Manny Acta et all

[rebelwithoutaclue]

We're about a month into the season so I'd say it's about time to talk about the coaches as this definitely is a changed team. How much credit do you give Acta for this hot start? To Belcher for the tremendous pitching? Most people unmercifully blamed Wedge for pretty much every foible and folly, do those same guys give Acta all the credit for the turn-around?


I like Acta. I liked him when the Indians hired him and thought that there was no way he could win in Washington with the roster that he was given. Plus he looks exactly like my buddy's dad. I give him credit for instilling confidence, along with Orly Cabrera it seems, and I give Belcher tons of credit for the perceived fringy starters (Talbot, Tomlin) doing well and bullpen all doing very well. But I'm still of the camp that the players play and the manager can only do so much. Basically, without Acta (and definitely not Wedge) I think they still would have been better than last year, but not leading the AL Central. They're 15-8 after last night and without Acta, I'd guess they'd be something like 12-11 or 11-12 so I'll give Acta/staff credit for 3-4 wins, not for any moves he has specifically made, just for his overall presence and the continuity from last year to this year.

[Cease]

Digging Acta's act so far, how could I not? Winning has that effect.

I like that he focused his Spring Training chatter on carrying the success of last year's last half, raising the bar for this year's club and moving the goal from "playing better" to "#winning"

I like that he puts the onus on players to make plays, evidenced early with the squeeze bunt. That call got players' attention- be ready to use all of your tools, be sharp, and Acta will trust you to decide ballgames.

The "Santana Situation" - to move him out of the clean-up or not, is the current challenge for Acta. Manny's betting on keeping him in there, that he'll grow through the struggles and come out stronger on the other side- asking him to mature 2X faster than a drop in the lineup would. I hear peeps calling for a line-up shift for Santana, but I'm still siding with Manny on this. Very interesting.

Yes, Acta deserves credit, as do the coaches Nunnally and Belcher.

[Erie Warrior]

I like the NL style he's brought. Nothing wrong with manufacturing runs.

[Eckersley]

I like the positive energy he brings to the table. Much better than the drab, mundane walking cliche machine that he replaced.

Manny doesn't talk much about playing the game the right way. He's letting his team do the talking & that's the way it oughta be.

Is he a skillful tactician? I haven't seen enough Tribe games to know either way. I do know 1 thing...he can't be worse than what we had. I give credit to Belcher for the pitching staff as well. So far, so good!

[Prosecutor]

I like Manny and he deserves some credit, but I believe in the cliche that the manager gets too much credit when the team is winning and too much blame when they're losing.

The difference from last year is 95% personnel, IMO.

Last April Brantley was hitting .118 and got sent down. LaPorta was almost as bad and also got sent down. Grady was hitting .211 with no power until he shut it down and was replaced by Crowe and his .251 BA and 2 HRs in 442 ABs.

Peralta was a 3rd base with his suspect glove and .246 BA in 334 ABs until he got traded. Then Valbuena took over and hit .193. So they went to Nix and his iron glove who hit .234. They also gave Marte one last shot and he didn't hit either. Third base was a disaster.

At catcher Marson hit .195 in 262 ABs. Actually, that's the one position we're not getting better production from this year, that and right field.

Off the bench they used Mike Redmond, Drew Sutton, Chris Gimenez, and Jordan Brown at various times. They combined for 244 ABs and none of them hit over .230.

In the rotatioin Masterson was 6-13, 4.70 and Huff was 2-11, 6.21. Kerry Wood was blowing saves right and left with his 6.30 ERA before he was moved.

The difference in personnel between this year and last is night and day. Manny deserves some credit, but if he had the same guys as last year performing at the same level, we'd be in last place right now.

[Am I Here Again?]

I liked Manny right from his introductory presser. He came across so differently than The Previous One that you had to like his straightforward way of talking. I think that translated into the clubhouse. The guys have to feel better about playing and work harder at getting better just because they don't have a little black cloud dampening the mood in the clubhouse. This sounds SO cliche but a better attitude gets better results. Not that Manny had a magic wand he's waving around to make everyone better, but I think the guys are working harder without grinding. When you're tight as a drum you don't function as well. JMO.

Same with the new coaches. Different method of working with the guys gets a different approach from the players and different results. I really have no idea WHAT is making this team click but I like it. Maybe we should not question, just accept. And celebrate while we can!

[Eckersley]

The difference in personnel between this year and last is night and day. Manny deserves some credit, but if he had the same guys as last year performing at the same level, we'd be in last place right now.

No doubt that personnel matters most, but shouldn't Manny & his coaches get credit for guys like Masterson & Brantley performing much better from this time last year?

[gotribe31]

The difference in personnel between this year and last is night and day. Manny deserves some credit, but if he had the same guys as last year performing at the same level, we'd be in last place right now.

No doubt that personnel matters most, but shouldn't Manny & his coaches get credit for guys like Masterson & Brantley performing much better from this time last year?

So why didn't they have them performing like this last year?

[Am I Here Again?]

The difference in personnel between this year and last is night and day. Manny deserves some credit, but if he had the same guys as last year performing at the same level, we'd be in last place right now.

No doubt that personnel matters most, but shouldn't Manny & his coaches get credit for guys like Masterson & Brantley performing much better from this time last year?

So why didn't they have them performing like this last year?

Cuz in April they didn't have the same guys. Grady was probably playing injured. Hafner was a shell of his old (and current) self. And three more words: Branyan, Peralta, and Valbuena. And weren't we still running the Andy Marte Experiment? So this year really isn't the "same" team as last year.

[Eckersley]

It takes some time for the coaches & players to get to know 1 another. Last year was the 1st for the coaching staff as well as for Brantley. Masterson had barely tasted the bigs as of last April.

I din't think either player would've progressed like they have had the former morons still been around.

[statmasta]

The difference in personnel between this year and last is night and day. Manny deserves some credit, but if he had the same guys as last year performing at the same level, we'd be in last place right now.

No doubt that personnel matters most, but shouldn't Manny & his coaches get credit for guys like Masterson & Brantley performing much better from this time last year?

So why didn't they have them performing like this last year?

Rome wasn't built in a day. Coaches aren't miracle workers. You don't bring in a great coach and BAM your players are better. Takes a while for the coach's teachings to show in results on the field. It's a long process.

[leadpipe]

Actually Manny Acta, during his tenure with the Cleveland Indians emphasizes just how little a major league manager means. I mean, Christ, what's he doing different this year form last? Last year's starting staff was an out of control disaster. Last years Hafner was a shell. Last year the first three months he called on his lefty specialist he got bombed. Last year nobody could pick up a ball in the infield, last year there was no Grady and on and on....

I mean this is Casey Stengel, Joe Torre all over again. Players play well, manager wins. Player plays poorly manger loses.

Unless somebody wants to explain how Manny Acta was responsible for Sizemore's health, Pronk not going 162 (with every third game off) off the handle, Masterson's command, Raffy getting some outs, a full time closer, not having to pencil in Andy Marte.....

Just like it wasn't Acta's fault last years Tribe was poorer fundamentally than any Wedge team here, it's not his doing that some guys are devloping and/or healthy.

[GodHatesClevelandSport]

Indians are 8th in the AL in SBs. AL average is 16; Indians have 14.

Indians are 7th in the AL in SB%. AL average is 73%; Indians are at 71%.

Indians are 6th in the AL in sac bunts. MLB average is 5; Indians have 5.

Indians are tied for 7th in AL in pinch-hitter appearances. AL average is 8; Indians have 7.

Indians are tied for 9th in AL in passing out IWs. AL average is 4; Indians have 3.

These are things you would figure Acta has control over -- deciding when to send runners, calling for bunts, sending up a pinch-hitter, putting foes on base to set up DPs, etc. The Indians are average or below average in every single category.

Here's a few things Acta doesn't really have any control over:

HRs: Indians 3rd in AL with 25. AL average is 22.

2Bs: Indians 5th in AL with 46. AL average is 42.

AVG: Indians 1st in AL at .271. AL average is .248.

ERA: Indians 4th in AL at 3.63. AL average is 3.96.

HR allowed: Indians tied for 2nd in AL at 15. AL average is 22.

In the categories which measure how good the players are, the Indians are above average in just about every single one.

As far as game management goes, Acta is doing nothing more than sitting back and watching a bunch of good players become good and healthy at the same time.

[KFletch]

During Snowdays, I had the opportunity to sit down with Manny Acta (since no one knew he was up in the Terrace Club) and we chatted for about 45 minutes. My step dad (die hard Yankees fan) and my husband were drilling him with questions about the roster, new pitching, etc.

Manny was consistent and was really excited about the talent and promised us that these guys would be exciting in 2011, he def. delivered :)

Now I am trying to convince my hubby to forget the $4 gas and drive down to Cleveland to watch them take on the kittens.

[Am I Here Again?]

...Now I am trying to convince my hubby to forget the $4 gas and drive down to Cleveland to watch them take on the kittens.

Promise him lunch at Tony Packo's as bait! The deep-fried pickles are great! (Oops, there are those deep-fried veggies again...)

[Prosecutor]

The difference in personnel between this year and last is night and day. Manny deserves some credit, but if he had the same guys as last year performing at the same level, we'd be in last place right now.

No doubt that personnel matters most, but shouldn't Manny & his coaches get credit for guys like Masterson & Brantley performing much better from this time last year?

I think the pitching coach deserves a lot of credit. He convinced Fausto to change his grip on his changeup and the pitch improved considerably and the results were obvious. He helped get Masterson straightened out. Chris Perez emerged as a top closer. OTOH, Wood was horrible in Cleveland but suddenly was unhittable as soon as he got to the Yankees.

Brantley hit .118 and got sent down. When he returned from Columbus he hit .284. The major league staff had nothing to do with Brantley's development. His issues got corrected in Columbus. Tomlin is 4-0 and all his development took place in the minors.

I think Manny did a fine job last year considering what he had to work with. The Tribe was only two games under .500 after the All-Star break, IIRC. This year he's doing a good job, too. I just wouldn't give him too much credit because I don't think managers have that much effect on the game. Everybody thinks Gardenhire is a genius but they're in 4th place with Mauer hurt and Joe Nathan ineffective.

[bookelly]

That suicide squeeze set the tone early that this was a different ballclub. It got the players AMPED, and that exactly what you want with a skipper.