SB Nation User Blog: Ryan

Stadium Journey: Best Major League Ballpark, 2009

Ryan — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 23:34:36 -0000

Stadium Journey: Best Major League Ballpark, 2009

The folks at Stadium Journey are out with their rankings of MLB ballparks. Progressive Field was ranked 19th, with food/drinks being its biggest failing. Here's the details behind their rating system.

Potential 2009 Free Agents

Ryan — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 22:00:46 -0000

Potential 2009 Free Agents

Here's a press release (PDF) from the MLBPA listing the players eligible to file for free agency beginning today.

Jamey Carroll and Tomo Ohka are the only potential free agents currently on the Indians 40-man roster.

World Series Thread: October 28, 2009 (Game 1)

Ryan — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 21:01:44 -0000

Philadelphia at New York

2009 World Series, Game 1

Cliff Lee vs. CC Sabathia, 7:57 PM

Fear the Sword - SB Nation's Cavaliers Blog

Ryan — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 23:03:29 -0000

Fear the Sword - SB Nation's Cavaliers Blog

With the NBA season starting, now's a good time to check out our Cavaliers counterparts at Fear the Sword.

ALCS Game 6 Open Thread

Ryan — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 23:08:23 -0000

ALCS Game 6 Open Thread

Joe Saunders will be going for the Angels, and Andy Pettitte will pitch for the Jackasses.

Castrovince: Indians Name Manny Acta Manager

Ryan — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 20:17:48 -0000

More photos » by Rob Carr - ASSOCIATED PRESS

Manny Acta.

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Anthony Castrovince is reporting that the Indians have hired Manny Acta as manager:

Acta was the first candidate to come to Cleveland for a formal interview, and he left a lasting impression. He has been signed by the Tribe to a three-year contract through 2012, with a club option for 2013.

Acta beat out Bobby Valentine and Torey Lovullo for the job. The Indians were expected to interview Don Mattingly this week.

Manny Acta began his coaching career in 1991 while still playing minor-league baseball. He got his first managerial assignment in 1993 with Auburn (New York-Penn League) at age 24, and worked his way up the Astros system, culminating with AAA New Orleans in 2001. He then left the Astros organization to coach third base with the nomadic Montreal Expos, then was hired by the New York Mets as an on-field coach in 2005. Meanwhile, he managed Winter League teams in Venezuela (1999-2000) and the Dominican Republic (2002-2004). He also coached his native Dominican Republic in the inaugural World Baseball Classic in 2006. So when the Washington Nationals tabbed him to replace Frank Robinson as manager in 2007 at age 38, he had been a minor-league manager or major-league coach for 14 seasons.

His 2.5 seasons with the Nationals is difficult to evaluate, since Washington's talent level was the worst in baseball during his tenure. His first season, the Nationals finished 73-89, and he received votes for NL Manager of the Year. The Nationals lost 102 games the following season, but I don't really think they underachieved. That season, the Nationals finished 15th in the NL in OPS, and gave up the second-most runs in the league. In 2009, with no appreciable talent additions, the Nationals started 26-61, and Acta was fired in August. The Nationals rebounded under interim manager Jim Riggleman to finish 59-103.

Acta brings several things to the table. He's managed at virtually every level of organized baseball, including in the Winter Leagues. He's fluent in English and Spanish, which is a major plus with the current makeup of major league rosters, including the Indians. Terry Pluto noted Acta's preparation, both for his interview with the Indians and when manager of the Nationals:

Many baseball people gave glowing reviews of Acta, but perhaps the most meaningful came from Atlanta manager Bobby Cox. He called the Indians unsolicited to say Acta was exactly the kind of energetic manager the team needed, adding that he thought Acta was "well-prepared" when Cox managed against him.

When the Indians hired Eric Wedge in 2003, many people in baseball raved about Wedge. In my research on Acta, I've seen similar endorsements. Obviously the difference this time is that Acta has already made his rookie managerial mistakes, though in baseball a manager's strategy rarely will turn a bad baseball team into a good one or vice versa. Ultimately the wins and losses come indirectly through player development, whether it be a young player breaking into the majors or a veteran player turning his career around. I'll be paying close attention to any impact this hire has on players like Kelly Shoppach, Fausto Carmona, and Jhonny Peralta, for if those players don't turn things around, Manny Acta's eighth inning pitching moves will be irrelevant.

Acta to interview for Tribe's managerial post Tuesday

Ryan — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 03:44:49 -0000

Acta to interview for Tribe's managerial post Tuesday

On Tuesday the Indians are bringing in former Nationals manager Manny Acta for a face-to-face interview. In the linked post, Anthony Castrovince notes that Acta is the first of "three to five" finalists to meet with ownership and the front office.

Acta managed the Nationals from 2007 through August of 2009. Even though he ended his tenure in Washington with a horrid 158-252 record, he didn't have much to work with, as the franchise had been mismanaged for almost a decade, and essentially arrived in Washington an expansion team.

Karma's a bitch, as the Red Sox found out today after trotting out Dave Henderson to throw the...

Ryan — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 02:49:19 -0000

Karma's a bitch, as the Red Sox found out today after trotting out Dave Henderson to throw the first pitch. See here for the back story.

Playoff Thread: October 8, 2009

Ryan — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 18:10:31 -0000

More photos » by Chris Carlson - AP

LGFT Ronnie Belliard has won playing time at second base after coming from the Nationals.

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NLDS

Colorado at Philadelphia, 2:37 PM (PHI Leads 1-0)

St. Louis at Los Angeles, 6:07 PM (LA Leads 1-0)

ALDS

Boston at Los Angeles Angels, 9:37 PM (Game 1)

Playoff Thread: October 7, 2009

Ryan — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 17:57:00 -0000

More photos » by Matt Rourke - AP

LGFT Cliff Lee will make the first pitch of the postseason.

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Colorado at Philadelphia, 2:37 PM (NLDS Game 1)

Minnesota at New York, 6:07 PM (ALDS Game 1)

St. Louis at Los Angeles, 9:37 PM (NLDS Game 1)