Looks like its going to be Mills or Garner SI_JonHeyman manny acta is getting #indians managerial job. Kinda suprised but I am cool with either Scrap Iron or Mills
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/baseball/mlb/10/25/acta.indians/index.html?eref=twitter_feed Its sad when a guy who wanted to manage your club decides to pass on the job when its offered. WAKE UP CALL DRAYTON
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/bb/6685437.html Less than two weeks since declaring a potential return to the Astros as too good to be true, Manny Acta ended talks with the club after intense flirtations Saturday. Instead, he chose the Cleveland Indians. According to a person with knowledge of the negotiations, the length of the Astros’ offer to Acta became a major hang up on Saturday night. The Indians hired Acta on Sunday, giving him a three-year deal with a club option for 2013. Acta, who began his playing and coaching career in the Astros' farm system, was one of three confirmed finalists to replace Cecil Cooper, along with Boston Red Sox bench coach Brad Mills and former Astros manager Phil Garner, who led the franchise to the 2005 World Series. Asked if they regretted losing Acta, Astros general manager Ed Wade wouldn’t say. “I’m not getting into this,” he said. “We’re conducting our business in private.” It was no secret that Acta was a finalist for the Indians’ job. “It’s like playing the lotto; the more tickets you play, the more chances you have to win,” Acta said after he interviewed with the Astros. “I think it speaks volumes for the respect we have among our peers and we feel blessed that at least we’re able to be – if you want to call it in demand – with two clubs.” Astros owner Drayton McLane didn’t want to comment on Acta either Sunday. “We got some more to go,” he said. “Until we get that down. We’re just not going to make any comment. It would not be appropriate.” Acta, 40, went 158-252 with the Washington Nationals, who let him go after he began his third season this year 26-61 with a club that was considered throughout baseball to have some of the worst talent in the majors. Acta spent the first 17 years of his professional career with the Astros’ organization until current New York Mets general manager Omar Minaya, who was the Expos’ GM at the time, hired him to become a coach with the Montreal Expos just weeks before the 2002 season. Dealing with some players who were older, Acta served as the third-base coach of the Expos from 2002 through 2004 before he was hired to become third-base coach of the Mets for the 2005 season. Arizona Diamondbacks manager A.J. Hinch, 34, is the only manager in the majors younger than Acta, who had been the majors’ youngest active manager since he was 37 in his first season with the Nationals in 2007 until Hinch was hired this May. The Dominican Republic’s manager for the inaugural World Baseball Classic in 2006, Acta is a dual citizen of the Dominican Republic and the U.S. since 1999. Moreover, he has made his home in Kissimmee, Fla., for more than a decade with his wife Cindy and their two daughters, Jennifer and Leslie. Kissimmee, the spring home of the Astros since 1985, has been home for Acta since he played for the club’s Class A Florida State League affiliate Osceola in 1988 and parts of the 1989 and 1990 seasons. After hitting .257 with two home runs and 35 RBIs with Burlington in 1991, Acta transitioned into player development at 22 years of age. “As I mentioned, it would be too good to be true,” Acta said two weeks ago about managing the Astros. “It will give everybody who shows up over here to watch the ballgames a chance or a hope to manage this club. I grew up being an Astro and ended up being signed by them and working for 17 years in the minor leagues. “And I guess everybody who’s a fan of the Astros will have a shot. It’s amazing because, as I mentioned, I owe them everything, including my wife. I met her while playing in the minor leagues for them.” The former minor league infielder has specialized in working with young infielders, helping young All-Stars David Wright and Jose Reyes during his tenure as coach with the Mets while also helping veteran shortstop Orlando Cabrera in 2003. Those skills could have been crucial with the Astros in 2010, considering rookies Chris Johnson and Tommy Manzella might man the left side of the infield next season. Since becoming a minor-league manager with the Astros in 1993 with Auburn of the New York-Penn League through 2000 with Kissimmee of the Florida State League, Acta managed Roy Oswalt in the Florida State League in 2000, Lance Berkman in instructional league and Wandy Rodriguez in the Dominican Winter League. He also managed Miguel Tejada, Albert Pujols, David Ortiz and Alfonso Soriano to the semifinals of the WBC in 2006. He also has kept close tabs on the Astros’ organization throughout the year, taking time out of a discussion with the Chronicle on a late night in December 2008 at the Winter Meetings in Las Vegas to praise the progress of catcher Jason Castro, the club’s first-round pick in the June 2008 draft. At that time, he predicted that Castro might be ready by the 2010 season or maybe even late in 2009. Wade also has said that Castro might be ready this year, but Acta wasn't fooling himself about the task with the Astros. This past season the Astros finished 74-88 for fifth place in the National League Central, 17 games behind the first-place St. Louis Cardinals. “There’s some work to do, let’s be honest,” he said after his initial interview with the Astros. “The left side of the infield obviously needs some work and the catching situation has given this team some problems up until Castro’s ready to come in and step up. Yeah, I’m not saying anything here that you guys don’t know. I believe that Roy and Wandy need a little bit of a supporting cast, but there’s some bright spots there. “(Bud) Norris threw the ball very well at the end and (Felipe) Paulino showed flashes and the bullpen was lot better than the numbers show. Guys like (Jeff) Fulchino really stepped up and (Sammy) Gervacio and (LaTroy) Hawkins did a tremendous job. The (free agent Jose) Valverde thing, it’s another situation that needs to be resolved. This team, the main thing is they have some good core players in place and with a couple of supporting cast can be right back in it again.”
Nothing in that article says why Acta chose the Indians over the Astros. Maybe they offered him more money, or maybe the Astros simply made up their minds and have decided to go with Garner or Mills. And nowhere does it say the Astros offered him the job, it just says he was a finalist. --- Ok that last article gives a little more insight. If true, sounds like the Astros were reluctant to give him anything close to long term. But when you give Cooper an extension for doing nothing, it doesn't quite make sense that you'd offer an incoming manager the security of a few years to right the ship.
At this point I am a little underwhelmed. So now we are left with a guy that has never managed, a guy they fired already once, and a guy that couldn't get the players he is most likely going to have next year to win. Needless to say, I am a little worried about the direction they are going.
Here is the word from Footer alysonfooter Anthony Castrovince, Indians beat writer for MLB.com, is reporting M Acta turned down Astros offer and accepted 3-yr deal to manage Tribe. So this means Stros didn't want to commit to 3 years??? HUH
Drayton at his best. Why would he extend Cooper and not give a 3rd year to Acta. This organization is a joke. I don't blame Acta for turning his dream job down because this team is going suck for the next 2 years.
brianmctaggart HOU offered Acta 2-year deal with 1-year option; CLE offered Acta 3-year deal with 1-year option. He turned down HOU and chose CLE. Amazing, I am intrigued by Mills but yea agree its going to be Garner.
I rather have Mills to but I think it will be Garner. I am sure Ed Wade wants Mills too but Drayton has the final decision and he is going on want who the majority of fans and media want.
Link to anything that remotely indicates that Wade wants Mills other than just a blind guess. Thanks.
Honestly, I'd agree because Wade has always said firing Francona was his biggest mistake and respects him alot. I am sure Francona gave Mills a really good recomendation so its only normal to connect the dots.
I agree that Garner and Mills are probably the final candidates but dont count out Dave Clark, who is still a candidate. http://www.myfoxhouston.com/dpp/sports/091025_acta_says_no_to_astros_yes_to_indians
A good bench coach does not always make a good manager. See Cooper, Cecil. It is a stretch to say that we know that Wade thinks Mills will be a great manager just because he has been a good bench coach for a manager Wade likes a lot for a franchise that has a limitless checkbook.
Wade confirms offer to Acta. Also, Drayton wants to hire a manager by Wednesday. http://houston.astros.mlb.com/news/...t_id=7544488&vkey=news_hou&fext=.jsp&c_id=hou
Dude...if you cannot find the guy when he is up for the job, that is really odd. Maybe you should give the job to the guy that is not in hiding.
