While Acta knows he has a young ballclub, he says the team needs to play better than it has during its recent struggles.
View full sizeIndians manager Manny Acta felt it was necessary to call a meeting for his team, which has lost nine of its past 12 games heading into Thursday night's game in Kansas City, Mo. KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Manager Manny Acta held a team meeting before Thursday's game. The Indians had lost nine of their past 12 games so it made sense.
"I was taking the temperature of the ballclub," Acta said. "I wanted to let the kids know we have a month and a half to play and we're going through a rough stretch right now.
"Yes, we're young, but I have the right to tell them I'm not happy with the way we have played over the last 12 games. We can't sit here and say we're a better ballclub without the guys who have left -- Carlos Santana, Austin Kearns, Jhonny Peralta, Jake Westbrook and Kerry Wood. But still we have to get out there and play and compete.
"I told them to take advantage of this opportunity because we're not going to be rebuilding forever."
Santana, the Indians' cleanup hitter, is out for the season following surgery on his left knee. Kearns, Peralta, Westbrook and Wood were traded last month.
"The whole meeting was about making progress," Acta said. "For us that's the challenge. Once the season is over only eight teams go to the playoffs, 22 will go home. If we're going home, we want to go home being better as a team and as individuals."
Said catcher Chris Gimenez: "The meeting wasn't about effort. Manny knows we're giving effort. It's just that sometimes the results aren't what we strive for. The fact that we're young isn't an excuse."
Rocked: Gimenez said his shoulders and back were sore after his home plate collision Wednesday with Kansas City's Mitch Maier.
"It's funny, I never played football," Gimenez said. "My dad never really wanted me to because he was afraid I'd get hurt. I called my mom this morning and told her now I know what it's like to get smacked around on a football field."
Did father know best?
"He probably made a good life decision right there," Gimenez said with a laugh.
Maier knocked Gimenez down on the play, but Gimenez held Shin-Soo Choo's throw from right field to complete the double play in the second inning.
"My parents saw the play on TV," Gimenez said. "I got a couple of text messages from friends. One of them said, 'That's what happens when you stand on the tracks.' "
On display: Right-hander Jason Knapp, 19, will start for Class A Lake County tonight after missing most of the season recovering from last year's right shoulder surgery. Knapp was acquired from the Phillies last year in the Cliff Lee deal and the Indians consider him a key part to the deal.
Knapp has made five starts for the Indians' Arizona Rookie League club. He's 0-2 with a 1.46 ERA. Left-handers hit .059 (1-for-17) against him, while righties hit .160 (4-for-25).
The 6-5, 225-pound right-hander struck out 18, walked four and allowed two earned runs on five hits in 121/3 innings. The opposition hit .119 against him.
"He was throwing in the high 90s -- from 96 mph to 98 mph," said Ross Atkins, Indians director of player development. "He showed a good breaking ball and a changeup. He overwhelmed that league."
Knapp, 20 on Aug. 31, is expected to make four to six starts for Lake County and then go to the Arizona Instructional League.
"His commitment and worth ethic during his rehab blew us away," Atkins said. "He showed the discipline of a big-leaguer, far beyond his chronological years.
"Emotionally and physically, during the rehab, he showed great maturity."
Quick hits: Aaron Laffey allowed one run on a solo homer Thursday at Lake County as he continued his rehab from a tired left shoulder. His next appearance is scheduled for Saturday at Class AA Akron. . . . Today is the deadline for the Indians to acquire a player from the Yankees to complete the Kearns deal. Look for it to be a minor-league pitcher. . . . It sounds like Carlos Carrasco won't be joining the Indians until the roster expands in September. . . . Acta said he could go with a straight six-man rotation in September to make sure no one is over pitched.