Ingraham: Wedge leftovers would be eye-opening to Acta
Published: Saturday, October 31, 2009
By Jim Ingraham
JIngraham@News-Herald.com
What if?
What if, when Eric Wedge cleaned his things out of the manager's office at Progressive Field, he forgot about the top drawer to his desk?
What if he forgot to reach way back there, where his various daily notes to himself for the past season were scattered about?
What if Manny Acta opened the drawer on opening day next year, and he found all these notes from Wedge to himself from the 2009 season?
What would Acta find on those notes?
The following:
"Explain to Lee why, just because we traded CC last year that doesn't mean we'll trade him this year."
"Start Garko at first base."
"Start Garko in right field."
"Move Carroll from left field to right field, so Garko can start in left."
"See if LaPorta is in the clubhouse. Don't play him. Just see if he's here."
"Remind Peralta that he's doing a wonderful job making all the routine plays at short."
"Ask Gimenez if he's ever pitched."
"Remind Francisco that he needs to start grinding."
"Call Cabrera into the office and explain to him again why he's playing second base and not shortstop."
"Tell Lee there's nothing to that trade rumor he heard."
"Call Torey Lovullo at Columbus and ask him how Niuman Romero looks."
"Ask Lovullo if Romero has ever pitched."
"Meet with Fausto. Explain to him again that we're going to help him work through this, no matter what."
"(Following game, after Fausto loses) Tell Fausto this is really getting old."
"Meet with the media before the game. Continue to act like I haven't been fired."
"Talk to Sowers about all the twitching he does on the mound, and how it drives me crazy. It would be one thing, tell him, if you were a 20-game winner and kept tugging at your uniform and cap like that. But you're not. It just makes you look nervous and scared. And it makes me wish someone else was pitching."
"Find out who the umpires are tonight. If I see any of them, act like I'm happy they are here."
"Explain to Cliff that just because he hears the phone in my office ring it doesn't always mean it's a team calling about him."
"Watch batting practice. Tell Shoppach tonight would be a good night to stop striking out."
"Explain to Garko that the reason he's playing left field is that I like Carroll's arm in right."
"Ask Hafner if he's ever played short."
"Explain to Carroll that the reason he's playing right field is that I can't play him at second base yet because Cabrera has to play somewhere until we move him to short, which won't happen until we trade DeRosa and move Peralta to third. Don't tell him that last part. Just the part about Cabrera has to play somewhere, and then just kind of let voice trail off, without really finishing the sentence."
"Look for (opposing team's manager) during batting practice. Nod hello. Say hello. Nod goodbye. Say good luck. Nod good luck. Explain nod."
"Tell Marte I'm thinking of using him some at first base, on days Garko is in left field and DeRosa has to play right in place of Carroll because he needs to play second for Cabrera, who needs a day off."
"Keep Peralta at short."
"Tell Gimenez he's going to catch tomorrow because I want to see him get some at-bats against Halladay, just in case Halladay pitches against us later in the year and all of our other catchers are hurt. Or even if they're not."
"Tell DeRosa we've traded him to St. Louis, and that in a couple months he'll be glad we did."
"Ask trainers what Joe Smith's injury is again."
"Call a meeting with Greg Aquino, Jose Veras, and Winston Abreu. (Have Carl Willis point them out). Tell them that if Cliff asks any of them if he's been traded, they are to send him to me."
"Tell Fausto he looked a lot better his last time out."
"Ask Carl why Fausto still looks so lost."
"Make appearance at team picnic. Act relaxed."
"Make small talk with Kobayashi, then ask him, 'Do you know the name of the guy who scouted you?' "
"Tell Peralta I'm moving him to third, not because he wasn't making all the routine plays at short, but because he has a chance to look even routiner at third."
"Ask Grady if he's hurt. Leave room before he answers."
"Tell Tomo Ohka that I'll only use him in games we're getting blown out, and if that's too much work for him to let me know."
"Tell Cliff we've traded him to Philadelphia. Refuse his high-five."
"Tell writers I still think we're only one good week away from getting back into this thing. Act sincere."
"Tell Fausto he's this close to getting it back."
"Have Jeff Datz tell the coaches that they might want to update their resumes."
