my point of, why do others get to make sarcastic comments but i cannot?
by ClevelandCrazy29 on Oct 25, 2009 4:36 PM EDT up reply actions
well, pardon me for not catching your sarcastic tone. Sarcasm on the internet is not as easy to pick up, and considering your overall point of view, it doesn’t make it any easier.
All right i will make sure to do this from now on but, did you really think I thought he would be manager to be the all- time worst?
by ClevelandCrazy29 on Oct 25, 2009 4:44 PM EDT up reply actions
Dont worry about it if your not won of 5 people on this sight you cant possible have an opinion that matters…. believe me its from experience for the most part group think takes place anyone who disagrees is disregarded… I am fairly certain the creator of this blog didnt plan on that being the case but at this point it turly is … oh and dont ever make a grammar or spelling error
by NCTRIB on Oct 25, 2009 4:42 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
Good advice there at the end.
Hey did anyone hear that Manny Acta has been hired as the Tribe’s manager? Thoughts?
Steel Nick
by nickjs21 on Oct 25, 2009 4:43 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
I’ll tell you the easiest way to get into everybody on this blog’s good graces:
Don’t use any “Internet style” writing. Don’t use multiple exclamation points. Don’t use ellipses. Don’t abbreviate things. For whatever reason, that’s developed as the culture of the blog and it’s one that I, and the rest of the mods, value.
Usually i don’t. That was the first time I used the: !?!?!?!?!. And I always avoid the LOL’s and HAHA’s
by ClevelandCrazy29 on Oct 25, 2009 4:45 PM EDT up reply actions
You misinterpret, I was asking you to losen up…
by stuart dean on Oct 25, 2009 4:50 PM EDT up reply actions 6 recs
The only one who usually ever points out the mistakes I make in these areas are me.
Chugga-chugga chugga-chugga, Choo Choo!
I think I did once. But it was because as usual I was confused.
Who needs affection when you can have blind hatred?
Around. The new Clemson SBN Blog! Yeah! So happy! They got here just in time for that awesome Miami game too. And the Cardinals one.
Who needs affection when you can have blind hatred?
There’s a difference between reacting negatively to the hiring—completely within your right—and just jumping around punding your fist and generally making a bad case for yourself. Your first post ended with one of these: “??!?!?!?!” That’s generally not received well, and suggests you’re not someone who’s interested in presenting your opinion reasonably.
Steel Nick
I’m not sure if you’re replying to something or what but I think you’ve got to just roll with the punches. Remember not to take any of it too seriously, try to learn a little and keep your head up.
People don’t like your opinions? That’s fine, discuss them and move on. As long as you’re not doing anything out of line it’s not skin off your back if people don’t agree.
I just looked at the other thread. Here’s my advice.
Before you post, take a deep breath and consider: “How can I express this opinion in a way that is most likely to be well accepted?”
I don’t think your point about Acta is a particularly strong one but I think it’s as strong as people liking him for no particular reason. However, if you’d said:
“I’m unconvinced by the Acta hire; he’s one of the all-time losers as a manager and I’m still waiting for evidence that he can win.”
Then that will be better received than the take you took. You’ve got to try to comment, write, all the rest of it, in a way that’s not bombastic, not shrill. You want to come across as measured, not over the top.
Finally, when people disagree with you, let it go. Don’t try to get into witty comebacks and don’t push back. There’s no question that individuals sometimes get picked on in an internet forum and that once somebody starts bullying a little bit, others pile on. Don’t let it get there. Just say “Live and let live” and bow out.
Keep at it. You’re young.
by afh4 on Oct 25, 2009 4:39 PM EDT up reply actions 3 recs
Look, on one level, I sympathize you. This place can be tough for newbies. There are a lot of inside jokes and a sort of sense that it’s a clique that is tough to break into. On the other hand, you are simply going to have to bring something other than Manny Acta’s managerial record in Washington and 40+ years of Cleveland’s failures to get taken seriously. Your posts do seem reminiscent of cleveland.com.
I would strongly urge you to spend a month or two reading fangraphs and hardballtimes. Maybe this, too.
Thank you for feeling this way. But I gotten that same comment from others. I don’t just throw out random stats either. If you look back to the huge debacle with KOOBS you will see that I offered insightful information on the stats that Laporta had. Which werern’t only loser stats. They included OPS, OBP, SLG etc….
by ClevelandCrazy29 on Oct 25, 2009 4:41 PM EDT up reply actions
Please don’t take this as argumentative either. In no way did i mean it to insult you.
by ClevelandCrazy29 on Oct 25, 2009 4:42 PM EDT up reply actions
You’ve got at least as good a command of stats as the median user here, from what I’ve read.
What makes the difference, of course, is being able to put these stats to work for you. Reveal something insightful. Adam (APV) is the king at this and everybody else here ought to be better about it than we are.
andeverybody else hereUSSChoo ought to be better about it thanwe arehe is
fixed.
Chugga-chugga chugga-chugga, Choo Choo!
whoa.. what in name of Grover Cleveland happened there. Only I could make myself look really dumb when I was just trying to make myself look casually dumb.
Chugga-chugga chugga-chugga, Choo Choo!
by USSChoo on Oct 26, 2009 3:52 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
It takes a lot of hard work and grit to look casually dumb. To look really dumb, all you generally have to do is run into one.
Want out of Cleveland? Easy - mess with LeBron's entourage.
by woodsmeister on Oct 26, 2009 10:19 AM EDT up reply actions
Not my first choice, but a better choice than Valentine. I hope that Lovullo at least named bench coach and would get a chance if Acta’s proves hes not the man. I have a feeling most or all the Columbus coaching staff will be in Cleveland this year.
If not all, I hope that the hitting coach is. He has done on heck of a job with Columbus.
by ClevelandCrazy29 on Oct 25, 2009 4:33 PM EDT up reply actions
I’ve heard great things about all 3 coaches at Columbus. Id say they all should have a good shot of being selected, but sadly I doubt they select all 3.
I like Lovullo and would be happy to see him in a similar role. With that being said I want Acta to have control over his coaching staff, so it’s up to him.
Steel Nick
Why didn’t we give Mattingly a chance though. This was never explained on any of the sites I have searched today?
by ClevelandCrazy29 on Oct 25, 2009 4:38 PM EDT up reply actions
Don’t know why that came out blank. It was supposed to read: Why didn’t we give Mattingly and Roenicke a chance?
by ClevelandCrazy29 on Oct 25, 2009 4:39 PM EDT up reply actions
Castrovince suggests that the Indians had to move fast on Acta because he had just received an offer from the Astros:
Dodgers hitting coach Don Mattingly was expected to interview for the job this week, but the Tribe moved forward with the hire more quickly than anticipated.
The Astros might have played a part in the Indians’ sudden urgency, as they reportedly offered Acta their manager’s job.
And Yankee and Phillie and Dodger and Rockies hats too.
Resident LGT results-oriented boob.
by mauichuck on Oct 25, 2009 4:49 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
This may say the Indians were not ready to be pressed into hiring Valentine or Lovullo if Mattingly didn’t blow them away. I will say I warmed up to Lovullo exponentially during the process, and wouldn’t mind at all if he was brought onto the coaching staff. Acta is probably very unfamiliar with him, however.
and who is making the staffing decisions…
You don’t want it to be Wedge staff 2 where everyone seemed to be a catcher but you want to let a guy pick his people too.
Here is Acta’s 2009 Nationals coaching staff.
“The Washington Nationals today announced that bench coach Jim Riggleman, first base coach Marquis Grissom, third base coach Pat Listach, hitting coach Rick Eckstein and bullpen coach Randy Knorr will join returning pitching coach Randy St. Claire on the club’s 2009 coaching staff. Nationals Senior Vice President and General Manager Jim Bowden and Manager Manny Acta made the joint announcement. "
by millionairesrow on Oct 25, 2009 8:28 PM EDT up reply actions
Looks like the whole staff other than St, Claire was new in 2009, here is the 2008 Nationals coaching staff, which featured Pat Corrales as bench coach. Awesome.
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/2007-10-18-381572309_x.htm
by millionairesrow on Oct 25, 2009 8:37 PM EDT up reply actions
I’ll be interested to see if Grissom comes with him. From what I recall, Grissom was very widely respected in baseball and very involved in local charities.
I’m looking forward to the “Hey, Hoynsie” where someone asks why, of all the former Indians of the 1990s, did we bring back Grissom when we could have (insert rant listing favorite Indians from 1995-2001).
Grissom’s greatest crime in 1997 was not being Kenny Lofton, and it would be again.
All that aside, does anyone know if he is any good at coaching?
A pretty strong consensus developed that Grissom had much better range than Lofton at that point, from what I can recall, but obviously he was a big step down at the plate.
Lofton, ironically, battled through leg injuries to post a .333 average and .408 OBP for the Braves, but the fans hated him because he got caught stealing 20 out of 47 attempts. Can you imagine hating a CF putting up those numbers? Very odd.
I couldn’t agree with you more on D. I’m not sure that I ever saw Lofton break the right way on a ball, ever. When he was young, however, he would outrun his mistakes and look really good doing it…
Eerily similar to the way I’d describe Sizemore
"You are an LGT success story" -- Jay
by Turkmenbashi on Oct 27, 2009 12:07 AM EDT up reply actions
Nonsense. Sizemore is not remotely in the same league with Lofton when it comes to running strange routes. Think Dellucci in LF vs. Garko in LF.
I’ll take your word for it. I didn’t watch with a critical eye back when Lofton was playing. I think Grady has a tendency to take some bad routes even still, though.
"You are an LGT success story" -- Jay
by Turkmenbashi on Oct 27, 2009 12:15 AM EDT up reply actions
You don’t have to tell me that. I played CF in a rec league softball game once.
"You are an LGT success story" -- Jay
by Turkmenbashi on Oct 27, 2009 12:18 AM EDT up reply actions
Dude. No rec league manager would be that stupid.
"You are an LGT success story" -- Jay
by Turkmenbashi on Oct 27, 2009 12:24 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
You think? Backside flyballs to the corners move the most. While they move rather predictably, they often do so very sharply. Looch sure got fooled plenty out there.
It isn’t about the amount of the break per se, it’s about how easy it is to pick up the break from the angle you have to observe it. The trajectory is harder to pick up when it’s coming relatively straight at you, because the movement appears to be more subtle from that angle.
Maybe my visualization skills are falling short here, but it seems to me the ball is coming ‘equally straight’ at you in all instances. Once the ball is struck, it’s essentially going to travel directly from the plate to its landing spot in a straight line (or bowed I as mentioned above).
The low line drives headed for a spot 20-50 feet behind you are the toughest fly to catch, but that is true regardless of whether you are in a corner or roughly colinear with the pitcher and the plate.
I concede, you might be right, I’m just not convinced.
No, that’s not really true. Let’s say you’re standing in CF in the one instance and LF in the other. In both instances, the ball is going to land exactly where you are. In CF, the ball is basically coming straight at you, making it hard to judge the vertical trajectory as well as small left-right differences. In LF, a ball that lands straight at you tends to have a lot more curve along the way, because it’s hooking to come back towards you.
Think about the way that balls hit deep into the gap have a lot less curve than balls down the line. A ball in left-center has less curve than any other ball to LF, but it has more curve than any other ball to CF.
So you’re using the curve as a tool for measuring the vertical trajectory? I can buy that. Even if that is true, it is relatively unimportant to be able to judge the vertical path of a ball right at you, and the gains are likely offset by what can be significant lateral movement on flies to the corners.
The only way that ball hit on a line directly from the plate to the centerfielder is exceptionally tough in CF is if the it’s hit over the defender’s head. A sinking line drive is a tough play primarily because it’s going to be on the ground quickly, but rarely does the CF fail to realize immediately that it’s a play in front of him. The further in front of him it is, the easier it is to recognize it and begin in on the ball, adjusting along the way. If it’s only five steps in front of him, that may be harder to recognize, but he has much more time to recognize it. The ball in his tracks may confuse him off the bat, but really, where are you going to go? In my limited outfield experience, I have literally run a little circle in confusion in the outfield before catching such balls. That said, you never move much from your post on those types of hits, whether in CF or LF/RF.
The hook toward the outside of the field that I keep hanging my hat on just kills a corner outfielder on a fly ball that appears to be heading over his inside shoulder. A CF may turn on such a hit, look away to run, arrive near the spot he anticipated going to and have to shift a few feet. A LF/RF may play what appears to be a similar ball, but he typically must either anticipate the break successfully, or find the ball sooner and adjust more acutely with a required turn being more likely.
I suspect that even if I granted that a short-to-mid straight line drive is significantly tougher in center (which I don’t), the deep line drive and break on fly balls to the corners should make for a wash.
Regrettably, I can’t continue this discussion. Back to work, and then softball tonight — no CFs there! There can be only one way to resolve this. Who has Gutz’ e-mail address?
The less elevation a ball has and the straighter it is hit at you, the harder it will be to judge where to head to make the play. The perception of acceleration/deceleration is greatly diminished as the arc and angle of travel is lessened. Balls to the corner positions are almost always on an curve and as such the player can more accurately gauge where to get to.
Reading and tracking the ball right off the bat is probably the hardest thing for a lot of outfielders. If you don’t pick up the ball until it’s over 1/4 or 1/3 of the way through it’s flight then you had better be able to make up for it with speed and other fielding skills.
Sizemore’s not the athlete Lofton was either. Given the choice I’d take the 25 yo Kenny Lofton (RTZ 13.0) over the 25 yo Sizemore (RTZ 3.8) any day of the week.
Resident LGT results-oriented boob.
We were taking defense, I believe.
But here’s what I think: the injuries Sizemore suffered this year are the beginning of Grady’s decline as a ball player. Course I thought it was over for Thome when his back went out too.
Resident LGT results-oriented boob.
We were talking defense, absolutely. But I’m assuming that the CF you select to play the field will also have to bat.
And I don’t see much reason to think Grady can’t rebound just fine when he was above league average hurt.
by Brad D on Oct 27, 2009 12:57 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
It’s the arm thing coupled with, what look’s to me anyway, like a loss of speed. Kenny played D at a high level for a long time. I don’t think Grady’ll be able to pull that off.
Resident LGT results-oriented boob.
Kenny did not actually do what you think he did. He was a decent center fielder for a long time, but despite his reputation, he stopped winning Gold Gloves (and stolen base titles) more than a decade before he retired. He fell off his peak pretty fast but then plateaued at a decent level for quite a while.
What, we’re using Gold Gloves as a proof of defensive prowess now? Whatever happened using stats?
Here try this: Kenny Lofton put up a RTZ of 16.5 – that’s right 16.5 at age 31 And just to prove it wasn’t a fluke, he put up a 9.5 the following year.
I’ll bet you Sizemore’s not even playing CF when he’s 30, let alone putting up double digit RTZs
Resident LGT results-oriented boob.
Can someone explain to me the difference between RTZ and FRAR, and why I should like either of them?
Steel Nick
Not Gold Gloves, the lack of Gold Gloves. Usually when a guy wins a couple, he keeps on winning them for years and years, beyond all reason. The fact that Kenny didn’t means that it became glaringly obvious that he stopped being a particularly good defender.
I’ll be honest, you’re ahead of me on RTZ, but of course Sizemore will still be playing CF at 30 and probably 32 and very possibly 35.
but of course Sizemore will still be playing CF at 30
He still has yet to accept my bet on that one.
Chugga-chugga chugga-chugga, Choo Choo!
OK, you’re on. Here’s the deal. At age 30 Sizemore hasta start at least 81 games at CF for you to win. What’s the bet?
Resident LGT results-oriented boob.
I’ve been thinking about this. Avatars have been done, but I’m willing to do that. But we’ve gotta settle on which one’s before hand. Pick one out.
Resident LGT results-oriented boob.
We might need a group participation to pick out the most insulting.
Chugga-chugga chugga-chugga, Choo Choo!
Upon reflection here, if we do an Avatar bet then it would be best to wait until the bet has culminated seeing as how in 3 years time there might be something grossly more embarrassing to be displayed than is currently available.
Also, when say 81 games in CF at age 30, would you like to encompass his entire birth year since he has an August birthday, or would you like either the ‘12 or ’13 season (’13 I’m assuming)?
Chugga-chugga chugga-chugga, Choo Choo!
‘13 gives me the best shot at winning, but to show you how confident I am, we’ll go with ’12.
Resident LGT results-oriented boob.
Ballsy. I’m taking note right now. And we’ll have a vote off in the LGT community upon the culmination of the 2012 season (or Sizemore’s first 81 games started in CF) to determine the loser’s avatar?
Chugga-chugga chugga-chugga, Choo Choo!
Sizemore’s first 81 games started in CF
That, or after game 82 when Sizemore hasn’t started at CF at all.
Resident LGT results-oriented boob.
Agreed Roger. But here’s the difference: Kenny got rid of the ball a little quicker.
Let’s get back to the stats again. What kinda stats ya got fwembt that show that Sizemore was as good a defender as Kenny?
Resident LGT results-oriented boob.
I’m talking about the arm. You claim, completely without evidence, that Lofton had a quicker release. I’m going to claim that Sizemore has a slightly stronger arm and a comparable release.
OK, I can see that. But then how do you explain the difference in RTZ – real, honest-to-God objective evidence?
Resident LGT results-oriented boob.
Once I’m better versed in RTZ, maybe I’ll have an answer for you. Or maybe not.
by Jay on Nov 1, 2009 5:25 PM EST up reply actions
If we still had Gutierrez I would as well, but we don’t even have a real good backup CF option right now, let alone replacement starter at the position
I think Grady is a better defensive CFer than Brantley (although Brantley has more room for improvement)
After seeing a few games myself, I’m more inclined to agree but I really hope that Brantley can become a defensive difference maker.
by NickFantana on Oct 27, 2009 12:12 PM EDT up reply actions
That group actually changed quite a bit from 2006, when he was first named. Here are the coaches that Acta brought with him when he was initially hired:
Pat Corrales – Bench Coach
Jerry Morales – First Base Coach
Tim Tolman – Third Base Coach
Rick Aponte – Bullpen Coach
He kept on Mithcell Page (HItting Coach) and Randy St. Claire (Pitching Coach), who held those duties prior to Acta’s arrival in 2006.
by The DiaTriber on Oct 25, 2009 9:56 PM EDT up reply actions
We have to assume in particular that the pitching coach is picked out, as the Indians emphasized that they expected their new manager to have clear ideas about that.
Right. I’m not sure if there’s any reason he wouldn’t be named in the press conference today. Unless they want the coaching staff to be named at the same time. Or maaaybe he’s still in the playoffs, but odds are slim.
Steel Nick
I think hiring Acta is a good move. Ever since Farrell publicly stated he wouldn’t be a candidate, Acta seemed like the best choice. He comes off a smart guy who isn’t afraid to show us he might have a different baseball philosphy than most traditional managers. Let’s see how the players respond to him.
The coach hirings will tell us alot about what the FO thinks of Acta skills, do they let him pick his own staff or does Shapiro
Fan in Texas
Well, I’m glad to have it settled. Off to work on putting “Acta” into various sentences in preparation for spring.
2009. Oof.
It’s an Acta War!
--
Force quit and move to trash.
by vbc3 on Oct 25, 2009 4:48 PM EDT up reply actions 4 recs
“Acta Cadabra! Magical Season Ends With World Series Sweep!”
/picture of Acta being carried on shoulders
Steel Nick
by nickjs21 on Oct 25, 2009 4:55 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Unless he can OPS at >1.000 or put up an ERA+ above 1.50 I don’t see Acta having much of an effect on the Tribe’s record next year.
Resident LGT results-oriented boob.
Which is why we hopefully hired him for his ability to develop young players, work with a team of mixed personalities, and work to the long-term goal of winning the World Series and not for the focus on the 2010 season.
by Roger Dorn on Oct 25, 2009 4:51 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
I want to nickname our cohort of young players “The Cry Babies” but have it be in some kind of positive way.
No they’re Johnny Depp. – could be the same thing, I dunno.
Resident LGT results-oriented boob.
by mauichuck on Oct 26, 2009 12:13 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Dig it. After a rather long stretch in which we were left to wonder whether the FO was down with what the manager was doing, I have to believe that won’t be an issue here.
And then the year after that:
FOUR-PEAT!
Wait.
Steel Nick
by nickjs21 on Oct 27, 2009 10:33 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Until the new manager does something that makes you wonder if the FO is down with what the manager is doing…
by TribeJay on Oct 25, 2009 5:56 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Acta seems affable enough.
I have to say, the only thing about this that I feel really strongly about is that he’s bilingual. Seems like a big plus.
I still don’t understand why the Indians aren’t just making all their coaches, at every level, learn Spanish.
Just playing the numbers. There must be 10x as many Spanish speaking players in the system as there are Korean or Japanese.
Offer performance incentives for learning either Korean or Japanese. Require Spanish.
They really have no business not learning it. I can’t think of a major language that’s easier to pick up.
LGT's resident moderate Yankee hating fan.
If you speak English then German is probably the easiest language to learn because it’s so similar to English. Of course, German is only spoken in like three countries so that won’t do you much good.
by Buckeye Brad on Oct 25, 2009 9:39 PM EDT up reply actions
I definitely disagree. The similarities between German ad English isn’t enough to make up for the fact that Spanish is just easier to learn.
LGT's resident moderate Yankee hating fan.
Well, I don’t really know Spanish very well so I’ll have to take your word for it.
by Buckeye Brad on Oct 25, 2009 10:20 PM EDT up reply actions
I’m thinkin’ the coaches should all learn Italian/Sicilian. That way they can properly express their displeasure with the umpires without getting tossed.
Resident LGT results-oriented boob.
Still a chance there will be an umpire that speaks the language. You need something dead, like Akkadian. You could cite the Code of Hammurabi in Old Babylonian.
When I covered the World Cup qualifier against Mexico in Columbus back in 2000, I asked the Mexican coach a question in Spanish at the postgame news conference. Other reporters looked at me like I was nuts. Completely agree that it should be much more commonplace for baseball writers.
by tabler84 on Oct 25, 2009 5:01 PM EDT up reply actions 3 recs
Rec for the fact that you got to cover such a legendary game.
by still ill on Oct 26, 2009 12:24 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
That World Cup qualifier vs. Mexico was the single greatest sporting event I have ever attended.
Want out of Cleveland? Easy - mess with LeBron's entourage.
by woodsmeister on Oct 26, 2009 10:23 AM EDT up reply actions
This from the guy who thinks Marte’s a better third baseman than Blake.
Resident LGT results-oriented boob.
Better third basemen? Marte.
Better Major League Baseball player? Blake.
"You are an LGT success story" -- Jay
by Turkmenbashi on Oct 27, 2009 12:08 AM EDT up reply actions
Sure it does. It’s like we’re all agog over Santana. Tell me, what was the last WS champ who’s number one hitter was a catcher? A great- Johnny Bench type offensive catcher is just a little bit better than a power hitting corner outfielder. Similarly, Marte as a third baseman is adequate offensively, but less than mediocre as a first baseman – which is what he is. It’s the total package that counts, not just the defensive piece. And when it comes to total package, Andy’s a bust.
Resident LGT results-oriented boob.
He’s not a first baseman; he’s third baseman playing first base. I don’t think you disagree with this, but my point is that his diminished positional value in that sense may turn out to be quite fleeting; it’s certainly not set in stone like Garko’s.
No but Marte was never the best choice to play third base for the Indians as long as Blake was on the team. In fact, we wasn’t the best choice to play first when we had Garko, let alone Martinez.
Resident LGT results-oriented boob.
Well, I disagree. I think I’ve shown pretty persuasively in the past that our best lineup in 2008 would have had Blake in the outfield and Marte at 3B, in terms of total runs scored and prevented, and that was assuming Marte didn’t hit much. Marte was not an ideal pick for 3B, but neither was Blake.
As for Garko, he played Triple-A at age 24. Marte was a better hitter in Triple-A at age 21, and he was a vastly better hitter at age 25. Garko’s had three seasons with 400+ plate appearances in the majors. We won’t know for sure how they compare at this level until Marte gets that kind of playing time. I’m not saying Marte can outhit Garko, but I am saying that there’s room for uncertainty about it.
THE OUTFIELD
Is this the whale section?
by sarcasmdave on Oct 27, 2009 1:21 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
As a third baseman, Casey Blake was an excellent right fielder.
Want out of Cleveland? Easy - mess with LeBron's entourage.
by woodsmeister on Oct 27, 2009 10:52 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
And what does this have to do with me being the resident Marte apologist? I like soccer. I’ve never attended any postseason pro baseball or football. I’ve been to some D3 college basketball and football playoffs (Otterbein). As for sheer importance, the first WCQ I attended in Columbus was the single greatest sporting event I’ve ever attended. And the USA won and looked good doing it. Does this make me less of a baseball fan because I have the ability to enjoy more than one sport at a time?
Want out of Cleveland? Easy - mess with LeBron's entourage.
by woodsmeister on Oct 27, 2009 10:58 AM EDT up reply actions
This is the height of dumbfanspeak.
by JulioBernazard on Oct 28, 2009 10:14 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
He walked in there and said “Mi nombre es Manny, sale all y golpe.” That’s my kind of manager.
Jhonny.
Resident Take the Football References One Step Too Far Guy
The Indians do, in fact, offer financial incentives for anyone in the baseball operations group to become bilingual. No, I don’t have a link, but they do.
Would be nice if some of the top guns in baseball operations had taken them up on it and set a precedent.
At least not publicly.
If anything, Wedge not doing it is yet another “Don’t let the door hit you, Eric” moment.
yeah, the more I think about it, there is really no excuse there. one hour per day 4 or five days a week during the offseason and you’re pretty much in the ballgame, especially when you can practice all season long with the players or other coaches.
We should take out a full page Plain-Dealer ad (what could that cost these days? $650.00?) that just says “OK.” in big letters and is addressed to Shapiro Re: Acta Hire.
Not sure what I think about the hire, but I notice that the Tribe was successful in providing more fuel for the “Dolan is cheap” meme by interviewing Valentine and then not hiring him.
I just can’t believe that Omar or Sandy Alomar weren’t hired as player/manager and catching/bench coach. THome would be great as hitting coach, and Charles Nagy would be the pitching boach and Luis Issac could be brought back as bullpen coach!!!!
dunno if any of you saw this, but cleveland.com has decided to take a more active role in monitoring their comments for all stories (sports an otherwise). they made a big production about this a couple weeks back and it ended up on several journalism blogs i read (i am an apologetic member of the MSM. I don’t cover sports, nor do i live in Cleveland). Anyway, it’s good to see they’re on the ball with the Acta story as the comments, which, for the most part, center on his nationality and the “obvious” PC nature of his hiring.
I forgot to recite my “don’t read the comments” mantra today and look what happened.
Before taking Pro-Acta, please consult your doctor. Do not taunt Pro-Acta.
by Ockus_NYC on Oct 25, 2009 5:27 PM EDT reply actions 2 recs
Interesting. Good for the P-D. It’s blown my mind how newspapers have allowed their comment sections to devolve considering how they play the “integrity” card in so many other ways.
especially when they have such stringent editorial requirements for – and the power to choose to print or not to print – letters to the editor
Before taking Pro-Acta, please consult your doctor. Do not taunt Pro-Acta.
I know, right? please accept my sincerest apologies. I read about 15 of them and i’m already rethinking my life. i’m gonna have to go back school, maybe try to reconnect with my father…
Before taking Pro-Acta, please consult your doctor. Do not taunt Pro-Acta.
precisely. something good HAS to come out of having forced myself to read such gems as: “Yeah, just great. Do the PC thing instead of hiring the best guy. Disgusting….”
this, by the way, was posted by a guy who calls himself “censorshipzz”
shower, anyone?
Before taking Pro-Acta, please consult your doctor. Do not taunt Pro-Acta.
I never read comments with any thought in mind except to study what kind of stupidity is going on for that particular story — you know, to take the temperature of the dumbest, angriest segment of the fan base. I rarely do it, and when I do it, I am never disappointed.
Newspapers would have to hire someone to monitor and edit comments. Most papers are not in a position to hire for something that generates no revenue. Or are they supposed to make their beat writers keep an eye on the comments?
If the choice is no comment section or one filled with homophobic and racial slurs, I’d think the choice would be obvious for any place that considers itself a bastion of credibility.
It looks like (from the PD article linked below) that they are actually asking writers to police their comments. They should just shut down the comments altogether. What value do they have? Comedic, certainly.
What value do they have?
Keeping those comments out of here.
Resident Take the Football References One Step Too Far Guy
by westbrook on Oct 26, 2009 1:32 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
“We’re fighting them over there so they don’t fight us over here.”
by Jay on Oct 26, 2009 8:01 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
They could automate the censoring of course. If any of the George Carlin seven show up they’d be automatically deleted . Add moronic, idiot……. no wait. Half of Jay’s posts here would be automatically deleted. Never mind.
Resident LGT results-oriented boob.
That seems counterintuitive. I’d expect the PD to do what most businesses would do: Get an intern to do it, or just add it to someone’s job description without extra pay.
Steel Nick
This is where my “no comments on cle.com” user script protects me, like a stupidity shield.
by FredOx on Oct 25, 2009 5:38 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
i meant to include the link to the plain dealer’s “we will clean up the comments section” manifesto.
Before taking Pro-Acta, please consult your doctor. Do not taunt Pro-Acta.
“We won’t tolerate jerks.”
Has Brick read this?
by JulioBernazard on Oct 27, 2009 4:34 PM EDT up reply actions
Apparently Acta turned down an offer from the Astros to manage, which might have forced Shapiro’s hand early. Basically, Acta calls up and says he’s been given an offer from Houston but would rather manage the Tribe. “Make a decision, Mark, and I’m yours.” Or maybe it was that part about the Astros having difficulty with their package. Meh.
Either way, I like this hire. Valentine muff of a presser bugged me with his his “I can manage any team that wants to hire me, including the Nats… er, I mean the Indians. I don’t need to have paid any attention to them or even read a simple roster listing to know who’s on the team.” At least know what you’re going for, ya know? Acta did his homework and impressed me.
Plus his read on the current state of the team is a lot closer to what I think – that the offense is a heck of a lot closer to being competitive than many seem to think (even in these enlightened parts). (Personally, I think it’ll only get better – I’m rather bullish and excited about our offense). If we can pull together some pitching either by hook, crook, teaching or reclamation we have a chance to win the Central or at least being competitive. That said, I’m terrified about the status of our pitching. I am eagerly awaiting who they hire as pitching and bullpen coaches.
I’ve got a good feeling about this and I’m truly excited about the future of this team. After the abysmal way 2009 went, it’s a good feeling.
I just wanted to believe.
by mjmarble on Oct 25, 2009 6:10 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Plus his read on the current state of the team is a lot closer to what I think – that the offense is a heck of a lot closer to being competitive than many seem to think (even in these enlightened parts). (Personally, I think it’ll only get better – I’m rather bullish and excited about our offense).
The Indians have taken a lot of criticism, deservedly so, for not transitioning players well to the majors in the last couple of years and for not being able to get consistent production out of players who appear obviously talented, the obvious examples being Marte and Peralta.
I think the pie in the sky hope with Acta is that he’s just a better teacher than anyone on Wedge’s staff was and that he can help these guys with supposedly oodles of talent make those fine adjustments that will stabilize their performance in a positive way. It’d be even better if he could do this for pitchers.
We’ll see. It’s gonna take a miracle to turn Marte and Peralta into All-Star major leaguers. I Acta can do that, he should go directly to Cooperstown.
Resident LGT results-oriented boob.
They don’t have to be All-Stars to help our team. If Marte becomes an average starting 3B then he’ll be an asset.
by Buckeye Brad on Oct 25, 2009 9:46 PM EDT up reply actions
OK, check that. If Acta can get Marte to play at Casey Blake level, I’ll be impressed.
Resident LGT results-oriented boob.
Offensively. Defensively, playing at the Casey Blake level would be a significant regression for Marte.
Want out of Cleveland? Easy - mess with LeBron's entourage.
by woodsmeister on Oct 26, 2009 10:27 AM EDT up reply actions
I hardly think “miracle” will be the appropriate word to turn either of those guys into All-Stars. Peralta has had seasons of that caliber before, and Marte was the #1 prospect in the world. There is reason to believe the raw talent is there for both players. Not likely to happen, of course, but it wouldn’t be a miracle.
Well, if we’re going to mince words, what could a manager actually do to qualify as a “miracle-worker”?
Like, turn Hafner into a loaf of bread? Is that the standard we’re using?
Cliff Lee’s 2008 Cy Young probably qualifies as a miracle.
Adam Miller pitching in the majors.
Peralta winning a Gold Glove.
Shoppach stealing a base.
by Jay on Oct 26, 2009 12:25 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Really on the Cliff Lee thing? That strikes me as a double standard regarding Marte. Lee had established a far higher level of quality play at the ML level than Marte ever has. I guess ASG’s are stupid anyway, but a Marte MVP? Is that a miracle?
Adam Miller pitching in the majors would be witchcraft. Totally different thing.
Who?
Resident Take the Football References One Step Too Far Guy
by westbrook on Oct 26, 2009 12:37 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Lee also established a far lower level, immediately prior to the Cy season, and he hadn’t pitched well in three years — and he wasn’t merely an All-Star. After Marte’s Triple-A performance in 2009, an All-Star appearance in 2010 or 2011 couldn’t be viewed as a total shock. Cliff’s season of utter dominance certainly was a total shock.
Heck, I’d add players such as Gutierrez, Sizemore, and (with a bit more stretch) Garko. I think it’ll be interesting by the end of this upcoming season to see if my strong distaste for Wedge holds and if there is some marked improvement in players such as Marte or Peralta. I have more confidence that Acta can get more out of someone like Valbuena then Wedge ever would. Maybe its my anti-Wedge bias – but I hope that I’m proven right by improvement in a number of our younger players.
Pitching is so much more difficult. I hope we find someone to mentor all this youth and inexperience we have coming up.
I just wanted to believe.
Maybe its my anti-Wedge bias – but I hope that I’m proven right by improvement in a number of our younger players.
A managerial change would be one possible reason for an improvement by a player. But certainly not the only one. But for many who view things through an anti-Wedge prism, it will probably be the only one considered.
For what it’s worth, I thought Peralta would be better regardless of who was hired. His track-record will tell you that. But it seems logical that maybe there can be an even higher level of expectation with hiring a manager with Latin descent. Interesting.
Peralta and Sizemore can be expected to regress upward. Valbuena can be expected to grow as a hitter and develop more power from his maturing physique.
Peralta and Sizemore can be expected to regress upward.
OK, define the parameters. I think we may have a bet.
Resident LGT results-oriented boob.
If Jay doesn’t bite, Chuck, I will.
"You are an LGT success story" -- Jay
by Turkmenbashi on Oct 27, 2009 12:09 AM EDT up reply actions
You set a mighty low bar.
How’s this: Peralta OPS .690 this year and ,804 the year before.
I’ll bet you he doesn’t OPS above ,760 next year.
As for Sizemore, he OPSed .788 last year – in limited service and .876 the year before. My bet is he doesn’t OPS above .850 next year. And as part of the bet, he’s gotta have more than 700 PAs. You on?
Resident LGT results-oriented boob.
You wanna cover your bet? OK, I’ll split the difference – 650 ABs and a OPS north of .850. How’s that?
Resident LGT results-oriented boob.
That’s pretty liberal, Chuck. If you wanted to stand behind it you’d drop it closer to 800. The argument was a regression backwards, not a total repeat of form.
Chugga-chugga chugga-chugga, Choo Choo!
Hey, I didn’t reach back to ’06 when he OPSed at .907.
OK, ya talked me into it, >.825 and 650 ABs.
Resident LGT results-oriented boob.
2009 Regular Season AB Leaders:
1. Aaron HIll – 682
2. J Roll – 672
3. O-Dog – 656
4. Nick Markasihowerveryouspellit – 642.
I don’t have a horse in this race, but I think 650 might be pretty high. There were a ton of guys above 600.
I still don’t know: is that men kay vich or men kah wits?
by clusterchuck on Oct 27, 2009 9:57 AM EDT up reply actions
Or maybe it was that part about the Astros having difficulty with their package.
Ahem. I hate it when that happens.
by Chemo on Oct 25, 2009 11:13 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Here’s a comment from a friend who is a Yankees fan:
“Hiring a manager with a proven losing record shows the owners are not actual thinkers.”
Ha! Very well played.
Really, Chuck, isn’t it amazing? The effect the “Yankee mentality” has on sports fans is embarrassing. These fans give up the capacity to thoughtfully consider the game.
Frankly I’m shocked to discover you’ve got a friend who’s a Yankees fan (I got one too).
It’s difficult to have a discussion about baseball with them since you’ve got to shout so that they can hear you. What with them occupying their lofty perch and we mere Indians fans so far away in the abyss that is Cleveland baseball.
Resident LGT results-oriented boob.
by mauichuck on Oct 25, 2009 7:24 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Gotta work on that trigger finger if you’re getting four-hour response times.
by Voltaire on Oct 25, 2009 10:51 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Things I like about this:
- he is from outside the organization
- he is coming from Latin America, is bilingual, and has quite a bit of exposure there
- his players liked him
- he appears to not be hostile to more recent baseball conversation
Things I don’t like:
- the possibility we’ll turn around in two years and say, “we hired the manager with the worst record from the worst organization in baseball…what did we expect to happen?”
Having lived in Washington, DC for the past several years, I have always been impressed with Acta’s communication skills with the media. Obviously, it’s hard to come up with something insightful to say about 100+ losses, but he has a very clear, direct and non-confrontational interview style with the beat reporters.
Agree. I think he’s gonna work out well.
"You are an LGT success story" -- Jay
by Turkmenbashi on Oct 25, 2009 9:13 PM EDT up reply actions
Someone go to the press conference tomorrow and ask Manny his views on imagined versatility.
The once and future
by Manhattan Tribe Fan on Oct 25, 2009 9:16 PM EDT reply actions
While doing a “let me google this for you” for a co-worker about Manny Acta, I stumbled on this (and I chuckled on how it was related to my season-specific LGT avatar)
I thought it was too good not to share.
(I threw it in this thread because, you know. Funny pictures. And stuff.)
[this space for rent]
by setstr8 on Oct 26, 2009 12:57 PM EDT up reply actions 6 recs
that’s just light projected onto a pumpkin, methinks. could even be photoshopped.
Resident Take the Football References One Step Too Far Guy
Kristen Hudak claims otherwise. She also claims she’s now a Tribe fan, at least in the AL. She like Acta a lot.
maybe i’ll test it out later and see if i can photoshop marte or someone onto a pumpkin
Resident Take the Football References One Step Too Far Guy
photoshopping Peralta onto a pumpkin would be redundant…
by stuart dean on Oct 26, 2009 4:20 PM EDT up reply actions 5 recs
I am cautiously optimistic. Tired of throwing all of my support behind my team’s guys immediately, so want to try a new approach.
The Bobby Cox unsolicited vote of confidence actually means a ton to me, and reassures me that this was probably our best option.
Maybe Bobby will talk Leo Mazzone into taking the job?
by NickFantana on Oct 26, 2009 10:07 AM EDT up reply actions
If there’s anyone who understands how little the record of a rookie manager matters in the long run, it’s Bobby Cox, whose teams won 45% of their games over his first three seasons. Well, him and Tony LaRussa (47%). And Joe Torre (40%).
by FredOx on Oct 26, 2009 10:08 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Does anyone else think that Hoynes must have this wrong?
The Indians and Houston have been negotiating hard with Acta over the last several days. When Acta said no to the Astros over the weekend, the Indians acted quickly.
This little blurb is interesting:
Mattingly was scheduled to interview this week, but the Indians could never get a confirmed date on Donnie Baseball.
Of the four finalists, it seems as though two (Valentine and Mattingly) were uncertain about whether or not they’d even want the job. I wonder how common that sentiment was among the 10 candidates who had long phone interviews.
During my phone interview, I purposely called Mark “Mr. Beane” and called Progressive Field ’Municipal Stadium". An hour later, they hired Acta.
by elsandito on Oct 25, 2009 11:12 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
I just want to clear up something from the previous manager thread, which is now closed. I do not hate anyone for being young. In fact, one of my favorite personal axioms is that it’s a whole lot better to be young and stupid than old and stupid.
Can’t we just erase both threads and start over? What a travesty, Walter. Finally some off-season action (as I am in the midst of Yankee hell right now) — was really looking forward to reading the comments. But this has got to be an all time low here. And I even got here to late for my semi-annual gratuitous pile on. Very disappointing.
Jay is right. It’s a lot worse to be old and stupid. Certainly when it comes to the grand game of baseball, the results are in: I am old and stupid. I have been a fan since the age of 5 (the last World Series title), and never once, in the more than 60 seasons that have followed, have I predicted with any accuracy what the next season would bring. But have I learned from this? Hah. So here goes. Manny Acta will do fine. Fine is pretty good with the present roster. And, given that he already is fluent in twice as many languages as I am, maybe he’ll learn to speak Japanese.
by just a bit outside on Oct 26, 2009 6:54 AM EDT reply actions
Nobody has a particularly good lifelong track record at predicting baseball — and you have the cruel proof of my own slipshod record in the form of that 2009 Annual. I am satisfied just to be right about a few things that other folks didn’t see coming. There’s is no way to avoid being wrong about a lot of things.
Incidentally, unless we bring back Tomo Ohka or somehow sign that kid out of high school, I don’t think we have any Japanese players left in the organization. We do have Shin-Soo from Korea and Chen-Chang from Taiwan.
With a fool, age brings only years, not wisdom – Louis Lamour
by stuart dean on Oct 26, 2009 8:45 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
This has my official endorsement.
The once and future
by Manhattan Tribe Fan on Oct 26, 2009 8:01 PM EDT up reply actions
Can we change the title of this post. Every time I come here I think we hired an Acting Manager.
"Lotta heart in Cleveland." - Ian Hunter
by Denver Tribe Fan on Oct 27, 2009 1:22 AM EDT up reply actions
There is a lot to like about Manny. Bilingual, smart, enthusiastic, always well prepared, and open.
But I still have concerns. His 158-252 (.385) in 2+ years should concern everyone, even with a team as bad as Washington. What bothers me is the progression: .451 winning pct in 2007, .366 in 2008, and .299 in 2008 (8 games below the “expected” w-l record – just midway through the season!). That’s not a good trend line. Were the 2009 Nationals that much worse than the 2007 team? The thing that bothered me about Wedge was that he didn’t seem to improve with experience (at least it didn’t seem that way to me). How much did Acta improve with experience?
No doubt the reason why I’m not more excited about Acta is that I’ve completely lost confidence in our front office and the team. Why should I believe they’ve suddenly gotten wiser about their decisions?
If you believe it's just a game, you're also probably wondering why Santa keeps skipping your house every year.
How was Manny’s record over those 2+ years versus the team’s projected wins before the season began? Did he underachieve, overachieve, or meet expectations?
Projected wins before the season began? What, you mean like predictions?
Steel Nick
by nickjs21 on Oct 26, 2009 2:53 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
I tried to find this out looking at the archives of Hardball Times earlier today. I couldn’t find everything I was looking for, but from what I did find, it seemed like he was pretty much in line with the talent he had over his 2.5 years…over-achieving early and under-achieving at the start of this season.
Keith Law had a nice brief take in the ESPN rumor central section (insider.) Can’t post any of it, but he basically slams Drayton McClane and gives credit to the Indians.
I’m going with cautiously optimistic on this one, for most of the same reasons listed above.
To me, he was the best of the three candidates who came into town. Roenicke intrigued me as a candidate, but it appears Acta was always the clear front-runner.
Coaching staff should be fun to watch, seems like Nunnally’s name is getting a lot of exposure as hitting coach.
Now I can sell my “Get Thee to a Nunnally” t-shirts right next to my “Acta Facta” t-shirts!
Wait 'til next millennium!
by emd2k3 on Oct 26, 2009 3:46 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
He actually got Bruce Drennen to shut up for once.
Also this quote: “I think stats are like bikinis, they show a lot but not everything.”
Quote from Acta per Hoynes and cleveland.com:
Acta said he didn’t know until this weekend that the Indians were interested in him as a manager.
“These people are very good poker players,” said Acta. “I had no idea how interested they were. I didn’t know anything until the last minute until I was offered the job.”
Might just have to catch a replay of ABAO at midnight….the conderence started right about an hour in so it should be shown again around 1am….probably the only way you’ll catch the whole thing.
Indians.com has an over 9 minute clip of the press conference, just search through the videos at the bottom of the page after clicking one of the videos on the mainpage.
There’s Hoynes ribbing after the 25 minute mark. Underwood asks Shapiro if there was a moment he knew that Acta was the guy. Shapiro said he tries not to make snap judgments, especially with moves of this magnitude, and then goes on to say that one of the attributes evident right away with Manny was his ease of communication with the great number of different people he was meeting for the first time, including:
Even the ability to relate to Paul Hoynes. That might have been the defining moment.
Steel Nick
Some stuff off the top of my head:
-In addition to the WEGLARZ shoutout, he mentioned the primary reason for him coming to Cleveland was the young talent (major and minor league). Mentioned by name in one quote Santana, Weglarz, and Mills.
-Mentioned some pitchers off the top of his head, and it sounded like he was floating his idea for next year’s rotation: Westbrook (“need Jake back healthy), Carmona, Laffey (”needs to step up"), Masterson (“needs to keep developing”), Huff (“had a good first year in the bigs”, or something like that). Mentioned Rondon’s name after all those guys.
-Stressed defense on several different occasions, mentioned the advantage of having an athletic roster, and a particularly athletic outfield
-Likes the bullpen, mentioned “power arms”; really likes the offense
-Was asked specifically about Carmona and Peralta, with Carmona he mentioned that he knew him personally and believed his troubles to be primarily confidence, while with Peralta he said he was playing under his ceiling, and that the coaching staff would be talking to him
Here’s a link to the 9-minute vid. Not gonna do a table of contents, but he starts talking about the pitchers with about a minute left.
Resident Take the Football References One Step Too Far Guy
More paraphrasing.
- Q: Are you going to acclimate yourself with the players this winter or wait until spring training? A: “Winter is too far away, my friend. That starts tomorrow.” (Then he sipped his Dos Equis.)
- Q: Do you like a set lineup? A: Ideally we have the ‘27 Yankees, but after we mix in the youngsters early on and see what we have, he’d like to have as much stability as possible. Of course he won’t keep a guy batting leadoff for two months if his OBP is .300. Yes, he said that.
- Follow-up Q: Favorite stats? A: OBP, obviously. It’s all about scoring runs, hard to do that if you’re not on base. OPS helps you win ballgames, but it all comes down to pitching and defense. Pitching and defense is going to end the rebuilding process, and this team has enough athleticism to become great defenders.
- Q: Slow starts? A: The first three weeks of Spring Training are to find good fits on the roster and evaluate talent, but he wants those last two weeks to be all go. He wants ST losses to feel like regular season losses.
- Q: Pitch counts? A: If a guy deserves it he’ll go 120, 130, but he won’t hesitate to pull someone at 60. Pitching deep into games is earned. At the same time he won’t gamble the future of our young pitching
- Q: What are you looking for in a bench coach? A: Not a yes man, but someone to bounce ideas off of. Someone who can make snap decisions. I need to know that I don’t have to be aware of every decision they make because I can trust them. Same goes for the rest of his staff.
You know what, I’ll stop there, because I just got the link to the audio. It’s the one on the bottom of the page (acta_shapiro_pressconf).
Steel Nick
by nickjs21 on Oct 26, 2009 8:47 PM EDT up reply actions 6 recs
I think the comment reflects that he understands Laffey is one of the few with the ability to step up.
"You are an LGT success story" -- Jay
by Turkmenbashi on Oct 27, 2009 12:13 AM EDT up reply actions
Bet Jhonny can’t wait for that talking to…
by Wil Cantrell on Oct 26, 2009 10:29 PM EDT up reply actions
“Who’s that new man in the room where that other man was?”
by fg28 on Oct 27, 2009 1:05 AM EDT up reply actions 6 recs
Andrew, the people want another screenplay.
Steel Nick
by nickjs21 on Oct 27, 2009 5:23 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
This is the first moment it sunk in to me that someone other than Wedge will be filling out lineup cards.
Acta gets to play with our toys now. This will be fun!
SOMEONE OTHER THAN WEDGE!!
Resident Take the Football References One Step Too Far Guy
by westbrook on Oct 27, 2009 1:29 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
-Was asked specifically about Carmona and Peralta, with Carmona he mentioned that he knew him personally and believed his troubles to be primarily confidence, while with Peralta he said he was playing under his ceiling, and that the coaching staff would be talking to him
i know it doesn’t mean much, but i love the bolded portion of this for some reason. carmona is the guy i want fixed the most and if he can form a bond with this guy and turn him around, i feel like this is a good start.
Carmona is a huge potential asset if he can be turned around. As I always do, I’ll point out that the Indians hold THREE club options on Carmona’s contract. They aren’t the cheapest options ($7M, $9M, $12M), but if he is anything like the pitcher he was in 2007 they are steals. I don’t think it would be wrong to give a guy a little extra bump if you think he can be particularly effective at turning Carmona around.
They do with player signings, I think. I am pretty positive they did for Wood.
The buttoning, getting it off the hanger, the whole thing. Just weird. Some clapping would’ve made it less bizarre.
Hey, would you clap for a guy who can’t button a shirt? I wouldn’t.
"You are an LGT success story" -- Jay
by Turkmenbashi on Oct 27, 2009 12:16 AM EDT up reply actions
Manny said this:
“Not every who is big shots now was big shots when they started. They were just little shots who kept shooting. I am a little shot who kept shooting.”
I don’t know what to make of this.
hah, yeah. I was going to bring that up but didn’t really know what to say about it.
Resident Take the Football References One Step Too Far Guy
Sounds like something Nick Saban would say when he accepts the coaching job at a MAC school.
by Toxicadam on Oct 27, 2009 12:37 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
This is really what sold me, but I’ve liked everything I’ve heard from him.
by Ryan Kelsey on Oct 27, 2009 12:45 AM EDT up reply actions
but now we have the option of activating the SAP function
by APV on Oct 27, 2009 4:26 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
isn’t it a tad hyperbolic to say that they’re terrible? They had a terrible season, obviously. But are you expecting a repeat of their 2009 performance next year? I don’t know if I see through the new manager’s glasses, either (although, that was simply an introductory presser…what was he gonna say, “after spending my first day on the job, i’ve come to the conclusion that we’re … we’re not good.”?). I’m just surprised someone as thoughtful and anti-reactionary as you are would make such a claim. Ain’t mad atcha, just taken aback a bit.
Before taking Pro-Acta, please consult your doctor. Do not taunt Pro-Acta.
Your reaction is understandable. Of course I expect an improvement, but we would still feel they were (relatively) terrible had they won 74 games, and they fell well short of that. I don’t expect the rotation to be much better, which is to say that I don’t expect incremental improvements to make up for losing Lee and Pavano. I can’t see how anyone can be confident that the bullpen will improve, since we lack any evidence that the organization has the skills to put together even a mediocre bullpen.
Given these facts and (I think) reasonable subjective judgments, how are they not still terrible? I see no reason to give them the benefit of the doubt on any of their weakest points, so in my view, they’re terrible until proven otherwise.
by Jay on Oct 27, 2009 12:44 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Won’t we be all shocked when the bullpen is awesome and we have no way of actually knowing why.
Wait 'til next millennium!
I’ll bet the Astros fans won’t have nearly as much fun with Brad Mills
Before taking Pro-Acta, please consult your doctor. Do not taunt Pro-Acta.
Wedge will be a tough Acta follow.
by Roger Dorn on Oct 27, 2009 4:16 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
that one might be better inverted after Manny gives his teary retirement speech in 20 years after having won six titles restoring order to the force in the process – thus making Acta himself the Tough Acta Follow. I spent too much time on that.
Before taking Pro-Acta, please consult your doctor. Do not taunt Pro-Acta.
I really think Manny is going to enacta new culture in the clubhouse. He’s going to impacta team that really needs a new infusion of energy. He’ll extracta new level of effort from Jhonny, get Grady to make more contacta, and hopefully get Fausto backta basics. I’m looking forward to seeing him interacta with the Latinos and rookies on the team. It’s a facta life that no manager can single-handedly swing a team’s fortunes around, but if anybody could, it’d be Manny.
If you want a safe bet for the next two World Series, take the Indians both times — bet the exacta.
by Chemo on Oct 27, 2009 5:18 PM EDT up reply actions 4 recs
Did anyone catch what he said about his competitive nature in the press conference? He said just ask his wife and daughter…he even hates to lose at Tic-Tacta-Toe.
Before taking Pro-Acta, please consult your doctor. Do not taunt Pro-Acta.
I understand what you’re saying. Maybe I’m just still high from smoking the kool aid (or something) after the press conference yesterday. It seemed a little pollyanna-ish, yes, but I’m feeling a little charged up about this team’s chances to rebound next year – although, admittedly, it probably has a lot to do with having something new and different to look at and listen to. My cats get really stoked when there’s a new grocery bag on the floor to play with, then, it seems, they quickly realize, “this is just a bag, dude…” and lose interest. Perhaps the same will happen to me. Although I don’t think I’d use the word terrible. Nor do I think Manny Acta is a grocery bag.
Before taking Pro-Acta, please consult your doctor. Do not taunt Pro-Acta.
smoking the kool aid
Now that is a real site motto candidate.
[Insert joke here in which grocery bag is somehow taken as a racial epithet.]
I swear I wasn’t comparing Manny Acta to the guy who bags my groceries at the market where I shop in my Dominican neighborhood in Brooklyn, NY. Nor is it symbolic or somehow “telling” that I let my cats stomp all over grocery bags in this same neighborhood.
(interesting note: I always wear my tribe hat out here and the dominican store owners in my neighborhood always laugh at me (they love the yankees). but a guy said to me on Sunday: “Hey, Papi…Manny Acta!” and gave me a thumbs up. He knew only moments after I did. I thought that was pretty cool.)
Before taking Pro-Acta, please consult your doctor. Do not taunt Pro-Acta.
I’d like Manny a lot better if he had that Ricky Ricardo/Ozzie Guillen accent and an attack of the crazies every now and then. This team’s just too buttoned down for my taste. I want some salsa caliente with my ballpark frank!
Resident LGT results-oriented boob.
I would settle for the sporadic, “Stay thirsty, my friends.”
Steel Nick
by nickjs21 on Oct 27, 2009 5:25 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
I think this might be the beginning of a beautiful friendship.
Well intentioned mangling English should be fun over the next few years years. Its the new Manny-ism!
I just wanted to believe.
How is he mangling english? Just because he’s foreign doesn’t mean he’s somehow messing up the beautiful english language.
You know, it’s things like this and that crap Chuck said upstream that make LGT not as great as it thinks it is.
by hyphens on Oct 27, 2009 11:05 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
You know what’s messing up the English Language? Hyphens.
Is this the whale section?
by sarcasmdave on Oct 27, 2009 12:38 PM EDT up reply actions
ok I’m on my phone so I couldn’t tell you were replying to the quote but the quote is not completely right and it made sense to me when I heard it.
The only thing I’m trying to say is that I come here to learn more about baseball and the indians, not to swift through everybody’s racial stereotypes.
by hyphens on Oct 27, 2009 11:18 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Your objection was noted and acted upon. I hardly think this is a hotbed of bigoted comments — you might just be overreacting a bit. (Is there some sports forum out there that has less racism and latent homphobia than this one? Where?)
I think Acta turned an odd phrase there, but I understood what he meant. I also don’t think the odd phrase was due to a poor command of English, it was just an odd phrase.
Yeah maybe I did overreact at mj’s response to the quote but I think what Chuck said upstream basically insinuating all Spanish speakers are only good enough for manual labor seemed a little unnecessary.
by hyphens on Oct 27, 2009 12:56 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
First, I can personally vouch for Chuck as being no kind of a racist by any definition. He revels in cultural differences, as many of us do, and he has a sense of humor, but from what I can tell, there isn’t a trace of that kind of ugliness anywhere in the man’s heart. Just couldn’t be further from “that guy.”
Second, this is an open forum and not a private club, even though it often feels like a private club. We all make a lot of little “knowing remarks,” in-jokes, memes, things that someone who’s not a devout reader are bound to misconstrue completely. Sometimes, we will delete a remark not because we believe it was intended to offend, but because (in our judgment) it is bound to be misunderstood and cause offense anyway.
These deletions should not be understood to be punitive, but merely practical.
by Jay on Oct 27, 2009 1:38 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
It is truly appreciated that you took my complaint into consideration. I just want to say that the fact that you guys run a tight ship when it comes to those kind of comments and the general intelligence of the members are two big reasons why I consider LGT pretty much my favorite website. I truly have learned a lot since I started visiting and I just don’t want to see the train derailed.
by hyphens on Oct 27, 2009 1:10 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Thanks for the defense Jay, it sounds a lot truer coming from you than me. And hyphens, dude, calm down. I know it makes you all warm and fuzzy inside when you can easily identify someone who’s not as morally pure as yourself, but, jeez, racist? You sure? Does identifying small cultural differences make one a racist? Does my gentle prodding of Mario’s Italian background constitute racism? Or mentioning the various birth ritual that Jay observes – is that racism too? How about giving the Irish guys some hooey about St. Patty’s day – or worse yet intimating that they may drink more than the average guy?
Look, I admire folks who are willing to work hard and sacrifice to better themselves and their families and I embrace his ethos – note the male pronoun, maybe I’m sexist too. I’m also a huge admirer of guys who pull themselves up from humble beginnings – guys who mow lawns and change oil in order to better themselves. My intent wasn’t to besmirch the guy’s who do that work – I number myself as one who thankfully left those ranks – but to lampoon those who might see a cause and effect.
In case you haven’t notice, our current President has offered us a new paradigm that I hope all Americans will embrace. Acknowledge cultural differences but see them for what they are: superficial and temporary, not permanent and deterministic.
Resident LGT results-oriented boob.
Well said
"You are an LGT success story" -- Jay
by Turkmenbashi on Oct 27, 2009 5:05 PM EDT up reply actions
i don’t even remember what was said so i’ll take your word that it wasn’t malicious but the way that it came across to me was “spanish speakers (latinos) are only good for mowing lawns and changing oil”. also all those examples you use ARE small cultural differences but what you insinuated (or what i thought you did) wasn’t a cultural difference but a stereotype.
it’s water under the bridge. moving on.
You didn’t get it.
Chuck’s comment was in response to English-speaking parents teaching their kids Spanish so that the Anglos wouldn’t end up mowing yards and changing oil because they wouldn’t be deficient in a bi-lingual society, which this country will be by the end of this century.
Currently, Spanish-only speakers are at a disadvantage in our economy. It’s not racist, but a fact that bilingual Latinos are more likely to “get ahead” compared to Spanish-only Latinos. It’s entirely possible that in the future, English-only speakers could be at that same disadvantage.
Jay – Feel free to delete this if need be.
Wait 'til next millennium!
I don’t feel any need to delete it, but I’m profoundly skeptical of your ending hypothetical.
Incidentally, anyone in Quebec can tell you that you’re far more likely to get ahead even there if you’re bilingual rather than French-only, even though the whole province is deeply French-centric.
VOTE NON!
And deeply is selling their Frenchness short.
by supermarioelia on Oct 27, 2009 6:59 PM EDT up reply actions
A problem of causation here. People don’t get ahead by becoming bilingual (well, not much). People who are already ahead (e.g., have something on the ball) become bilingual. Bilinguality is an effect, not a cause, of success.
I don’t necessarily agree if you are talking about teaching children multiple languages in school. I recall in California (when I lived there) the effort to eliminate Spanish-only instruction in elementary schools because studies showed it actually hurt the students it was intended to help. They fell further behind than if they were instructed in both Spanish and English.
Wait 'til next millennium!
Maybe smarter people have better language skills. It’s the intelligence, and not the ability to speak two languages, that makes them successful. I’m not sure I believe this, just thinking. If you take a dumb person and force him out of his monoculture, does he become successful?
I see what you’re saying, but it’s more the ability to adapt to the needs of the economy, especially in a place like California. Spanish-only speakers (currently) are confined to certain types of employment. The ability to effectively communicate in both Spanish and English would seem to broaden the spectrum of opportunity. (For a really crude example, Martin is a really great employee who understands the business, but I can’t promote him to management because he cannot effectively communicate with most of my customers.)
Also, I wouldn’t confuse being bilingual with being intelligent, necessarily. Do I think ‘smart’ people are more likely to take advantage of speaking multiple languages? Sure.
Wait 'til next millennium!
birth ritual that Jay observes
Now this might cut a little close to home.
by supermarioelia on Oct 27, 2009 6:51 PM EDT up reply actions
I find this offensive… as a man.
The once and future
by Manhattan Tribe Fan on Oct 27, 2009 7:35 PM EDT up reply actions
How about giving the Irish guys some hooey about St. Patty’s day – or worse yet intimating that they may drink more than the average guy?
Puttin that a little lightly boyo.
If this “stereotype” disappears, I’ve lost a lot of cover.
The once and future
by Manhattan Tribe Fan on Oct 27, 2009 9:44 PM EDT up reply actions
Well, the site logo is pretty weak, from a racial-sensitivity standopint.
by JulioBernazard on Oct 27, 2009 5:58 PM EDT up reply actions
hyphens, I was specifically referring to the quote from above which was pretty close to what I heard. I laughed when I heard it, understood it for exactly what it was and what he was trying to say. What was quoted above is very close to what I remember him saying. If you read my post, you’d see there wasn’t anything derogatory about what I said, I’m excited about having him as our Manager.
I read that quote to my wife, who is a foreign born, non-native speaking, English teacher (having lived in the US and consequentially an English speaking country a grand total of 14 months) and she laughed at it. Her response was that grammatically, she didn’t know where to begin.
I applaud Acta on his ability to communicate. Of course, I don’t think that being bilingual is something hugely out of the ordinary. My point was that his commentary was an odd turn of phrase. I didn’t write my commentary with any sense of racial stereotype. I just thought it to be a potentially interesting trait – something akin to Charlie Manuel and his sayings.
Read my post again, and in addition to my other posts widely in favor of Acta. I doubt (and hope) you don’t find any trace of racial bigotry there because I’ve never intended any.
I just wanted to believe.
In related news, the Astros went ahead and hired Brad Mills.
Says Keith Law:
Astros hire Brad Mills, schedule press conference to announce his firing for October 2, 2011
Steel Nick
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