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By Sheldon Ocker
Beacon Journal sports writer
POSTED: 07:04 p.m. EDT, Oct 23, 2009
CLEVELAND: Torey Lovullo is on General Manager Mark Shapiro's short list to be the Indians' next manager, but why have him go through the interview process?
Don't the Tribe's deep thinkers know Lovullo by now? He has been in the organization for eight years, the past four as Triple-A manager, three at Buffalo and this season at Columbus. He has guided teams in the farm system at almost every level as well as being a roving instructor.
So did the brass need to ask whether he believed in bunting with no outs and runners on second and third?
''It's part of the process,'' Lovullo said Friday after the question-and-answer period with his bosses. ''They're hiring a manager, and they want to be comfortable with his ideas. They want to make sure there aren't any pitfalls. It was an exciting time for me to express my ideas and philosophies.''
Lovullo cites current Boston Red Sox skipper Terry Francona as his managerial role model.
''I played for seven teams and seven managers,'' he said. ''Terry Francona easily had the biggest influence on me. Of anybody, he is someone I pattern myself after.''
Lovullo's competitors for the job include former Washington Nationals manager Manny Acta, veteran big-league and Japanese Pacific League manager Bobby Valentine and Los Angeles Dodgers bench coach and long-time New York Yankee Don Mattingly.
If it's experience as a major-league coach or manager the Tribe is seeking, Lovullo is the underdog. But if it's knowledge of the current roster and what might be coming up through the minors, Lovullo is the expert.
''I think that's a built-in advantage I have over the other candidates,'' he said. ''But when all is said and done, how much is that going to affect their decision? That's for them to decide.''
Asked about two of the club's shining prospects, Matt LaPorta and Michael Brantley, both of whom made their big-league debuts this year, Lovullo was expansive.
''I think they're going to be spectacular performers for years to come,'' he said. ''LaPorta has an ability to drive in runs. I think if we're talking about him five years from now, we'll be saying he's one of the best right-handed hitters in the American League.
''Brantley is one of the best students of the game that I've managed. I think in a few years, he'll be one of the game's premier base stealers and potentially one of the top leadoff hitters.''
Lovullo was asked a variety of questions by reporters involving some of the Tribe's perceived shortcomings last season, including its slow start and juggling of players in the lineup.
There is no sure method of getting off to a quick start, but Lovullo wants to try something different as exhibition season is winding down in the spring.
''Toward the end of spring training, I'd get a core of guys — maybe 25 to 27 — and use them as a group as if we were on a road trip during the season,'' he said. ''I would run the games like the regular season. Guys need to go on every road trip [just before camp ends]. It might not be fun, but I think they have to perform then like it's the regular season in those games.''
Customarily in spring training, regulars and even semi-regulars are not required to play in every game away from home, even if travel time is only 30 minutes and the regular season is only days away from starting.
Like all managers, Lovullo would prefer having a set lineup.
''Another belief of mine is to get a lineup up there as fast as I can and then stick to it,'' he said. ''Of course, you have to have a couple of plug-in guys, and you have to keep your bench sharp, but I believe in using the same lineup and the same batting order as much as I can.''
Along that same line of thinking, Lovullo thinks the problems faced by relievers Jensen Lewis and Rafael Perez worsened because they began to lose faith in themselves.
''I think that Rafael and Jensen might have lost a little confidence,'' he said. ''It's up to the manager to get them in roles so that they can get on a roll.''
Lovullo seemed to be addressing former manager Eric Wedge's inclination to stress versatility (that is, having a member of the team play more than one position) when he said, ''Some things I was hearing [from Columbus] is that guys struggled with their roles. A guy who knows his role is going to be as productive as he can be.''
Lovullo disagrees with critics who think the Indians are nowhere near being competitive in the American League Central Division.
''People think there has to be development and I agree,'' he said. ''But I think we're a lot closer than some people feel. There are going to be some frustrating moments and some exciting moments. But I believe our direction will be toward winning a championship sooner rather than later.''
Sheldon Ocker can be reached at socker@thebeaconjournal.com. Read the Indians blog at http://www.ohio.com/tribematters. Follow the Indians on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/ABJ_Indians.
CLEVELAND: Torey Lovullo is on General Manager Mark Shapiro's short list to be the Indians' next manager, but why have him go through the interview process?
Don't the Tribe's deep thinkers know Lovullo by now? He has been in the organization for eight years, the past four as Triple-A manager, three at Buffalo and this season at Columbus. He has guided teams in the farm system at almost every level as well as being a roving instructor.
So did the brass need to ask whether he believed in bunting with no outs and runners on second and third?
''It's part of the process,'' Lovullo said Friday after the question-and-answer period with his bosses. ''They're hiring a manager, and they want to be comfortable with his ideas. They want to make sure there aren't any pitfalls. It was an exciting time for me to express my ideas and philosophies.''
Lovullo cites current Boston Red Sox skipper Terry Francona as his managerial role model.
''I played for seven teams and seven managers,'' he said. ''Terry Francona easily had the biggest influence on me. Of anybody, he is someone I pattern myself after.''
Lovullo's competitors for the job include former Washington Nationals manager Manny Acta, veteran big-league and Japanese Pacific League manager Bobby Valentine and Los Angeles Dodgers bench coach and long-time New York Yankee Don Mattingly.
If it's experience as a major-league coach or manager the Tribe is seeking, Lovullo is the underdog. But if it's knowledge of the current roster and what might be coming up through the minors, Lovullo is the expert.
''I think that's a built-in advantage I have over the other candidates,'' he said. ''But when all is said and done, how much is that going to affect their decision? That's for them to decide.''
Asked about two of the club's shining prospects, Matt LaPorta and Michael Brantley, both of whom made their big-league debuts this year, Lovullo was expansive.
''I think they're going to be spectacular performers for years to come,'' he said. ''LaPorta has an ability to drive in runs. I think if we're talking about him five years from now, we'll be saying he's one of the best right-handed hitters in the American League.
''Brantley is one of the best students of the game that I've managed. I think in a few years, he'll be one of the game's premier base stealers and potentially one of the top leadoff hitters.''
Lovullo was asked a variety of questions by reporters involving some of the Tribe's perceived shortcomings last season, including its slow start and juggling of players in the lineup.
There is no sure method of getting off to a quick start, but Lovullo wants to try something different as exhibition season is winding down in the spring.
''Toward the end of spring training, I'd get a core of guys — maybe 25 to 27 — and use them as a group as if we were on a road trip during the season,'' he said. ''I would run the games like the regular season. Guys need to go on every road trip [just before camp ends]. It might not be fun, but I think they have to perform then like it's the regular season in those games.''
Customarily in spring training, regulars and even semi-regulars are not required to play in every game away from home, even if travel time is only 30 minutes and the regular season is only days away from starting.
Like all managers, Lovullo would prefer having a set lineup.
''Another belief of mine is to get a lineup up there as fast as I can and then stick to it,'' he said. ''Of course, you have to have a couple of plug-in guys, and you have to keep your bench sharp, but I believe in using the same lineup and the same batting order as much as I can.''
Along that same line of thinking, Lovullo thinks the problems faced by relievers Jensen Lewis and Rafael Perez worsened because they began to lose faith in themselves.
''I think that Rafael and Jensen might have lost a little confidence,'' he said. ''It's up to the manager to get them in roles so that they can get on a roll.''
Lovullo seemed to be addressing former manager Eric Wedge's inclination to stress versatility (that is, having a member of the team play more than one position) when he said, ''Some things I was hearing [from Columbus] is that guys struggled with their roles. A guy who knows his role is going to be as productive as he can be.''
Lovullo disagrees with critics who think the Indians are nowhere near being competitive in the American League Central Division.
''People think there has to be development and I agree,'' he said. ''But I think we're a lot closer than some people feel. There are going to be some frustrating moments and some exciting moments. But I believe our direction will be toward winning a championship sooner rather than later.''
Sheldon Ocker can be reached at socker@thebeaconjournal.com. Read the Indians blog at http://www.ohio.com/tribematters. Follow the Indians on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/ABJ_Indians.
Comments
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Naples, FL
Posted 08:00 AM, 10/24/2009
I like what I've heard from Lovullo. He was also an over-achieving player which leads me to believe he will be successful. The fact is no one knows a whole lot about most of the candidates and many will use the normal Cleveland cliche's that so'n so was hired because the "Dolan's are cheap" if it's not Bobby V or a name guy.
Paradise, Oh
Posted 10:35 AM, 10/24/2009
The Dolan's are cheap and will hire a lousy manager with no big league experience...just like the Indians always have.
How's that CleveRox/Ed? Am I on the money?
Akron, OH
Posted 12:38 PM, 10/24/2009
If they want a cheap solution, he is the man. He is in-house, and is AAA-level, just like most of our players.
cuyahoga falls, oh
Posted 12:44 PM, 10/24/2009
Lovullo is better than the two vet managers as a selection, but whatever happened to interest in mike hargrove? this administration, this ownership, are proving they could care less about the customer base that has evaporated with the Dolans taking over. Frank Lane lives in the philosophy they embody. The problem with shapiro is that having done this the first time successfully, trading top notch stars for guesswork players in the minor leagues, he thinks it always works. Not very often. Sorry, mark. Strike three, duder.
Posted 02:22 PM, 10/24/2009
I read in an ESPN article that Lovullo stated that many of the players were disappointed that they had been jerked in and out of the lineup, and were constantly changing posititons when they were sent to the bigs. No surprise there! That's just one of Wedge's managerial weaknesses.
Kent, Oh
Posted 03:13 PM, 10/24/2009
I think he'd be a great big-league manager. Go tribe!
