When asked before Sunday's game if he had to take a realistic approach to the rest of the season in terms of wins and losses, Acta said no way. "I'm never realistic," he said. "I'm an optimistic fool. I come here every single day thinking that it's baseball and on any given day Jeanmar Gomez can beat any of these guys he's facing. That's the way I approach it because it happens in the game."
View full sizeCleveland Indians manager Manny Acta during a game against the Chicago White Sox at Progressive Field on April 18, 2010. TORONTO, Canada -- Do not talk to manager Manny Acta about realism and how it pertains to an inexperienced and stripped-down Indians club. He's a dreamer. A baseball dreamer.
After last week's trades, the Indians have only two players on their 25-man roster over 30. One of them is Travis Hafner, the DH with the big contract who hasn't played in four days because of a sore right shoulder. The other is outfielder/first baseman Shelley Duncan.
When asked before Sunday's game if he had to take a realistic approach to the rest of the season in terms of wins and losses, Acta said no way.
"I'm never realistic," he said. "I'm an optimistic fool. I come here every single day thinking that it's baseball and on any given day Jeanmar Gomez can beat any of these guys he's facing. That's the way I approach it because it happens in the game.
"In the long term it doesn't usually work out that way, but life is about choices and attitude. I know what's ahead of us and what's in front of me."
The dreamer was smiling after Sunday's 5-4 victory over Toronto. Gomez, a rookie pitching on three days' rest in his second big-league game, went five innings for the win.
Quick hits: Short Indians notes:
Acta said Sunday that Michael Brantley will be recalled soon from Columbus. He's been up with the Indians twice.
Acta added that Nick Weglarz, another Columbus outfielder, could get a call as well if he keeps performing well. Weglarz is hitting .286 with 17 doubles, six homers, 20 RBI and an .889 OPS through 50 games.
Luis Valbuena started at third Sunday after Jayson Nix made two errors in a three-game period since being given the job following Wednesday's trade of Jhonny Peralta.
Jason Donald, Jordan Brown and Trevor Crowe were college teammates at the University of Arizona.
Anthony Reyes' rehab start at Class AA Akron didn't go well Sunday. He allowed nine runs on six hits in 1 innings. Reyes, coming back Tommy John surgery on his right elbow, threw 50 pitches, 27 for strikes. That's that: Jordan Brown finally made his big-league debut Sunday. After being called up Saturday to replace Austin Kearns, he DH'd Sunday and took an 0-for-4.
"It was nerve-wracking," said Brown. "I've never been happy after an 0-for-4, but it was nice to do it and get it out of the way. Now we go to Boston and I hope we keep winning."
Brown's family will join him in Boston. Into the void: Acta said he'd like to see Asdrubal Cabrera assume a leadership role on the club now that most of the veterans have been traded or released.
"Asdrubal brings a lot to the table," said Acta. "He's a very nice team player. He'll bunt on his own when he's trying to get things started for us.
"He's the right guy to start leading these kids. He's been in the big leagues for almost four years now. He's been in the playoffs with the Indians. I'm expecting him to take on a bigger role and we've talked to him about it."
Cabrera said that's fine with him.
"Manny talked to me about it in spring training," said Cabrera. "I know what Manny likes. I'm going to try and be a really good teammate with everybody.
"I feel really good about it. We have a young team here, but everybody wants to win." He's the man: Chris Perez really has been the Indians' closer most of the season. Kerry Wood started the year on the disabled list, returned to save eight games and then went back on the DL.
In all that downtime, Perez was the closer. Now with Wood traded to the Yankees, there's no doubt.
"I was nervous when Kerry was activated on Saturday," said Perez. "I was walking around on eggshells wondering what they were going to do."
Wood was traded during Saturday's game.
"It all worked out," said Perez. "Kerry is going to a playoff contender, and I'm getting my chance. This is what I've dreamed of and worked hard for since college. I hope I come out on top more times than not."