Manny Acta / (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
Reporting Matt Loede
CLEVELAND (92.3 The Fan) - Indians fans are holding the teams and manager Manny Acta’s feet to the fire following a disastrous 9-game losing streak that took place against three AL Central teams.
Back in the hopeful friendly confines of Progressive Field, Acta spoke to the media for the first time since returning home now 9.5 games back in the division.
There’s also a question about the long term status of Acta and his job, and while some are calling for his firing, GM Chris Antonetti again Monday gave Acta a vote of confidence.
“I’ve been very happy with the job Manny’s done,” Antonetti said. “It’s been a tough road trip, but I think he’s provided good leadership throughout, not only the road trip but his tenure here.”
“We’ve never been through this, and it’s just shocking,” Acta said. “10 days ago I was sitting here on top of the mountain after the series with the Tigers, and we go on that road trip and it’s the road trip from – whatever word you want to use there.
“Unbelievable the amount of runs that we allowed from our starting rotation and how things just went wrong.”
Things have been going wrong for the Indians pretty much the moment they got off the All-Star break. They started the second half 44-41, just three games back of the Sox.
Now, 24 days later, they are 9 games back, 8 games under .500, and have gone 6-17 since the team had a few days off to spend with family and friends.
“I need to walk by guys with the same face, and not differently or anything like that,” Acta said. “Just make sure that they know ‘hey, it’s a new day and a new game,’ as we always say, things can change pretty quick.”
The starting pitching has set the tone, and not in a good way for the Indians in their recent collapse. The rotation has 2/5′s changed with Corey Kulber and Chris Seddon coming aboard, and Josh Tomlin going to the pen and Derek Lowe being released.
“The inconsistencies of our starting pitching is something that has been a challenge for us most of the year,” Antonetti said. “Until we can right our starting pitching it’s going to be difficult for us to sustain any type of momentum.”
With that said, if the Indians are going to turn anything around, it starts Monday night as they welcome the team that just beat them in three straight in Minnesota by a combined score of 28-6.
Things may not be looking up for the Wahoo’s, but a few wins would sure do this team a whole lot of good right now.
