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Do IT this week: Layering
By Stephanie Storm
Beacon Journal sports writer
POSTED: 06:56 p.m. EDT, Oct 25, 2009
CLEVELAND: Manny Acta spent a majority of the second half of the baseball season paying close attention to the television, watching and then often re-watching games involving teams that he had a hunch would soon be looking for a manager.
To say that Acta saw his share of Indians losses is an understatement.
Armed with a wealth of knowledge about the team, Acta impressed the Indians' front office personnel during the first round of telephone interviews and again last week in an all-day in-person interview that ended with a sit-down with local media.
Acta's hiring was confirmed Sunday afternoon by the team, and the Indians will make it official at a news conference at 4 p.m. Monday at Progressive Field.
Acta, the 40th manager in Tribe history, is signed through 2012, with a club option for 2013.
''After speaking with an impressive array of candidates, we feel that Manny is a very strong and experienced leader who possesses great energy and enthusiasm, along with tremendous communication skills and a positive mindset that will command a presence in the dugout, clubhouse and with our fans,'' Indians General Manager Mark Shapiro said in a news release.
Acta, 40, was fired as the Washington Nationals coach after 21/2 seasons, compiling a 158-252 mark with a .385 winning percentage.
It was the honesty of a Houston Astros minor-league coach in the early 1990s that turned Acta's attention from playing to managing after six seasons in the minor leagues (1986-1991). It took some time, but in 2002, Acta broke into the major leagues as the third base/infield coach of the Montreal Expos.
''When I was 22 years old, the Houston Astros told me to my face I wasn't good enough to play in the big leagues,'' Acta said last Tuesday. ''Since that was my goal, it was pretty tough to swallow in the beginning. Then I just made the goal that if I can't make it as a player, now you're going to have to make it as a coach.''
After three seasons with the Expos, Acta accepted the same position on the New York Mets staff for the 2005 and 2006 seasons before taking on the huge task of rebuilding the Nationals franchise.
One point of interest in hiring Acta is that he holds dual citizenship in his native Dominican Republic and the United States. His ability to speak bilingually is a bonus for an Indians team that has a handful of Latin players, including struggling pitchers Fausto Carmona and Rafael Perez.
In addition to Acta's major- and minor-league managerial experience, he served four seasons as a manager in both the Dominican and Venezuelan winter leagues, guiding the Tigres del Licey to the league championship in 2003 and '04. Acta also managed the Dominican Republic's team to a semifinal appearance in the inaugural World Baseball Classic in 2006.
''I am very excited to become part of the Cleveland Indians family,'' Acta said in a news release. ''I believe we will grow together as a team, with the ultimate goal of bringing a championship to Cleveland and its fans.''
Stephanie Storm can be reached at sstorm@thebeaconjournal.com. Read the Indians blog at http://www.ohio.com/tribematters.
CLEVELAND: Manny Acta spent a majority of the second half of the baseball season paying close attention to the television, watching and then often re-watching games involving teams that he had a hunch would soon be looking for a manager.
To say that Acta saw his share of Indians losses is an understatement.
Armed with a wealth of knowledge about the team, Acta impressed the Indians' front office personnel during the first round of telephone interviews and again last week in an all-day in-person interview that ended with a sit-down with local media.
Acta's hiring was confirmed Sunday afternoon by the team, and the Indians will make it official at a news conference at 4 p.m. Monday at Progressive Field.
Acta, the 40th manager in Tribe history, is signed through 2012, with a club option for 2013.
''After speaking with an impressive array of candidates, we feel that Manny is a very strong and experienced leader who possesses great energy and enthusiasm, along with tremendous communication skills and a positive mindset that will command a presence in the dugout, clubhouse and with our fans,'' Indians General Manager Mark Shapiro said in a news release.
Acta, 40, was fired as the Washington Nationals coach after 21/2 seasons, compiling a 158-252 mark with a .385 winning percentage.
It was the honesty of a Houston Astros minor-league coach in the early 1990s that turned Acta's attention from playing to managing after six seasons in the minor leagues (1986-1991). It took some time, but in 2002, Acta broke into the major leagues as the third base/infield coach of the Montreal Expos.
''When I was 22 years old, the Houston Astros told me to my face I wasn't good enough to play in the big leagues,'' Acta said last Tuesday. ''Since that was my goal, it was pretty tough to swallow in the beginning. Then I just made the goal that if I can't make it as a player, now you're going to have to make it as a coach.''
After three seasons with the Expos, Acta accepted the same position on the New York Mets staff for the 2005 and 2006 seasons before taking on the huge task of rebuilding the Nationals franchise.
One point of interest in hiring Acta is that he holds dual citizenship in his native Dominican Republic and the United States. His ability to speak bilingually is a bonus for an Indians team that has a handful of Latin players, including struggling pitchers Fausto Carmona and Rafael Perez.
In addition to Acta's major- and minor-league managerial experience, he served four seasons as a manager in both the Dominican and Venezuelan winter leagues, guiding the Tigres del Licey to the league championship in 2003 and '04. Acta also managed the Dominican Republic's team to a semifinal appearance in the inaugural World Baseball Classic in 2006.
''I am very excited to become part of the Cleveland Indians family,'' Acta said in a news release. ''I believe we will grow together as a team, with the ultimate goal of bringing a championship to Cleveland and its fans.''
Stephanie Storm can be reached at sstorm@thebeaconjournal.com. Read the Indians blog at http://www.ohio.com/tribematters.
Comments
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Naples, FL
Posted 07:02 PM, 10/25/2009
Hopefully, he names Joe Nunnally as the Tribe's hitting coach. Good Luck Manny.
Canton, OH
Posted 07:14 PM, 10/25/2009
The dude does not excite me. .He is a loser & will lose in Cleveland. . .
Sagamore Hills, Oh
Posted 07:23 PM, 10/25/2009
So, let me get this straight. Manny got the job because A: he was fired and had a lot of time to watch bad baseball. B: he saves the Dolans the expense of having a bilingual bullpen coach. Wow, there's got to be a lot of ticked of people in Cleveland that fit that discription that didn't lose 100 games with the Nats.
Akron, Oh
Posted 07:25 PM, 10/25/2009
How would you like to be manager of the Cleveland Indians?
Can I call you back? I got a guy here about some white walls.
What a joke the Dolans are!
medina, oh
Posted 07:31 PM, 10/25/2009
Acta = Cheap
You knew Dolan wouldn't spring for someone with credentials.
Another 100 loss season!
Lorain, oh
Posted 07:52 PM, 10/25/2009
He's a loser...enough said.
akron, oh
Posted 08:08 PM, 10/25/2009
goes with the Browns...Cleveland owners will not produce a winning team or championship as long as they hire has been players or trade away good players Lee, C.C., Thome, etc. A real shame if double AA players make good here in Akron, only to go to Cleveland and lose or they get traded to better teams.
Stow, OH
Posted 08:41 PM, 10/25/2009
I must admit that the hiring of Mr. Acta has not stirred my imagination. Still, I hope the he will do well personally and that the team will prosper under his direction.
Somewhere in, AL
Posted 08:51 PM, 10/25/2009
You gotta be kidding me. When is Mark S going to be fired?
Wadsworth, OH
Posted 08:52 PM, 10/25/2009
The only homework Acta did was in how to sign his name to probably the lowest paying manager's job in MLB.
Posted 08:52 PM, 10/25/2009
how is it that they hired the worst of the 4 that they were interviewing. His only experience as a manager was horrific. they will match the browns in ineptitude. unbelievable - yet totally believable.
GO CAVS!
Posted 08:55 PM, 10/25/2009
Another LOSER to manage a LOSER cleveland team. Great job. TIme to start rooting for the Yanks.
Oh yeah they are playing right now for the ALCS.
DOLAN ACTA = LOSER
How did Mangina do today, OH yeah got beat up by Green Bay.
LERNER MANGINI = LOSER
Posted 09:09 PM, 10/25/2009
Is Acta Spanish for Baseball's version of Mangini?
2 years and gone, just my 2 cents.
Paradise, Oh
Posted 09:15 PM, 10/25/2009
Hey...he might turn out to be the next Alvin Dark.
You never know.
Metairie, LA
Posted 10:14 PM, 10/25/2009
Good Luck to Manny
Posted 10:48 PM, 10/25/2009
Trick or Treat! The Dolans have played another trick on the fans. An ex Nationals manager. Could any team have a worse record than the Indians. The Indians are doomed for another season. I certainly won't be standing in line for any tickets. The season is a complete loss before it even begins. Sickening, just sickening. This team will lose 100 games. Go Cliff Lee and the Phillies.
Green, Oh
Posted 10:49 PM, 10/25/2009
This is the dumbest hire EVER!
Why don't we hire a rock as the manager?
Akron, OH
Posted 10:58 PM, 10/25/2009
At least until Dolan sells, I fear I have already attended the last Cleveland Indian's game in my life.
I am forever-done with this club until new ownership!
:0(
barberton, oh
Posted 11:00 PM, 10/25/2009
the guy who gave the best "book report" got the job.
now let's welcome 3 more years of mediocrity.
Richmond, VA
Posted 11:58 PM, 10/25/2009
Mediocrity would be an accomplishment
Middleburg Hts., Oh
Posted 01:31 AM, 10/26/2009
Breaking News....
John Adams, longtime bass drummer for the Regressive Bleacher Orchestra, has been TRADED for 1950's nightclub performer, Ricky Ricardo. Said GM Mark Shapiro, "This, along with the hiring of Manny Acta, will send a message to our Latin players and enhance opportunities for future signings. The Bongo drums have more beat and can be paired with our many fireworks displays."
Ricardo, on a train from New York, was quoted as saying, "I have lots of splainin' to do, but I think Lucy is tired of the Merz's anyway...Fred and Ethel aren't happy, but I'm a static."
akron, oh
Posted 09:10 AM, 10/26/2009
Well, the owners of the Indians expect the team to win not lose more games. I hope the new manager knows and understands this. Acta has been fired before, due to losing too many games. Afterall we don't need another Mangini mistake!!!!
