Manny Acta the Stathead?

by Dan from NM on Oct 18, 2006 6:18 PM PDT Comment 48 comments

Baseball Prospectus had an interesting interview with Manny Acta awhile back. I really like the guy and think he'd be a great addition as manager.

http://tinyurl.com/ybmrap

Acta:

--Says he likes patient contact hitters. He values on-base percentage and power.

--Says outs are precious, and he sounds unlikely to waste them with over-aggressive tactics.

--Supports limiting pitchers' work through pitch counts but is flexible about it.

--Likes having one "true closer" but wants that person to be able to work for more than just three outs.

--Is a young, new face for the Giants, symbolic of their move in a new direction.

--Managed the Domincan baseball classic team and is respected by many players, including Albert Pujols.

--Is bilingual.

This FanPost is reader-generated, and it does not necessarily reflect the views of McCovey Chronicles. If the author uses filler to achieve the minimum word requirement, a moderator may edit the FanPost for his or her own amusement.

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Re: Manny Acta the Stathead?

Wow, I like the sound of that a lot... wish I could read the whole interview, but oh well.

I hope Sabean seriously considers him and isn't just using him as the token minority interview.

LicensetoPills: they say this to my family. to barry bonds family. and i say, "i'll bust you up. here is a candy corn."

by jponry on Oct 18, 2006 6:22 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Re: Manny Acta the Stathead?

Sorry about that. I didn't realize it was subscriber-only.

by Dan from NM on Oct 18, 2006 8:33 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: I love BP

For those of you who don't subscribe to Baseball Prospectus, it's the best 5 bucks/month I spend.

[/plug]

by KCE on Oct 18, 2006 9:33 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: I love BP

Tijuana hookers being the 2nd best?

Ramirez in 2007: I'm in!

by Goofus on Oct 19, 2006 9:44 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: I love BP

I prefer the ones in Rosarito, but to each his own.

by KCE on Oct 19, 2006 6:42 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: I love BP

Ditto.

My VORP is higher than your VORP.

by Poe on Oct 19, 2006 10:30 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks for the info, Dan

Sounds too good to be true. Rational and young! If Sabean and Magowen choose him, I would definately feel better about things.

"When the power of love overcomes the love of power the world will know peace." - Jimi Hendrix

by GiantJim on Oct 18, 2006 6:54 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Re: Thanks for the info, Dan

"""". Definitely worth an interview. My fear with scrappy infielders is that they like other scrappy infielders (see Perez, Neifi), but he does sound rational.

by Aadik on Oct 18, 2006 7:27 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Manny Acta the Stathead?

I like the fact that he's a realist as well: "The following year the Astros sent me to the MLB Scouting Bureau School to learn how to evaluate players. The first thing I did was to evaluate myself as a ballplayer, and quickly realized I didn't have the skills to play in the major leagues. Then I decided to focus my efforts on my new career as a coach."

Until now all managerial candidates broke down into two categories: those I had no opinion on and those I didn't like. May I buy a ticket for the Acta bandwagon, Dan?

"Robb Nen is going to get you" - Benito Santiago to Chipper Jones, 10/7/02

by Pants Man on Oct 18, 2006 7:01 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Re: Manny Acta the Stathead?

I would like a window seat if there is still room.

by the degenerate on Oct 18, 2006 7:34 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Manny Acta the Stathead?

Sorry, fellas. I got the seat right behind the driver already.

http://www.mccoveychronicles.com/comments/2006/10/17/10416/936/58#58

Waiting for Nate, Marcus, Nick, & Emmanuel

by Lyle on Oct 21, 2006 9:30 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Of course!

by Dan from NM on Oct 18, 2006 7:41 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Shotgun!

"When the power of love overcomes the love of power the world will know peace." - Jimi Hendrix

by GiantJim on Oct 18, 2006 8:01 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Manny Acta the Stathead?

"Says he likes patient contact hitters. He values on-base percentage and power." Sounds like he's a guy who could manage Bonds!

We'd be pretty good if we didn't suck so bad.

by nostocksjustbonds on Oct 18, 2006 7:35 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Re: Manny Acta the Stathead?

The whole world likes patient contact hitters who have good OBP and power. The question is how you prioritise these qualities, and how you measure them. And how you improve them.

As it stands, this is just a platitude.

by Salemicus on Oct 18, 2006 8:34 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Manny Acta the Stathead?

Tell that to our last two managers.

I love Acta's mentality, but it'd mean a lot more if our GM shared the same thought.

Looks like I picked the wrong year to stop sniffing glue.

by Punch Rockgroin on Oct 18, 2006 8:43 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Manny Acta the Stathead?

I agree, sort of. It's hard to evaluate these manager candidates without having had a chance to see them on a daily basis do their thing.

by Dan from NM on Oct 18, 2006 8:55 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Manny Acta the Stathead?

That's like saying I like woman who are "beautiful, intelligent, charming, and enjoy cooking, cleaning and taking care of their men".

by mxmob33 on Oct 20, 2006 9:26 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Good god!

Taking care of their men, I'm down with that...maybe even cleaning their men...but I draw the line at women who enjoy cooking their men!

"The first point is whether my brain is still operating...I'll figure that out after the season." - Felipe Alou

by EliminateMe on Oct 20, 2006 11:30 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Manny Acta the Stathead?

If you are not a BP subscriber like me, you can read about Mannty Acta and his upbringing and background here

by the degenerate on Oct 18, 2006 8:03 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Re: Manny Acta the Stathead?

I'm not too well schooled on around the league stuff, so I don't know this, but is there much interest in Manny from the other currently managerless teams. Clearly not the A's, in my opinion, but what about the rest?

Coming to you by proxy

by howtheyscored on Oct 18, 2006 9:17 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Re: Manny Acta the Stathead?

I know the Rangers are interviewing him.

LicensetoPills: they say this to my family. to barry bonds family. and i say, "i'll bust you up. here is a candy corn."

by jponry on Oct 18, 2006 9:41 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Manny Acta the Stathead?

Nats have expressed interest also.

"The first point is whether my brain is still operating...I'll figure that out after the season." - Felipe Alou

by EliminateMe on Oct 19, 2006 8:31 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Manny Acta the Stathead?

ya, but i heard he's for partial birth abortions.

and he may or may not have cyber-diddled a bat boy.

by keithr on Oct 18, 2006 11:16 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Re: Manny Acta the Stathead?

But then again, who hasn't?

Coming to you by proxy

by howtheyscored on Oct 18, 2006 11:30 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Manny Acta the Stathead?

Well I think they depends on your interpretation of cyber-diddled.

by mxmob33 on Oct 19, 2006 10:31 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Manny Acta the Stathead?

I'd like to seem him try to diddle one of the ball dudes.

by sularz on Oct 20, 2006 3:01 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Manny Acta the Stathead?

To each his or her own, I suppose... but I certainly could have lived without the disturbingly unprovoked fetish confession.

Coming to you by proxy

by howtheyscored on Oct 20, 2006 3:41 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Manny Acta the Stathead?

Well, I meant it in the sense of "You think you're going to diddle our ball dudes? Well, I'd like to see you try!" But perhaps a shrink would find some deeper meaning.

by sularz on Oct 20, 2006 7:51 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Manny Acta the Stathead?

OMG!!!!!111!!!1!!!!ONE!!!!!11!!!

I'm now a big fan.

by North Side Chicago Expatriate Giants Fan on Oct 19, 2006 1:46 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Re: Manny Acta the Stathead?

I'm on the Acta-Wagon, that's pretty good stuff, thanks Dan!

Or my interest has been Acta-vated.

Any good, similar articles out there on Wotus? Maybe we can do a side-by-side and see where each stands on a number of areas.

by obsessivegiantscompulsive on Oct 19, 2006 2:00 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Re: Manny Acta the Stathead?

Sounds like a good hire if we go that route.

"YOU DA MANNY!"

Ramirez in 2007: I'm in!

by Goofus on Oct 19, 2006 9:45 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Re: Manny Acta the Stathead?

Remember "Dustiny"?

Guess we could called this "Mannyfest Destiny".

Ramirez in 2007: I'm in!

by Goofus on Oct 19, 2006 9:45 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Manny Acta the Stathead?

Replaying to your own posts is so pendantic.

Ramirez in 2007: I'm in!

by Goofus on Oct 19, 2006 9:46 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Manny Acta the Stathead?

Pedantic fuckwidget.

"The first point is whether my brain is still operating...I'll figure that out after the season." - Felipe Alou

by EliminateMe on Oct 19, 2006 10:07 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Manny Acta the Stathead?

Replying is too.

by obsessivegiantscompulsive on Oct 19, 2006 11:02 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Manny Acta the Stathead?

Somebody must have slipped something into my coffee this morning, because I think Mannyfest Destiny is brilliant.

"Robb Nen is going to get you" - Benito Santiago to Chipper Jones, 10/7/02

by Pants Man on Oct 19, 2006 10:25 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Manny Acta the Stathead?

I think Mannyfest Destiny is brilliant too!

by obsessivegiantscompulsive on Oct 19, 2006 11:00 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Manny Acta the Stathead?

And when he walks out to the mound and all the infielders gather around, would we call that an Acta parliament?

"The first point is whether my brain is still operating...I'll figure that out after the season." - Felipe Alou

by EliminateMe on Oct 19, 2006 10:40 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Manny Acta the Stathead?

To the En Vogue tune:

"What a man, what a man, what a Manny good man!"

Ramirez in 2007: I'm in!

by Goofus on Oct 19, 2006 11:01 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Manny Acta the Stathead?

Hey! We's Americans here, it's Acta Congress! Or Acta Presidential Perogotive.

by obsessivegiantscompulsive on Oct 19, 2006 11:02 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Manny Acta the Stathead?

I'm expecting Congress to be disbanded by executive fiat in a month or two, so I thought parliament would make for a more timeless joke. Also, it left an opening for more P-Funk gags from Goofus.

Your second option, though, seems increasingly apt.

"The first point is whether my brain is still operating...I'll figure that out after the season." - Felipe Alou

by EliminateMe on Oct 19, 2006 11:16 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Sabean at the Karoke bar...

I remember all last year
in my box tears in my beer.
Shadows of a man,
a team going nowhere cryin' in the night,
the night goes into

Morning just another day;
I've made Felipe go away.
Looking for a man,
Who'll take the team to new places
more than just pennant races.

Oh Manny well,
you're so young that you could be playing,
but at the end of the day,
Oh, Manny well,
you talk OBP and I don't know what you're saying,
but I need you today. Oh, Manny!

Ramirez in 2007: I'm in!

by Goofus on Oct 19, 2006 11:18 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Re: Sabean at the Karoke bar...

I give you openings for more P-Funk, and you repay me with Barry Manilow? I'm very disappointed in you.

"The first point is whether my brain is still operating...I'll figure that out after the season." - Felipe Alou

by EliminateMe on Oct 19, 2006 11:25 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Sabean at the Karoke bar...

The lyrics wouldn't have been complete with an "at the end of the day" thrown in. Well done.

by mxmob33 on Oct 19, 2006 11:25 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

More on Manny

Here's a link to the Rangers sports-blog that discusses Acta and has some excerpts from the BP interview. http://tinyurl.com/ye9tpz

Also, Acta has occasionally come up at Baseball Primer, where a Mets fan says he's a bad third-base coach. The Washington Post has an article today that vaguely refers to Acta making questionable strategic moves in the baseball classic.

by Dan from NM on Oct 19, 2006 12:09 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Re: More on Manny

That article says "there was some question as to how well he did with game strategy and in using personnel."

I dunno about strategy, but he had Pedro Feliz on his roster and only started him once in seven games, so I'm inclined to give him a thumbs-up on personnel.

BP also has an article on the 2003-04 DWL season (available to non-subscribers) that has an interesting note about Acta's personnel handling:

When the playoffs started manager Acta surprised everybody when he named Rodriguez his everyday leftfielder, but at the end Acta was right because Rodriguez was useful in the playoffs, hitting 3 home runs, two of them in key games, and had an incredible Final Series hitting .579 with two home runs, eight runs batted in, a double and four walks. As expected, Henry was named the series MVP.

And concludes:

In Rodriguez case (and probably in Offerman's too) you have to give credit to manager Manny Acta, who was probably the only person that believed, seriously, that Oh Henry! Was going to be useful for a team with such depth as Licey.

"The first point is whether my brain is still operating...I'll figure that out after the season." - Felipe Alou

by EliminateMe on Oct 19, 2006 2:29 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs