Acta named Tribe skipper
CLEVELAND — Manny Acta's record didn't overwhelm the Cleveland Indians. They looked much deeper than at his wins and losses — lots of losses.
Acta, fired as the Washington Nationals manager in July after 2Z\x seasons, was hired on Sunday by the Indians, who gave him a three-year contract with a club option for 2013. Additional terms of the deal were not disclosed.
The club will introduce the 40-year-old Acta — the Indians' 40th manager — at a news conference on Monday. He's the first Cleveland manager hired from outside the organization since John McNamara in 1990.
The Indians chose Acta over two other known finalists: Triple-A manager Torey Lovullo and former New York Mets manager Bobby Valentine, who may have eliminated himself from consideration when he arrived at second interview earlier this week and admitted that he not done his homework on Cleveland or the American League and wasn't sure he wanted the job.
Acta, on the other hand, wanted it bad.
After he was let go by the Nationals, Acta spent countless hours watching the Indians on TV. He studied their lineup, their strengths and weaknesses. He has worked with young players before, and now he'll get a chance to turn a new group into winners.
"I am very excited to become part of the Cleveland Indians family," Acta said in a statement. "I look forward to working with this talented group of young men who seem to possess a lot of energy and passion for their work."
