Indians manager Manny Acta says Grady Sizemore is his center fielder "until I hear differently." Sizemore is recovering from surgery on his left knee, but isn't scheduled to start running until January.
View full sizeManny Acta believes that Grady Sizemore, Carlos Santana and Asdrubal Cabrera will be healthy and able to contribute during the 2011 season.CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Indians manager Manny Acta met reporters for lunch Monday to discuss his off-season and the approaching 2011 season.
It was an interesting weekend for Acta. On Saturday, he tubed down the Batterhorn at Progressive Field as part of the team's Snow Days promotion. Sunday he went to his first NFL game, watching the Browns edge the Panthers.
Yes, that was Acta wearing the big orange "we're No.1 finger' behind Carolina's bench.
"I'll tell you what, Peyton Hillis is the man in this town," said Acta.
Acta was born in the Dominican Republic. Tubing down man-made snow hills and going to NFL football games were not among his childhood experiences.
Here are some other bullet points from Acta.
• -Acta said "until I hear differently' Grady Sizemore will be his center fielder in 2011. Sizemore missed most of last season after undergoing microfracture surgery on his left knee.
Sizemore is not scheduled to start running until January. Acta made it clear his progress and work load will be "monitored" closely during spring training. In other words, Sizemore won't be 100 percent when camp opens Feb. 15.
• Josh Judy, who just finished a winter ball assignment in the Dominican Republic where he went 5-for-5 in save situations with a 1.50 ERA and no walks in 12 innings, has a chance to crack the Tribe's stacked bullpen.
"He's knocking on the door," said Acta.
• Acta sounded confident that GM Chris Antonetti will be able to acquire a starting pitcher to help the rotation. It would be nice if he's left-handed because outside of David Huff, who flopped last year, the team doesn't have a left-handed candidate.
• Acta is looking for Chris Perez, Shin-Soo Choo, Travis Hafner and Asdrubal Cabrera to provide leadership.
"But given the choice between leadership and good defense and pitching, I'll take defense and pitching," said Acta.
• Infield prospects Jason Kipnis and Cord Phelps, among others, will be invited to big league camp.
• The Indians signed catcher Luke Carlin to a minor-league deal and invited him to spring training. Carlin finished last season with the Indians before being dropped from the 40-man roster.
Antonetti is looking for depth at catcher since Carlos Santana is coming off extensive surgery on his left knee. Carlin hit .357 (5-for-14) with two homers and three RBI in six games with the Tribe.