Rumors flying about Manny Acta

[timdav]

About 6pm I saw a tweet from Paul Hoynes that Indians GM Chris Antonetti suddenly flew to Dallas late this afternoon. I thought that was a bit weird...all of a sudden flying out.

Please note: this is just a rumor.

Then, about 15 minutes ago I saw several rumors from a couple national baseball sports writers that the Dolans were very unhappy Manny Acta, and the implication was made that Acta could be replaced as Tribe manager soon...perhaps very, very soon (tommorrow?).

The sad thing is, Acta would be a scape goat. And while firing the manager is typical in baseball, doing so does very little to fix the major problems in the Indians organization.

[criznit2009]

We all know this is not Acta's fault - the overall crapiness of this team that is... However there was a reason he got FIRED before, and well there is a reason now. He isn't the problem but he is certainly not the solution. Just because he is better than Wedge (remains to be seen IMO) doesn't mean he is a good manager. I never liked him being hired but I understood it...He was CHEAP and experienced and that what got him the job. It's the way the indians do business, just look at the way they handle their roster/players.

Please don't rip me for blaming Acta for the current state of the indians. Because I don't. I think he should get fired because he is not that good of a manager. Any one tasked to be the skipper of the tribe would be hard pressed to deliver more then Acta has, and even though I feel a better manager does win us more games it wouldn't be enough to hide the real issue(s)

If and when Acta goes, so must Antonetti and Shapiro. Mirabelli and Grant should get booted too. Atkins (who is much better then those guys) doesn't have a great track record either, but he gets a pass for now. We will see what the AA and AAA teams look like before the 2014 season...

DOLANS CLEAN YOUR HOUSE OR SELL IT!!!! Better yet do both. Big time changes are needed any only YOU can make those decisions. Time for you to do your job.

[timdav]

Criznit: I totally agree, dude. Good post.

Don't think the Dolans are going to sell....I don't think they want to sell. And, besides...it's not like billionaires are standing in line to buy small revenue market baseball teams.

I fear if they just fire the manager, doing so doesn't address the main weaknesses in the entire organzation. But, I agree with your points.

[criznit2009]

Ripped from MLB Trade Rumors

"Indians GM Chris Antonetti has joined the team in Texas, but he said the visit was scheduled and has nothing to do with a potential shakeup, according to Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer. When asked about the job security of manager Manny Acta, Antonetti said: "I don't feel any differently than when we talked earlier. I think I'll save any sort of assessments until the end of the season. I think that's probably the best thing to do."

To me, this sounds like a guy who thinks he is going to get fired, or to be nice - uncertain about the future of his career at his current employer. Also I am sure Antonetti would like to maintain/create the best business relationship with Acta as possible. I would not be overly surprised to learn that Antonetti refused to be the one to fire, or more correctly put: give Acta the bad news until he knew if he is getting the boot or not.


I'll say it right now - If Acta gets booted before seasons end, Antonetti rides another day.. If he does not, they both (if not more) get canned.

[timdav]

Jon Heyman of CBS sports is one of the sources about the Dolan's unhappiness with Acta. Where he got his information, and how accurate it is...who's knows.

[A.Zajac]

When will the Dolans start being unhappy with themselves? I mean really.

[MadThinker88]

While Acta is not the biggest problem, he is not having an effect to slow down this train wreck. Additionally this is the 2nd time the team sunk after the all star break. A decent manager would at least keep the group moving toward a common goal and act interested in playing. This group actually appears to be waiting for the roof to cave in each game.
And where is the passion- you know the idea to support on another when in need like when Choo was getting hit at the start of the season so Gomez and Hanrahan stepped up to protect him in KC.
The moving out of Acta before the end of season is more of a preemptive move to ensure that Sandy Jr is held onto. Otherwise there is a good chance that Sandy gets one of the soon to be open positions.

[timdav]

Granted, putting together & running a major league team in a lesser revenue market in a sport that has no salary cap IS difficult. Absolutely. And, having a tight-budget due to limited revenues in an economically depressed area and era ISN'T fun. I get that.

However, when you've had mostly poor seasons for 13 years, and turn over many times virtually everybody but the 2 or 3 folks in the top levels of the FO....the decision-makers....isn't it pretty clear it's time for big changes there? Doesn't that record of consistent under performance dictate holding their judgement accountable? That's what 99% of businesses would do. Why not the Indians?

[daingean]

If and when Acta goes, so must Antonetti and Shapiro. Mirabelli and Grant should get booted too. Atkins (who is much better then those guys) doesn't have a great track record either, but he gets a pass for now. We will see what the AA and AAA teams look like before the 2014 season...

I would keep Grant. I think he's responsible for the infusion of young talent through the draft since he took over. Certainly the jury is still out until this wave hits shore. Sure I would have drafted someone other than Naquin.

Not sure on Atkins though.

[ironmike]

Atkins should be the first to go.

Regarding Manny Acta, he deserves better. I'm almost positive he was told the team would improve the club at the trading deadline they did not. Best for Manny if he moves on, he will land another opportunity in MLB.

The players have quit, yes they have quit on the ownership, not the manager. The skid started right around the time of the trade deadline. They too were pissed no improvements were made.

Dolan said we needed one big bat to win, when cornering him here in a local McDonald's countered his statement directly to him the team needed three professional hitters. Hell, I'm a layman and he begged to differ with me, all because of money. By the way, he did not want to be recognized, head down at the counter and this was last October during the AL playoffs.

Poor owner, with a bad business model, hires incompetent executives who in turn hire more incompetents.

We need real, proven baseball people in place to turn this around.

Regarding Brad Grant, he has proven nothing and still wonder about his background. After all who hired him???