Acta-puncture
by Tim Koelble on Oct.26, 2009, under Baseball
I am in a state of shock right now over the developments up north in Cleveland around by beloved Indians.
The Tribe has hired Manny Acta as their new field manager with a three-year contract and option for a fourth. Here is a guy that went 16-62 before he was finally canned after 2 1/2 years managing the Washington Natinals (intended). Something like 94 games below .500 on his record and suddenly he is the Indians new manager.
And even more, it came down to a bidding war with the Houston Astros.
Acta must have interview well with the Indians brass and said all the right things to general manager Mark Shapiro — YES, YES, YES. Everything Shapiro likes to hear, just like Eric Wedge.
The newspaper and online stories already today are reporting Acta says he is a “common sense” manager. The fans already are in an uproar. The ownership just can’t get it right — Shapiro should have been gone at the same time Wedge was fired and then everything could start over from square one — not just with Acta.
He couldn’t become a successful manager in Washington. What makes anyone think he will be one in Cleveland? If he is eventually the second coming of Mike Hargrove, or Lou Boudreau, then I’ll admit my sarcasm and disgust on this hiring was out of line.
And by the way, Wednesday night is the World Series opener and who are the starting pitchers? Cliff Lee for the Phillies and CC Sabathia for the Yankees…. MMM … former Cleveland pitchers.
And I can’t believe Tony LaRussa has hired Mark McGwire as a hitting coach. Without steroids, can he really teach someone how to hit, or just give them some pointers on how to not strike out as much?
