Manager Manny Acta has been pleased with the work of his coaching staff this season. The decision to bring the staff back intact, however, will come from above.
View full sizeIndians manager Manny Acta says he's looking forward to continuing the team's rebuilding process during the off-season.KANSAS CITY, Mo. — At this time last year it was a foregone conclusion that manager Eric Wedge and his coaching staff would be fired. The firing came Sept. 30 with Wedge and his coaches agreeing to work the final six games of the season.
The Indians are in the final days of another bad season. They entered Saturday night's game against the Royals with 61-86 record and in fourth place in the AL Central. It's the same record Wedge's Indians had after 147 games last year.
This year, first-year manager Manny Acta is safe and looking forward to continuing the rebuilding process in the off-season. As for the coaching staff, Acta is happy with its performance.
"I'm very pleased with the job they've done," said Acta. "We've had a lot of young players come through here this year. Some weren't quite ready to be here and we've had to push them along.
"To me the coaching staff has done a very good job."
As for whether the staff will return intact next year, Acta said that call does not come from him alone. GM Mark Shapiro and incoming GM Chris Antonetti will have plenty to say about it.
Acta's coaches are Tim Tolman (bench), Tim Belcher (pitching), Jon Nunnally (hitting), Sandy Alomar Jr. (first base), Steve Smith (third base) and Scott Radinsky (bullpen). Ruben Niebla and Dave Wallace are assistants to the big-league staff. Niebla was sidelined by a knee injury in June and replaced by Armando Camacaro, a former minor league catcher for the Indians.
View full sizePitcher Aaron Laffey is back with the Indians, recalled from Class AAA Columbus.Most of the coaching staff signed two-year deals at the start of the 2010 season.
Hello, Kansas City: The Indians have recalled left-hander Aaron Laffey from Class AAA Columbus. Laffey helped the Clippers win the Governor's Cup with a scoreless inning Friday night in a 13-2 victory over Durham.
The Clippers will play Class AAA Tacoma on Tuesday in Oklahoma City for the Class AAA championship.
Acta said a few more players will be called up after Tuesday. Apparently none of them will be starting pitchers as long as Mitch Talbot is in line to make his start Thursday against the Royals. Talbot has been nursing a sore right shoulder, but played catch Saturday and said he felt good.
As for Laffey, Acta said, "Laffey is on his way here. I'm not sure if he'll make it on time for [Saturday's] game. Columbus went through the most important part, which is winning the championship. It will be good for him to be here and gives us an opportunity to have some more bodies back there and be able to lessen the workload on some guys."
Laffey is 2-3 with a 4.62 ERA in 25 appearances, including five starts, with the Indians. This will be his third big-league tour of the season.
He was placed on the disabled list July 23 with a tired left shoulder. He started the year in the bullpen and was optioned to Class AAA Columbus to build up his arm so he could start for the Indians. The yo-yo act between the pen and rotation did not agree with Laffey's shoulder.
"He's a reliever right now," said Acta. "We'll sit down as an organization after the season and plan everything out and see where it takes us for next year."
Acta said Laffey has regained most of his lost velocity.
Real deal: Michael Brantley extended his hitting streak to 18 games with a single in the fourth inning Saturday.
Acta said this is not a mirage.
"This is who he is," said Acta. "This is what we anticipated from him. Everything is going to keep getting better for him."
Acta would not say Brantley has locked down the leadoff spot for next year.
"He's locking down a spot on the team," said Acta. "That is the main thing."
The Irish question: If Friday was the "Halfway to St. Patrick's Day" promotion at Kauffman Stadium, why didn't Sean O'Sullivan start the game? Instead O'Sullivan started Saturday night.
To reach this Plain Dealer Reporter: phoynes@plaind.com, 216-999-5158