Mark Shapiro's coaching conclave gives Indians faithful black smoke

Another weekend goes by in the early part of the hot stove season, and the Cleveland Indians still only have a manager and a pitching coach to lead them. In a normal baseball town, with a normal front office, this would seem strange. The Indians fired Wedge before the end of the season, had a manager in place prior to the World Series, and hired Tim Belcher relatively quickly. It was believed the the Indians would start rolling out their staff, even given the statement that the staff wouldn't be finished until the early part of December. Of course, on the North Shore, Mark Shapiro runs his front office much like the Cardinals conclave in choosing a new pope. Thus far, Shapiro's secret meetings have only given off the black smoke of no choices made yet.

Let's put some perspective on the process, shall we?

The Indians hired their coach, Manny Acta, on May 25th. He was the first coach officially hired for next season, and it was no doubt a pre-emptive strike to keep the Astros from hiring him. The Astros, who had two solid candidates at the top of their list, hired Red Sox bench coach Brad Mills two days later, on May 27th, to take over their top slot.

The Astros then went on the offensive. Al Pedrique was hired three days later to take over the bench coaching duties for Mills. They had interviewed Pedrique for their manager's slot, and Mills thought highly of him. That same day, the Astros extended an invitation to Sean Berry to remain their hitting coach and Dave Clark to remain as their third base coach. Clark had replaced Cecil Cooper as interim coach, and was the third candidate behind Acta and Mills to stay on as manager. All three had been in contact with Mills since the hiring. Even later that same day, the Astros hired Bobby Meacham as their first base coach. Meacham is a friend of Mills, and had coached with him several times in the minors. Following the Meacham hire, the Astros announced that they had hired Brad Arnsberg as their pitching coach. Arnsberg had pitched for Mills in triple A several years prior, and they had remained good friends since. Arnsberg had been the Blue Jays pitching coach the previous five seasons. The final piece of the puzzle was hired the following week, when they announced Jamie Quirk as their bullpen coach.

A complete staff to move the team ahead during the offseason.

The Indians have hired Tim Belcher.

I'm not saying you need to hire a staff quickly. I'm not even saying that the Astros necessarily hired the right people. What I AM saying is that there seems to be decision makers in Houston, while Mark Shapiro is pouring out the black smoke from his conclave meeting. I wouldn't say Shapiro is indecisive, but you can certainly question his decision-making process. Let's not forget that the Acta hire came after Houston had not only offered him the job, but had spent the night trying to sign him.

As for who the Indians are looking at for their coaching jobs, your guess is as good as mine. There was a boatload of speculation that the Tribe was looking at Clippers hitting coach Joe Nunnally for the same position in Cleveland, that Torey Lovullo would be brought up as the third base coach, and that Clippers pitching coach Scott Radinsky is also being looked at as a possibility as the Tribe bullpen coach. With Belcher, that would give the main Acta Lieutenants a distinct Shapiro flavor. The Indians would then likely hire outside the club for a bench coach. I can't imagine this would be possible with the Shapiro, Dolan and the Indians front office making statements about looking outside the organization for their staff. Of course, as we wait for the white smoke of movement from the Shapiro conclave, this could be Shapiro's way of hiring "outside" the organization. Grab a coach that has your philosophy, then hire the rest of the staff from the minors. This could be Shapiro's dream team of coaches.

Of course, where did Belcher come from? So, the coaching staff could be up in the air until December. B3 will be waiting outside the Sistine Chapel watching the smoke signals until then.

Manny Acta--Some thoughts a couple of days later

The Cleveland Indians have their new manager in Manny Acta, and with it comes a slew of anger, excitement, question marks and answers. Yeah, I know, it's a riddle wrapped in an enigma. The Acta hiring has certainly brought everyone out of the woodwork to throw out their opinions. It likely speaks more to the fact that the only excitement generated by this team since 2007 has involved the manager hire, and a couple of former pitchers facing off against each other in the World Series. Don't worry, I'll get to that tomorrow.

I've taken a couple of days to let the Acta hire sink in. Was it a good hire? I'll continue to state that this team needed a vocal leader. They needed a guy who could fire this team up when needed. They needed a guy who could stand up to Shapiro when he needed players, but could work with him as well. They needed a guy with some seasoning who has been through the ropes, and had a history of success. I've always believed in the old adage that winning breeds winning. Sure, there are instances that go against that line of thinking, but few and far between.

When Mark Shapiro hired Acta, my first thoughts were that they rushed the pick because Acta was in talks with the Astros. I didn't know the particulars at the time, but found out that my thinking was likely true. Acta was offered the job with the Astros, and according to all reports, was looking for a three-year deal. Drayton McLane was only willing to go for two years, with a club option for a third. Shapiro stepped up on Saturday and made a three-year offer. Acta quickly took the Tribe offer. It made sense for Shapiro to sign the guy for three years, since he has three years left on his own deal. Shapiro and Acta are now tied together for better or worse.

Now, in one respect, you have to respect Acta for taking the deal with the Indians, and actually meaning it. It probably took a lot to not take the deal with the Astros, where he coached for 8 years, and was involved in their organization for 16. That said, you have to also give him credit for getting the best deal, after likely playing both teams against each other. Normally, the Tribe comes out in the losing end of these types of fights. This one they win, for better or worse.

I have to believe that Don Mattingly and Bobby Valentine both declined to take the job, or at least let it be known that the Indians' job was only a stepping stone. Mattingly never did sign up for an interview after rumors (likely true) circulated that he was in line to take over for Torre, and also using the interview process to lock the Dodgers into place. Valentine's job just got more important at ESPN with Steve Phillips getting fired, and he is likely waiting for a big job to open up, either back in New York with the Mets, or another locale. No doubt, Shapiro was feeling the heat, and with Acta about to sign a deal with the Astros, he stepped in.

Acta may have been the best candidate of the current crop of manager-possibilites, but that doesn't make him the best hire. I do believe that Shapiro acted too soon, and hired a guy that he perceived to be 'in his pocket.' Whether any of that turns out to be true is shrouded in the future, but the appearance looks all too familiar for my taste. It smells of Eric Wedge.

I will say this for the guy, you can tell that he lives the game of baseball. He did his homework with regards to the Indians, and it really sounds like he knows this organization. It smells a bit like there was some talk prior to the media and fans knowing about Acta, but regardless, you can't help but be impressed with this guy's vast knowledge of players from the big league club, clear down to the minors. If he's done the work prior to the job, what kind of crazy work ethic is he going to bring once he's here?

"I'm not blind, help me if I am, but I think we do have the component of a terrific lineup already in place. We do have some work to do in our starting rotation..."

Acta certainly realizes where the teams' strengths are, and what needs fixed. Any blind man can figure that out. This team obviously has some good, young offensive tools to put in place. The rotation could stand out as the weakest in the league if parts aren't added, and I have to believe that parts aren't going to be added. At least Acta knows that going in.

He also talked briefly about the division, and how it was balanced. You have to appreciate the fact that Acta found a way to call the Central balance, which is likely code for garbage. The reality is that with some luck, the Indians could contend. No, not because they are deserving, but exactly the opposite. NOBODY is deserving. Acta was likely smart to take this job over the Astros for the simple fact that there really won't be a stand out team, unless it's bad, which the Indians could contend for.

"I prepare myself very well, that's what I do."

I do believe that Acta is a preparation freak. I've seen them before. They aren't always successful, but they are organized. Acta certainly is that. I have no worries about what this guy will put in place. I think he'll have a quality coaching staff (and would love for HIM to pick it out, although that's unlikely), and quality plans in place with regards to training this team. I'm just not sure that he has the skills to motivated these young guys day in and day out. I do believe Wedge was "prepared." It's just another case of a guy being prepared, but not understanding his players. Acta seems different, more eager, more willing to get in the players heads. That said, there's nothing from his prior experience that would support that.

"Big shots are just little shots that keep shooting. I'm willing to keep shooting until I become a big shot."

This quote cracked me up on several levels. First off, this is the kind of wit that never would have come out of the mouth of Wedge. Was it a staged comment? Perhaps. Was it indicative of what could happen? Possible. Remember, Joe Torre struggled with the Mets before landing a job with some upper level teams in the Braves, the Cardinals and the Yankees. He was able to become a "Big Shot" because he played with the big fish. Cleveland will never be confused as a big fish. Torre also had pull in this league based on his playing career. Yes, Acta is respected, but many consider him "new money." He's a guy that is working his way up. He gets the nod from some baseball guys, but he's not a guy that is connected. I know, mafia talk. If Acta fails in Cleveland, he's likely never manage again. Torre likely would have, because he was a known commodity.

"We have the potential here to have a terrific outfield. We have a team that has a chance to get out of the American League norm or just sit around and wait for the homerun. We gottalot of athletic guys out there that we can do different things with them."

I do like the sound of this. I want this team to start applying pressure to other teams on the basepaths. The story on this guy is that he's not going to run. Most Saber guys don't. He sounds like a guy that will mold to the team. That's a good thing, no matter how you look at it.

Could the Indians have made a better hire. I really believe they could. Am I jumping on the Manny Acta bandwagon? I can't lie, I loved his interview. At the very least, we may have a guy here that can make things interesting with his comments. There is certainly more than a dry wit. We aren't talking about a guy who is walking out of "Teaching Communication" by Eric Wedge and Bill Belicheck. This guy can motivate the masses...

I'm still not sure he can motivate this team.

There is some hope though.

Unfortunately for Acta, directly in his way of a World Series is a young and inexperienced offense, no really starting rotation, a bullpen in disarray, a GM who is proving to be overmatched, an owner who won't spend money, and a 61-year drought.

Wow...I'm starting to feel sorry for the guy...

The Tribe Final Four?

The Indians and Mark Shapiro are currently focusing their search efforts on four candidates to take over for former manager Eric Wedge: Manny Acta, Bobby Valentine, Torey Lovullo and Don Mattingly. Each truly poses interesting questions.

Acta was fired by the worst baseball team in the league last season. Is he a worthwhile candidate who is motived by the "Saber" side of the game, or is he scrap from a team full of, well, no potential.

Valentine is known to be popular in both the clubhouse and the media, although he rubs every front office the wrong way whereever he's gone. Is this guy the motivator that many have given him credit for, or is he just a guy who can get a couple of good years out of his club before wearing his welcome thin?

Lovullo knows every single minor league player on this club, having coached them at one point or another during his previous seasons in the Tribe's minor league system. So, do we want another Eric Wedge or what? I almost feel bad for the guy.

Mattingly, who carries many of the same traits as Eric Wedge (aside the fact he was a tremendous player), would bring the Torre book to the Indians. Of course, the Yankees thought so much of him, that they stepped over him when Torre stepped down. Like Lovullo, he's never managed a game, and do we need a guy similar to Wedge who has never managed a game? Sounds a bit like Lovullo, doesn't it.

Shapiro has also been rambling on about a couple of more candidates that he may bring into the process. I'm not sure if this is someone currently coaching in the playoffs (like Mattingly), or if Shapiro just has to keep his hand shrouded in mystery. I'd bet on the latter, as Shapiro has taken this "secrecy" business to a whole new level.

It appears as though Travis Fryman and Mike Hargrove are out of the running, although both appear to be in the running for coaching jobs with the Tribe after the top post is filled.

It should be an interesting ride...

Who's the next Tribe Skipper?

With John Farrell out of the picture, is there really a manager candidate that sets anyone on fire? Did Farrell set anyone on fire, for that matter. Remember, he hasn't ever managed before, and his previous staffs in Boston happen to be some of the best pitchers money can buy.

Bobby Valentine likely heads the list, and does bring some serious cred to the job, but is almost more known for his antics than his managing. Is he prepared to build a team, which he has been proven to have done in the past, or is he at an age where winning now is a premium? He has declined to talk about the job, which usually means he's in play. Mike Hargrove would also fit in this list, and wants to bookend his managing career with another gig in Cleveland, but Grover also brings several questions, least of which is the fact that he quit in Seattle. Ned Yost, Clint Hurdle, and Manny Acta are also managers from other clubs that might get a look, even though they've been recently canned from their prior job.

Minor League skippers Torey Lovullo of the Clippers and Travis Fryman of the Scrappers should also get looks at the head job, buy may either not be ready, or not far enough from Wedge for anyone's liking...Luvullo in particular. Fryman might be the fresh face the team needs, but brings several questions to the table with regards to readiness.

Of course, Tribe fans are in the dark because of the Shapiro Death-Squad mentality and super-secret...well...secrets.

More on this over the next several days, as the rumors continue to swirl in Tribeland...