Articles Wedge Being Fired, New Manager Hunt & More

[InsaneJedi]

Call me crazy, but I wouldn't have too much of a problem with Acta. I know his record in Washington was downright aweful, but he seems like he might do a good job here, given a few better players. Bobby Valentine doesn't excite me, and his contract would be very expensive for a cash-strapped team. Fryman would be interesting, and would certainly give a sense of nostalgia to the Tribe similar to what Kenny did in '07 (I was actually supporting Omar as manager; but he wants to keep playing).

The much bigger issue here, in my opinion, is the coaching staff. Which members of the former staff are worth keeping? Who will be the bench coach, hitting coach, pitching coach? I think that at least Luis Rivera should be kept from the former staff; as for pitching coach, Scott Radinsky seems a likely candidate, especially with all the young pitchers we will have. But the new manager will be important as much for his decisions on the coaching staff as for his actual managerial credentials.

[Sara Tonyn]

My preference is still Valentine but that's primarily because I've actually seen him manage. I've never seen Acta or Fryman in action.

2010 will be a start-from-scratch learning experience for everybody -- players, coaches and the manager -- so we may have to wait until 2011 to get a good idea of how the new manager fits.

Gonna be interesting though!

[TribefanstuckinMA]

Former Washington Nationals manager Manny Acta a finalist for Cleveland Indians manager job
Acta played six seasons in Houston's minor league system as an infielder. He did not play in the big leagues.

Even WEDGE has 100 plate appearances in the majors over four seasons. *sheesh* I know Fryman doesn't have any ML managing experience either, but at least he has personal experience with the Tribe, having played for them for 5 years. You're probably right, Wait, it'll be Acta.

[Hope]

Finalists for Cleveland Indians manager job include Acta, Valentine, Lovullo, Mattingly;
Fryman, Hargrove are out

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- It was Manny Acta's turn today to interview for the Indians vacant manager's job.
Bobby Valentine, Torey Lovullo and Don Mattingly are on deck. Lovullo, the Indians Class AAA manager for the last four years, is scheduled to interview with the GM Mark Shapiro on Friday.
Shapiro wasn't sure when Valentine, who has spent the last six years managing in Japan, would come to Cleveland for his interview because he has to work around his obligations to ESPN.

Mattingly, bench coach for the Dodgers, is currently busy in the NLCS. But the Dodgers trail Philadelphia, 3-1, in the best-of-seven series that resumes Wednesday.

Shapiro added that he's considering interviewing two other unnamed candidates. He's also collecting names to fill out a coaching staff.

Acta, 40, started his interview at 8 a.m. He met with the media at about 3:20 p.m. During the day, the former manager of the Washington Nationals met with Indians President Paul Dolan, Shapiro, assistant GM Chris Antonetti and other members of the front office.
Shapiro and Antonetti interviewed Acta, Valentine, Lovullo, Mattingly and others last week during the Indians organizational meetings in Goodyear, Ariz.
"We talked to nine or 10 candidates," said Shapiro.

He wanted to cut the field to "three to five' for the second round of interviews with the hopes of hiring the 40th manager in Indians history by the end of the World Series. Game 7 of the series is scheduled for Nov. 5.

Travis Fryman, the Indians manager at Class A Mahoning Valley, interviewed last week, but didn't make the final cut.
"Travis Fryman was an atypical candidate for us with only two short seasons managing in A ball," said Shapiro. "Based on our respect for who he is as a man and what he brings as a leader, we did spend an afternoon talking to him.
"I came away, as I always do when talking to Travis, impressed. Impressed by his passion for his players and leadership vision. The more he worked into it, the more it was clear he has a desire to do it and will do it in an impactful way at some point.
"I still think where he is in his life and where we are, managing some more games will make him a better candidate down the road."

Concerning Mike Hargrove, who made it clear he would like to manage the Indians once again, Shapiro said, "Mike and I talked a couple of times. He's a guy I have an immense level of respect for and an appreciation of. I made the decision at this time, that it just wasn't the right fit for a variety of reasons.
"One thing I wasn't sure of going in, and it became completely clear to me -- Mike has a passion and a desire to manage again."

Acta managed the Nationals from 2007 through July 13. He feels the Indians are in a much better place than the team that fired him.
"The team is faraway more advanced," said Acta. "The Indians have a lot more pieces in place."
He described himself as a "common sense' type manager, who believes communicating with players is the biggest part of his job.
"There's not that many geniuses in this game when it comes to X's and O's," said Acta, a native of the Dominican Republic. "The media and the 35,000 people in the seats know when a bunt is in order."
Acta interviewed Friday to be Houston's manager. The Astros interviewed nine other candidates.

Mattingly, known as Donnie Baseball when he played first base for the Yankees, is also being considered to manage Washington.
"Washington seems willing to wait until after the World Series," Mattingly told the Associated Press. "Cleveland is on a different time table."
Mattingly says he's ready to manage.
"I've wanted to manage for a long time," he said. "When the opportunity knocks, you've got to kick down the door."

In an e-mail to The Plain Dealer, Valentine said, "I'm very interested in meeting these guys.

[Sara Tonyn]

If it's really down to just these four -- Acta, Valentine, Lovullo, Mattingly -- I think Acta has to be the favorite to get the nod from Shapiro, no?

Lovullo has no ML manager experience and I think Shapiro himself said he wanted the new manager to have prior experience, didn't he? Which makes me wonder why Lovullo is still in the running but...

Mattingly has no ML manager experience either and Shapiro's time frame for announcing the managerial selection seems to work against him. Of course the time table can be modified... (and I think he'd be a good choice)

Valentine has plenty of experience in every important category but he's probably too expensive and too opinionated for Shapiro's liking. Mark probably wants another cheap soul mate who'll stick to uttering mindless cliches and the same old annoying keywords to the media instead of actually saying something original, interesting or of substance. Plus, Valentine actually shows emotion so... I mean, he'd throw pies right along with the players!

So I guess Acta has the edge, no? (not Wedge, edge!)

If so, I'm 50-50 on the pick. I just don't know much about him.

[Hope]

CASTRO's Turf: A quick look at the known finalists for the Indians' managerial job:

MANNY ACTA
Age: 40
Experience: Former Nationals manager

Hire him: His open-mindedness toward sabermetrics might mesh well with the Indians' front office, his Dominican roots allow for an easy rapport with Latin players and he could be primed to succeed after learning from his experiences with the Nats.

Stay away: Yes, the Nats were an awful ballclub, so it's best not to put too much stock into Acta's managerial record, but the team was 26-61 with Acta this season and 33-42 after he was dismissed, so they showed improvement without him.

TOREY LOVULLO
Age: 44
Experience: Triple-A Columbus manager

Hire him: As the Indians retool with their young talent, who better to take over that young talent than the guy who helped mold those players at the Triple-A level? Lovullo is smart, confident and a good communicator.

Stay away: Hiring Lovullo, who has no Major League coaching experience, would reek of the "same old, same old" atmosphere the Indians are trying to avoid. Fans might view him as a Wedge clone.

DON MATTINGLY
Age: 48
Experience: Current Dodgers hitting coach and former Yankees first baseman

Hire him: His credentials as a player would earn him instant respect with his players. He's studied under Joe Torre and is even said to be in line to be Torre's successor, if he doesn't leave first. "Donnie Baseball" has been very successful as a hitting coach.

Stay away: The Yankees didn't name him Torre's successor in 2007 for a variety of reasons, including his mild-mannered nature, what they deem to be his unpreparedness for a big-league managing job and the simple reason that they felt he was too much like Torre. If Wedge didn't appeal to fans, would the soft-spoken Mattingly have a better fate?


BOBBY VALENTINE
Age: 59
Experience: Current ESPN analyst, former Mets, Rangers and Chiba Lotte Marines (Japanese Pacific League) manager

Hire him: He is, by far, the most experienced of the remaining candidates, and his career managerial record in 15 big-league seasons is 1,117-1,072, including a World Series appearance with the Mets in 2000. He would bring a welcomed new opinion to an organization that has struggled with the evaluation of its own talent. And his personality might be a hit with fans.

Stay away: At this stage in his career, is Valentine a good fit for a team that figures to come out on the short side quite often next season and will be geared more toward player development? And considering he made about $4 million managing in Japan last year, is Valentine affordable for the cash-strapped Tribe?

[Wahoo1324]

Still upset that they threw out Grovers name, how is this not a good situation for him to coach???

I don't want Acta.

Frankly, I would be fine with the other three, my preference is Valentine, then Mattingly, than Lovullo.

[Hope]

Shelton named Rays hitting coach Offensive specialist spent seven years with the Indians

ST. PETERSBURG -- Derek Shelton was named the Rays' new Major League hitting coach on Wednesday.
After the announcement, Shelton spoke on a conference call with reporters and couldn't hide his enthusiasm about the prospect of working with the likes of Carl Crawford, Jason Bartlett, Carlos Pena, Evan Longoria, B.J. Upton and Ben Zobrist.
"It's exciting," Shelton said. "When this job became available and I was able to sit down with [manager] Joe [Maddon] and Andrew [Friedman, executive vice president of baseball operations] and talk about it, I think any hitting coach who likes hitting, and then you sit down and look at this lineup you're thinking this is awesome. I'm very excited to be around the caliber that we have. And I'm very excited to be able to work with them. There are some talented guys here."

Shelton's hiring comes slightly more than two weeks after the Rays announced that Steve Henderson would not be retained in the position.
Shelton, 39, spent the past five seasons as the Indians' hitting coach.
"Derek has proven himself to be one of the better minds in baseball when it comes to hitting," Friedman said. "He brings a fresh voice that can help our talented core of hitters reach new heights. His attention to detail and ability to communicate will be great additions to our group."

Maddon has been hoping to improve the situational hitting at the Major League level as well as throughout the organization.
"I believe he is the kind of coach who can create a hitting program that will benefit the organization both at the Minor League and Major League levels," Maddon said. "In our conversations, I found that we share the same philosophy on a number of different areas. He was very clear and concise on his intentions and in the end it was an easy decision."

Shelton went right to the heart of the problem when he cited one of the most important aspects of situational hitting was getting a runner home from third base with less than two outs.
"I think the big thing we're going to try and talk about and be consistent with about is making sure our approach stays consistent," Shelton said. "What I mean by that is it's going to be about the pitches we swing at. The pitches we don't swing at and work off that.
"I think at times guys get in the situation where they try to get hits and do too much in those situations instead of just adding on runs. So I think that's going to be the core emphasis of what we talk about right from the get-go."

Shelton was asked if it's more difficult getting younger hitters, like those in the Rays lineup, to grasp situational hitting concepts.
"I think as you gain experience in those situations, you get better at it," Shelton said. "But I think with the group of hitters we have here and the way these guys can hit here, it's going to be something we'll be able to start drilling from Day 1 of Spring Training.
"It will definitely be a focus from the first time we get in the cage and continue to work through it and get in the season and go from there. I think with the caliber of hitters we have here I think they can really do a good job with it."

Shelton was named Indians hitting coach on June 4, 2005, at the age of 34, replacing Hall of Famer Eddie Murray. He remained in that role through the end of 2009. Over his tenure the Indians ranked fifth in the Major Leagues in runs scored, seventh in batting average, third in on-base percentage, sixth in slugging percentage, second in doubles and 10th in home runs. In each of his first four seasons (2005-08), the Indians' offense ranked eighth or higher in the Majors in runs scored. In 2009 they finished 12th.

Shelton spent seven years with the Indians, also serving as hitting coordinator from 2003-05. Prior to that, he spent six seasons coaching in the Yankees organization. He began his coaching career with the Gulf Coast League Yankees in 1997 and earned promotions to Class A Tampa in 1998 and Double-A Norwich in 1999. He then managed three years for the Gulf Coast League Yankees (2000-01) and Staten Island Yankees (Short Season Class A; 2002), leading his clubs to first-place finishes in 2000 and 2001 and league championships in 2001 and 2002.

A former catcher, Shelton played two years in the Yankees' organization before an elbow injury ended his career. He graduated from Southern Illinois University with a degree in criminal justice. He resides in Tampa with his wife, Alison, and two children, Jackson and Isabella.

Shelton will be the sixth hitting coach in club history and the youngest. He follows Henderson (1998, 2006-09), Leon Roberts (1999-2000), Wade Boggs (2001), Milt May (2002) and Lee Elia (2003-05).

[WaitTillNextYear]

Poor Tampa Bay.

[Wahoo1324]

Imagine the difference if we go from Shelton to Mattingly. Mattingly would be manager, not hitting coach, but still.

[Sara Tonyn]

Still upset that they threw out Grovers name, how is this not a good situation for him to coach???

I think I read somewhere than he still might be in the running for bench coach.

I'd like that.

Then get Omar to be the 1B coach, Kenny Lofton to be the 3B coach, and Mattingly to be the hitting coach.

[Hope]

Cleveland Indians to put Bobby Valentine through paces today as manager search continues

This time around, when it came to hiring a manager, GM Mark Shapiro wanted to expand the search. He didn't desert his home base, yet he cast his nets as far and wide as possible.
The next two candidates scheduled to interview today and Friday at Progressive Field to become the Indians' 40th manager reflect that search. Bobby Valentine, who has managed 2,189 games in the big leagues and another seven years in Japan, arrives today to meet Shapiro, Indians President Paul Dolan, assistant GM Chris Antonetti and others. Torey Lovullo, who has managed eight years in the Indians' minor-league system, including the previous four at Class AAA, will interview Friday.

Former Washington Nationals manager Manny Acta interviewed Tuesday. Los Angeles Dodgers hitting coach Don Mattingly, whose team faced possible elimination Wednesday night in Game 5 of the National League Championship Series against Philadelphia, hasn't been scheduled for an interview yet.

Valentine, 59, has managed and succeeded on the game's biggest stage. He took the New York Mets to the NLCS in 1999 and the World Series in 2000. As the Mets manager he had five winning seasons and a record of 536-467 from 1996 to 2002.
He also was fined $5,000 and suspended for two games for appearing in the Mets dugout during a game in June 1999 wearing a fake mustache and sunglasses after getting ejected. If he gets hired as the Indians manager, he may need that sense of humor since the Indians lost 97 games this year.

Valentine started his managerial career with Texas in 1985. Former Rangers GM Tom Grieve, an old teammate with the Mets, hired him.
"I didn't interview anyone else," said Grieve, a Rangers broadcaster. "I didn't even interview Bobby. I just told our president, Mike Stone, 'This is the guy.'
"I played for Ted Williams, Joe Torre, Ken Boyer. I've been around a lot of baseball people and I've never met a guy that knows the game like Bobby Valentine. If baseball had an SAT test, he'd score at the top. Bobby could be a hitting coach, pitching coach, base-running coach or outfield coach. He knows every facet of the game."

When Valentine first started managing the Rangers, they couldn't afford a scout to file reports on their upcoming opponents.
"Bobby bought two satellite dishes," Grieve said. "He had them installed outside the clubhouse so he could watch the teams we were going to play and write his own scouting reports.
"When we trained in Pompano Beach, Fla., the city owned the stadium and wouldn't build us a batting cage. Bobby went to a fishing store, bought the netting and poles and built the cage by himself. That night, somebody stole the whole cage. I've never seen him so disappointed."

Valentine managed the Rangers from 1985 to 1992. They had four winning seasons under him.
"You can tell how I feel about Bobby," Grieve said. "I love the guy, but there's another side to him. He has his detractors, but if you delve into their reasons, they are pretty shallow."

There already have been whispers that Shapiro and Valentine will never coexist.
"Some of his detractors are intimidated by him," Grieve said. "He's a confident guy. I don't think he's ever been embarrassed a day in his life. That can make some people uncomfortable. They don't want to hire someone they think is smarter than them.
"But if it's about, 'Who can we hire to be the best team we can be?' If that's what you care about, he's the guy."

Grieve said one of Valentine's faults is that defeat eats at him.
"He's a lot like Billy Martin that way," Grieve said. "It's not comfortable losing and being around him. At the same time, he has patience with young players. He can lead them, he can teach them and he can motivate them. He has more charisma than anyone I've ever seen."

The Indians are going to be young next year and no one knows those young players better than Lovullo, 44. Twenty-two of the 30 players the Indians ended this season with played for Lovullo this year at Class AAA Columbus.
"He's got experience with most of the guys projected to make this team next year," said reliever Jensen Lewis. "That's important. One of Torey's defining characteristics is that he's a great communicator. When you're out there playing, you know he's got your back."

Said pitching coach Scott Radinsky: "A lot of managers never leave the batting cage during BP. I told him he should go out in the outfield when the pitchers are shagging.
"A starting pitcher sees the manager every game because they're in the dugout. A reliever might talk to the manager once in five days because he's in the bullpen. It means a lot to those guys. I know because I was a reliever. That's a good quality of Torre's."

Friday's interview won't be new ground for Lovullo. He interviewed for the Dodgers job in 2005. In 2004, he interviewed for the baseball job at UCLA, his alma mater.

Lovullo, with 595-531 record in the minors, won championships at Class A Columbus in 2002, Class A Kinston, N.C., in 2004 and Class AA Akron in 2005.
"If the Indians are going to get where they're trying to go," said an NL scout, who scouts the Indians' minor-league system, "they're going to have to develop players and win at the major-league level. Torey can do that.
"He's gone about this in a processed way. He's driven to be a major-league manager and he knew he'd have to pay his dues."

If Lovullo doesn't get the job, he could be a candidate for the big-league staff. So could two of his coaches -- Radinsky and hitting coach Jon Nunnally. Every hitter who was promoted from Columbus this year raved about Nunnally, who is currently Caracas' hitting coach in Venezuela.

Columbus finished last in the International League this year, but had the best batting average.

[Hope]

Two articles on Valentine's interview, first from Cleveland.com, and the second from Indians.com

Bobby Valentine says he wants to manage the Cleveland Indians

CLEVELAND -- Bobby Valentine has some catching up to do and he's not afraid to admit it.

Valentine, following his interview Thursday with the Indians for their manager's job, told reporters that after managing the past six years in Japan, he needs a crash course on the Indians, the AL Central and what he called a "whole generation of major-league players that I've only seen on TV."
"I don't know as much about Cleveland as someone interviewing for their manager's job probably should," said Valentine. "I could have crammed for the last six days, read every article and called every friend to get every bit of information just in case one of guys asked me who the starting third baseman is going to be next year. I didn't do it.
"I can tell you that I don't know about the American League. I don't know about the Central. I don't know about the Indians. But I sure as hell am willing to learn, and spend 28 hours a day if necessary, to know everything that I could possibly know."

Valentine has some other information gaps. Such as the growth of baseball statistics over the past four years. What do all those funny abbreviations mean, anyway? Not to mention what's required to police baseball's steroid problem.
Yes, Valentine has the longest and best track record of any of the four finalists the Indians are considering to replace Eric Wedge. The others are former Washington Nationals manager Manny Acta, who interviewed Tuesday, Tribe minor-league manager Torey Lovullo, who interviews today, and Dodger hitting coach Don Mattingly, whose interview has yet to be scheduled.

Acta, on Wednesday, had his second interview with Houston for its manager's job.
Yet none of them have to play catch-up the way Valentine does. Which probably isn't the best way to impress a potential employer.
Now for another detail -- the rebuilding Indians aren't going to be good next year. So why did Valentine, 59, come to Cleveland to meet with GM Mark Shapiro, assistant GM Chris Antonetti and Indians President Paul Dolan? Obviously, he didn't realize that he may have cost himself the job by admitting that he may not know what OPS (on base percentage plus slugging percentage) to the Tribe's stat-obssessed front office.
"I've managed 3,500 games," said Valentine. "If you count the ones in Japan, I have about 1,600 victories. I love the fact that I had that opportunity. I cherish the thought that I have another opportunity.
"This is an opportunity to manage a major-league team with a group of major-league class people. I'd almost have to ask why wouldn't I want the opportunity? . . . It's one of the best ballparks in the world. They asked me at ESPN, "Why do you want to go there?"
"Why wouldn't I?"

Early in his meeting with the media, Valentine made it clear he wanted to manage the Indians. Later, however, he said, he wasn't sure this is what he wanted to do.
It may have had something to do with sleep deprivation. After returning from managing the Chiba Lotte Marines in Japan, he took a job at ESPN as a baseball analyst. He was on "Baseball Tonight" late Wednesday following the Phillies' series-clinching victory over the Dodgers in the NLCS. He left Bristol, Conn., and got lost going to the airport. He got about two hours sleep before catching an early-morning flight to Cleveland.

At times, while talking to reporters, Valentine admitted he was tired and rambling.
Regarding rebuilding, Valentine, who took the Mets to the 1999 NLCS and the 2000 World Series, said: "It's probably the thing I do worst. I'm a lousy loser. We talked about that in the interview process. If all I was going to do was sign up to manage a losing team, and all I was going to do was try to get one more win than the other guy, I wouldn't be here.
"I think I'm being asked to be part of a baseball culture, to be part of a process that might be lasting, might be special. I like special."
He ended the thought by saying: "I don't know if it's exactly what I want to do. I'm not sure. But again, I haven't been offered the job so I don't have to decide if this is what I want to do."

Valentine managed the Marines from 2004 through 2009. He also managed them in 1995. He's held in high regard by their fans.
A street was named after him. Shrines were built in his honor. This year when ownership said they weren't renewing his contract because they couldn't afford his estimated $4 million salary, thousands of fans signed a petition to keep Valentine as manager.
"I had a six-year love afair with the game of baseball in a different country," said Valentine. "Their baseball society is something that should be kept forever. Women play it. Kids play it. Kids still have bicycles with gloves on their handlebars. Dads pitch to kids in the park. Kids are still throwing balls against the wall.
"There are 125 million people in the country and 90 percent of them follow their professional or high school baseball team. They let me be part of that society for six years. . . . Leaving there about a week ago was a very difficult thing. It was a very emotional time in my life because I don't think that experience will ever be duplicated.
"I hope it can be here, or somewhere else in my life. It was a six-year magic-carpet ride."

Valentine's Marines won the 2005 Japanese World Series. His overall record as manager of the Texas Rangers and Mets is 1,117-1,072.
Given the globs of information Valentine would have to absorb if he was named Indians manager, he was asked why the Tribe should hire him.
"In Japan the guy (manager) is called Tantoukachou," said Valentine. "The definition of the word isn't a manager, it's a director. I really think I am more of a director.
"I can adjust the volume of the orchestra. I put the right sounds and instruments in the right places to make something that's pleasing to the ear, the eyes and the baseball community.
"That's what I do for a living. I hope it's enough."

Valentine interviews with Indians Former Major League manager feels conflicted about job

CLEVELAND -- Bobby Valentine had a simple reason for being in town Thursday to talk about being the new manager of the Cleveland Indians.
"I'm a baseball manager and they're looking to hire one of those type guys," Valentine said. "They have a Major League Baseball team and there are 30 of them in the world. I think those 30 people are special and lucky people. I consider myself lucky to be considered."

Valentine, who has managed the past six seasons in Japan, is working as an analyst for ESPN during the postseason. He was the second managerial finalist to have a sit-down interview. Former Washington Nationals manager Manny Acta was interviewed in Cleveland on Tuesday. Torey Lovullo, who has managed the Indians' Triple-A team the past four seasons, will be in town on Friday. Dodgers hitting coach Don Mattingly is the fourth known finalist. Indians general manager Mark Shapiro said Tuesday he's also considering two unnamed candidates.

After meeting with Shapiro and several other front-office members, Valentine had a candid 35-minute press conference in which he expressed both his desire and doubts about whether he would like to be the Indians' 40th manager.
"From afar, I've had a chance of hearing about and observing the baseball culture of the Cleveland Indians," Valentine said. "I got to see it first hand. I'm very impressed."

The Indians finished 65-97 this year, which led to the firing of Eric Wedge and his coaching staff. Staff ace Cliff Lee and All-Star catcher Victor Martinez highlighted the list of veteran players who were traded during the season.
Those moves will leave the new manager in Cleveland with a rebuilding project. That's something Valentine, who has managed in the Majors for 15 years and took the New York Mets to the World Series in 2000, isn't completely sure he wants to be involved with.
"I don't know that's exactly the thing I want to do right now, either," Valentine said. "I'm not sure that's what I want to do, but, again, I haven't been offered a job so I don't have to decide whether or not I definitely want to do this."

With rebuilding comes losing and Valentine admits handling defeat isn't one of his strong points.
"I really am a lousy loser," he said. "As a matter of fact, we talked about that in the interview process. If, in fact, all I was going to do was sign up to manage a losing team and all I was going to be hired for was to get one more win than another guy, I don't think I'd be here. I think I'm being asked to be part of a process that might be lasting and might be special. I like special things."

After spending the past six years managing in Japan, Valentine knows he has a lot of catching up to do with Major League Baseball and the Indians, in particular.
"I don't know as much about Cleveland as someone interviewing for their manager's job should," Valentine said. "I could have crammed for the last six days and read every article and called every friend and got every little bit of information, just in case one of you guys asked me who the starting third baseman should be next year and I didn't do it."

Valentine hasn't managed in the Majors since 2002, his last year with the Mets. He hasn't been in the American League since 1992, his final year with the Texas Rangers.
"I can tell you I don't know about the American League," Valentine said. "I don't know about the [AL] Central and I don't know about the Indians, but I sure as heck am willing to learn and spend about 28 hours a day, if necessary, to know everything I could possibly know."

Valentine, 59, managed the Rangers from 1985-92 and was with the Mets from 1996-2002. The Mets reached the postseason twice, losing to the Braves in six games in the National League Championship Series in 1999 and losing in five games to the Yankees in the World Series in 2000.
Valentine has a career record of 1,117-1,072 in the Majors, which includes a 581-605 record and four winning seasons in Texas and a 536-467 stint with the Mets. He is the most experienced of the remaining candidates and his energy and outgoing personality would likely be well-received by the media and fans.

It remains to be seen if the Indians can afford Valentine, who made about $4 million in Japan last season. Shapiro told reporters after the season that money wouldn't be an issue, even though the Tribe underwent drastic cost-cutting measures and still owe Wedge $1.3 million for next season.

[Hope]

FYI the Cleveland.com article above was updated on the site so I updated it in the post. .. Moving on.

Tribe given OK to interview Roenicke Angels bench coach targeted as managerial candidate

One of the two unnamed candidates for the Indians' managerial vacancy is Angels bench coach Ron Roenicke, according to a report in the Los Angeles Times.

The Indians have received permission from the Angels to interview Roenicke, but it was unclear whether he had already done so, the Times reported. Both Roenicke and Angels general manager Tony Reagins declined to speak to the newspaper on the record.

The Indians, who dismissed manager Eric Wedge during the final week of the regular season, have already formally interviewed former Nationals skipper Manny Acta and former Rangers and Mets manager Bobby Valentine. Torey Lovullo, who has managed the Indians' Triple-A team the past four seasons, was to be in Cleveland on Friday, and Dodgers hitting coach Don Mattingly was the fourth confirmed finalist.

Indians general manager Mark Shapiro told reporters on Tuesday he's also considering two unnamed candidates, and Roenicke is apparently one of them.

Roenicke, 52, is in his ninth season on the Angels' big league coaching staff, and he's spent the past three as manager Mike Scioscia's right-hand man on the bench. He has a 346-283 record in five seasons as a Minor League manager in the Dodgers and Giants farm systems, including parts of two seasons in the Triple-A Pacific Coast League. Roenicke last managed in 1999 with Fresno.

The Indians finished 65-97 this year, which led to the dismissal of Wedge and his coaching staff. Staff ace Cliff Lee and All-Star catcher Victor Martinez highlighted the list of veteran players who were traded during the season.

Roenicke could be the third member of Scioscia's coaching staff to be hired away to manage. Former bench coach Joe Maddon was hired by Tampa Bay in 2005, and former pitching coach Bud Black went to San Diego in 2006.

[Hope]

BTW alot of these interviews are on video at indians.com.

Lovullo interviews to be Indians skipper Tribe's Triple-A coach looking to make leap to Majors

CLEVELAND -- Torey Lovullo has managed at every level of the Indians' Minor League system.
He's now ready to take the next step.
Lovullo, 44, was the third candidate to come to Cleveland to interview for the managerial job and met with the club's executives on Friday. Former Washington manager Manny Acta was in town Tuesday and ex-Major League manager Bobby Valentine came in on Thursday.
"I'm a manager that's been in the system for eight years," Lovullo said. "I'm somebody who has dreamed of this opportunity and has prepared for this opportunity. I want the fans of Cleveland to understand I'm ready for this opportunity should it arise."

The Indians are expected to continue the interview process next week. Dodgers hitting coach Don Mattingly is another finalist. General manager Mark Shapiro had said earlier that two unnamed candidates may also be considered and it was announced on Friday at that Angels bench coach Ron Roenicke would be one of the two. The Indians have received permission from the Angels to talk to Roenicke.
Unlike the other candidates, the Indians didn't have to conduct an extensive background check on Lovullo, who joined the organization in 2001 as a roving coordinator and began his Minor League managerial career the following season.
"One might say I was groomed in this system," Lovullo said. "I was groomed by the people who just sat with me and talked baseball with me. There's a great level of comfort in a lot of different areas."

So what would Lovullo bring to the Indians if he gets the job?
"What I think I'll bring to the team is some young, enthusiastic energy," he said. "I enjoy the art of teaching. I enjoy the idea of going out and being a leader. All managers possess the same qualities and have the same ideas. There are certain things you can do in the structure of being that leader that can help a ballclub. That's what my intentions are."

Lovullo's first managerial job came in 2002 when he led the Class A Columbus RedStixx to the second-half championship in the South Atlantic League. He spent the next two seasons as the manager at Class A Kinston, leading the Indians to a Carolina League title in 2004 in addition to being named Manager of the Year.
Lovullo was promoted to Double-A Akron in 2005. The Aeros finished with an 84-58 record and won the Eastern League championship, which again resulted in Lovullo being named Manager of the Year.
Lovullo has been the manager of the Indians' Triple-A teams for the past four years. He managed for three years at Buffalo, finishing with winning records each season, before the organization moved the team to Columbus, where the Clippers finished last in the West Division of the International League with a record of 57-85 in 2009.

While he has never been on the hot seat in the big leagues, Lovullo realizes there are differences between managing in the Minors as opposed to the Majors.
"I can only speculate," he said. "I do know there are demands on your time. I know it's challenging to deal with a lot of different people pulling you in a lot of different directions. I had that in some sort in a small-scale way at Triple-A. I think it's about managing your time wisely. I don't think it changes more on this stage. I think you need to be prepared and give yourself some time to learn about the new ideas."

Lovullo has managed many of the players on the Indians' roster, which may give him an edge over the other candidates.
"I think that's a built-in advantage I might have," he said. "That's something I have going for me, but when it's all said and done, how much is that going to impact their decision? That's for them to decide."

This isn't the first time Lovullo has been a candidate for a Major League managerial job. He interviewed with the Dodgers following the 2005 season, a process which helped him this time around.
"I was familiar with some of the questions that were going to be asked," Lovullo said. "In preparation for that day four years ago, I talked with [Shapiro] and [assistant general manager] Chris Antonetti, as friends and mentors, as to what I should be ready for. They almost over-prepared me. Sitting with them today, I felt like I was prepared. I've grown. I know they prepared themselves much in the same way I did."

As a player, Lovullo spent parts of eight seasons in the Majors as a utility player for seven different teams, including the Indians -- for whom he appeared in six games in 1998. He was a career .224 hitter and also played for the Tigers, Yankees, Angels, Mariners, A's and Phillies.

Torey Lovullo says his knowledge of Cleveland Indians is an advantage
[NOTE you can hear audio of Torey at Cleveland.com]

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Torey Lovullo biggest selling point is himself.
"I've had almost everyone of these guys," said Lovullo, the third man to interview for the Indians manager job in the last four days. "That's a built-in advantage I may have over other candidates. When that's all said and done, how much that impacts their decision, that's up to them."

Lovullo has managed in the Indians minor league system for the last eight years. He's been their Class AAA manager for the last four.
"I'm familiar with what motivates these players," said Lovullo. "There won't be a feeling-out process. They understand my beliefs. I think that initially will help us get off on the right foot."

Lovullo, asked what he could bring to the big-league club, said, "I was groomed in this system. There's a great deal of comfort in a lot of different areas. What I'll bring to the team is some young, enthusiastic energy.
"I love the idea of being a teacher of being a leader."

Said outfielder Trevor Crowe, "I love playing for him. I've played for Torey the last two years. He has a way of making young players feel confident."

Crowe said Lovullo loves to put pressure on the opposing pitcher. Columbus finished last in the International League this season, but Michael Brantley and Crowe gave them plenty of speed at the top of the order.
"He likes to steal, he likes to hit and run and go first to third," said Crowe.

Today's interview wasn't new ground for Lovullo. He interviewed for the Dodgers job in 2005. In 2004, he interviewed for the baseball job UCLA, his alma mater.
Lovullo, with 595-531 record in the minors, won championships at Class A Columbus (Ga.) in 2002, Class A Kinston in 2004 and Class AA Akron in 2005.

[TribefanstuckinMA]

Torey Lovullo says his knowledge of Cleveland Indians is an advantage[NOTE you can hear audio of Torey at Cleveland.com]Crowe said Lovullo loves to put pressure on the opposing pitcher. Columbus finished last in the International League this season, but Michael Brantley and Crowe gave them plenty of speed at the top of the order.
"He likes to steal, he likes to hit and run and go first to third," said Crowe.

Steal? Hit and run? Go first to third? What novel ideas!

[Hope]

Indians give Torey Lovullo second interview

CLEVELAND (AP)—Torey Lovullo wants a chance to manage the Cleveland Indians after spending the last eight seasons working in the club’s farm system.
“I’m familiar with the setting,” Lovullo said Friday, after interviewing a second time with general manager Mark Shapiro. “This team is a lot further along than some might believe.”

Dodgers hitting coach Don Mattingly and Angels bench coach Ron Roenicke are expected to be brought in next week for interviews. Former managers Manny Acta and Bobby Valentine also have been interviewed, and Shapiro hopes to finish his search by the end of the World Series.
Unlike Valentine, fresh from a six-year stint managing in Japan, Lovullo emphasized his desire to take the job if it’s offered to him.
“I have prepared for this and am ready,” he said, adding that playing for seven different managers in eight seasons, including Terry Francona, helped mold his managerial philosophies.

Francona guided the Boston Red Sox to World Series titles in 2004 and ’07.
“What you really learn is what not to do,” Lovullo said. “You learn from them all, but Terry’s ability to communicate and relate to players is special.”

Francona was a special assistant to Shapiro between jobs in Philadelphia and Boston.
Lovullo managed 35 players at Triple-A Columbus who played this year for Eric Wedge, who was fired with six games left in his seventh season as Cleveland manager.

The constant shuttle was caused by injuries and poor play by the Indians, who finished 65-97, their worst record in 18 years.
Some players sent down told Lovullo they had lost confidence after being yanked in and out of the lineup or moved from position to position.
“I like to get a lineup and try not to change it,” Lovullo said. “I’m big on team chemistry. I want players to know I have their back, that they can play relaxed and comfortable. … But I expect an effort every day. This team can look different, act different and play different.”

Better relief pitching would be a welcome change.
When Cleveland won the AL Central in 2007, Joe Borowski led the league with 45 saves and had a group of reliable relievers setting him up. Last winter, Shapiro signed Kerry Wood to a two-year, $20 million contract—and the new closer got only 26 save chances all season.
“The biggest challenge to an AL manager is knowing how to run a bullpen,” Lovullo said. “You try and put guys in a role in which they are comfortable.”

Lovullo thinks he can get the team to start better than the 11-21 record it had by mid-May.
“The last few days of spring training, you have to change the mindset and prepare as if it is already opening day,” Lovullo said. “I’d like to take the team on a three-day trip, like we were going on the road.”

Lovullo made his major-league debut with Detroit in 1987. He also played for the New York Yankees, Angels, Seattle, Oakland, Cleveland and Philadelphia, before one final season in Japan. In 303 big-league games, mostly as a utility infielder, he hit .225 with 15 homers and 60 RBIs.
He became an Indians minor-league instructor in 2001 and a year later guided Columbus (Ga.) to the second-half championship in the Class A South Atlantic League.
He was manager of the year in 2004 at Class A Kinston (N.C.) and again in 2005 at Double-A Akron, where he guided the Aeros to an 84-58 record and the Eastern League championship.

[Sara Tonyn]

"He likes to steal, he likes to hit and run and go first to third," said Crowe.

Steal? Hit and run? Go first to third? What novel ideas!

And it gets even better! --

"Some players sent down told Lovullo they had lost confidence after being yanked in and out of the lineup or moved from position to position."
“I like to get a lineup and try not to change it,” Lovullo said. “I’m big on team chemistry. I want players to know I have their back, that they can play relaxed and comfortable."

I'm really starting to like him!

(Which probably means neither he nor Valentine will be picked. )

[TribefanstuckinMA]

"He likes to steal, he likes to hit and run and go first to third," said Crowe.

Steal? Hit and run? Go first to third? What novel ideas!

And it gets even better! --

"Some players sent down told Lovullo they had lost confidence after being yanked in and out of the lineup or moved from position to position."
“I like to get a lineup and try not to change it,” Lovullo said. “I’m big on team chemistry. I want players to know I have their back, that they can play relaxed and comfortable."

I'm really starting to like him!

(Which probably means neither he nor Valentine will be picked. )

I'm liking what I'm reading, too, but the skeptical little voice in the back of my mind keeps wondering if he believes it or is he saying that because he knows how Tribe fans were feeling the last few years of Wedge World. But I'm thinking he's still in the running because as a "minor-league call-up" he would work a lot cheaper than anyone with real major league experience. *sigh* Are we doomed to mediocrity?

[Sara Tonyn]

... the skeptical little voice in the back of my mind keeps wondering if he believes it or is he saying that because he knows how Tribe fans were feeling the last few years of Wedge World. ... Are we doomed to mediocrity?

I think he believes it and I think I believe him. It was amazing to see the guys do well playing for him in Columbus but struggling when they played for Wedge then doing well again when they were sent back down.

I know it was Trip A vs ML baseball but the pattern was so predictable I have to believe at least part of the players' success was because Lovullo handled them better than Wedge did. Maybe we'll have a chance to find out first-hand.

Mediocrity (i.e., finishing 81-81) is the equivalent of success in 2010, IMO. But I expect the team to steadily improve each year after that. I honestly think this is a talented bunch of kids that, if kept together, will mature together very, very nicely over the next couple of years.

There will no doubt be the inevitable and unavoidable growing pains in 2010 and 2011, but if the guys are as good as I think they are, the Tribe could make it to the playoffs on a regular basis starting in 2012. (You know, the year the world is going to end. )

I'm not saying they'll be as good and dominant as the incredible Tribe teams of the early-mid '90s but I'm not sure they'll be far from it either. Actually, the pitching should be better -- overall -- that what we had in the '90s.

We shall see. I'm really looking forward to the 2010 season, even with its ups and downs adjusting to all its "new-ness"!

[Hope]

Cleveland Indians' trio of managerial candidates give their answers to a troubled bullpen quiz

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Last week, Manny Acta, Bobby Valentine and Torey Lovullo told the Indians how they'd construct, handle and fix the Indians' bullpen if they were named manager.

It is a bullpen that has ranged from good (2005) to very good (2007) to bad (2009) to downright awful (2006) over the last six years. One of the reasons GM Mark Shapiro decided to interview a wider range of candidates to replace Eric Wedge was to learn as much as he could about how to assemble a bullpen, a job that has humbled him more than once.

Here's a look at the pen's highs and lows from 2004-09.

This year the bullpen went 20-24 with a 4.66 ERA. They tied for the fewest saves in the AL with 25 and converted just 58 percent (25-for-43) of their save chances. Not surprisingly, the Indians went 65-97 for their worst season since 1991.

In 2008, the pen had a worse record (19-25) and a higher ERA (5.13). They did save 31 games, but their success rate was still a poor 61 percent (31-for-51). Overall, the team went 81-81.

When the Indians won the AL Central with 96 victories and reached Game 7 of the ALCS in 2007, the pen was 26-17 with a 3.75 ERA and 49 saves. It converted 78 percent (49-for-63) of save chances.

In 2005, when the Indians won 93 games and missed the postseason on the final day of the regular season, the pen went 22-18 with an AL-best 2.80 ERA and 51 saves. It converted 77 percent (51-for-66) of its save opportunities.

To say the least, the Tribe's pen has delivered an unpredictable ride. Here's how the candidates would tame it.

Acta, former manager of the Washington Nationals.
"In the American League, you need power arms. I think we're going in the right direction. If you look at the numbers, a lot of the guys here are able to miss bats and have good strikeout ratios.
"I think Chris Perez, who came over in a trade from St. Louis, can be huge for this bullpen. They already have Kerry Wood (closing). Jensen Lewis has been a good pitcher here out of the pen since 2007, including the playoffs.
"The main thing is having power arms because this is a hitting league. There is no break like there is in the National League after the seventh inning.
"I would love to have some balance, a minimum of two lefties in the bullpen who can get lefties out. I don't want lefties just to have lefties. They have to prove they can get lefties out.
"I would love to have a guy from the left and right side who can pitch multiple innings."

Valentine, former manager of the Mets and Rangers, who spent the last six years managing the Chiba Lotte Mariners in Japan.
"If there was just one way of building and handling a bullpen, the book would have been written, the book would have been bought, the book would have been read and you wouldn't have the question.
"There's not one way of building a bullpen. The bullpen is part of the pitching staff that has to compliment the guy who starts the game. They have to work together and not separately.
"If you have a left-handed starter, you're going to face a lot of right-handed hitters, and you might need a lot of right-handed bullpen pitchers, who might have to get a lot of left-handed pinch-hitters out.
"The importance of the bullpen is that they are going to be required to win, to have numbers in their win column, between 25 and 35 games, for a championship team."

Lovullo, Class AAA Columbus manager and eight-year manager in the Indians' minor league system.
"What we're talking about is how do you get those relief pitchers on a roll. I think there is a philosophy and some ideas, that personally speaking, I've had a lot of fun learning on how to run a bullpen.
"I think the biggest challenge of an American League manager is to figure out how to manage the bullpen. It starts with managing the workload so the pen isn't tired by the end of the season. I think it's about getting a closer and working backward."

Impressive:
Valentine, 59, rambled with reporters after his Thursday interview, but earned high marks with Shapiro, assistant GM Chris Antonetti and others in the front office in the several hours they spent with him.

The question is does he want to manage the Indians? Right now he's not sure and both sides are deciding if they can make it work. Money could be an issue.

Acta lived up to his billing from members of the Washington, D.C. media who covered him with the Nationals. He's bright, articulate and had a good grip on the Indians roster. Reportedly, he's a finalists for the Astros job as well.

Lovullo was impressive as well. The players who have played for him, and that includes just about every homegrown name on the Tribe's 40-man roster, speak highly of him.


Finally: No matter who gets the Indians manager's job, Jon Nunally is expected to be a serious candidate to be the hitting coach.
Ask anyone who played for him at Columbus this year and the response will go something like "He's the best hitting coach I've ever been around."

New Jobs:
Nick Kenney, the Indians' assistant athletic trainer for the last five seasons, has been hired as Kansas City's head athletic trainer. Before joining the Indians, he was the Reds assistant athletic trainer in 2003 and 2004.

Derek Shelton, hitting coach for five years, was hired last week to be the Tampa Bay Rays' hitting coach. He was fired along with Wedge and the rest of the staff on Sept. 30.
"It's a perfect fit," said Shelton, who lives in Tampa. "It's a good situation, good club and I get to be at home."

[Hope]

Former Cleveland Indians manager Eric Wedge enjoying time off, plans baseball return in 2011

The job pays quite well and the associations often pay off.
But managing a major league baseball team - particularly the same one for seven years - can wear on a guy.
Eric Wedge, fired by the Cleveland Indians as their skipper nearly four months ago, continues to be involved with youth baseball, but otherwise is enjoying some time away from the game. He hopes to return to the major leagues in some capacity next season.

(Click here to read Plain Dealer Indians beat writer Paul Hoynes' Sept. 30 account of Wedge's firing)

Wedge was in his native Fort Wayne, Ind., on Thursday as a guest speaker at a sports banquet. Writes Tony Krausz for The Journal Gazette in Fort Wayne:
The former Cleveland Indians manager said he is looking forward to spending time away from the game before looking to re-enter in 2011.
“It could be the last summer I have with my children at a young age without having to work,” Wedge said of spending the summer with his wife, Kate, 4-year-old daughter Ava and son Chase, who will be 2 soon. “This year is a good physical break for me; a good mental break for me.”

Krausz also writes:
Wedge said he had contact with six or seven organizations that were interested in his services in some capacity. But he didn’t want to work full time this year and said he doesn’t believe in doing anything part time.
Wedge also decided to take a year off after talking with other managers about their experiences after being fired.
“To a man, the guys who took a year off said it was the best thing they did for their careers and personal lives,” said Wedge, who declined to say who he talked to. “The ones that got right back into it said they wish they would have taken a year off.”

For The News-Sentinel, also in Fort Wayne, Reggie Hayes writes about Wedge:
He returned Tuesday night from a week in Italy. He conducted a three-day clinic for the Italian Baseball Federation and took in the sights with his wife, Kate. Wedge and his family, including children Ava and Cash, were at the banquet together Thursday.
Wedge will be inducted into the Northeast Indiana Baseball Association Hall of Fame tonight at the Allen County Public Library and will conduct his annual Eric Wedge Baseball Camp on Saturday at the ASH Centre.
He took his first tour of Parkview Field on Thursday afternoon.
“It's unbelievable for a (Class) A ball field,” Wedge said. “The design is spectacular. The view reminds me of Indy with the skyline and the spacing. It's a first-rate facility.”

[TribefanstuckinMA]

Translation: "Why should I work? The Tribe is paying me to do as I darned well please! Sweet!"

[Dnthateonthepronk]

why not, its free money

[TribefanstuckinMA]

Free is good! Or, as my dear hubby says "If it's free, it's for me!"

Hey D-Pronk, you ready for this weekend's weather? Sounds like the interior of your state could get a foot...you have to see some of that, right? We've got a balmy 4.6 degrees right now...

[Dnthateonthepronk]

Yeah people down here are going nuts, its like an apocalypse or something, farm fresh sold out of batteries and bottled water Im staying off the roads, people here dont even know how to drive in regular weather

Also i cannot belive its supposed to snow on the two days i dont have school

[Hope]

Translation: Crap thats what my kids look like! What it feels like to have fun with my family and take a deep refreshing breath and just be a dad and husband!

[Dnthateonthepronk]

Well we know one thing, he will never let his family get their daubers down