MLB roundup: Indians fire manager Acta
The Indians announced Thursday manager Manny Acta was fired with six games remaining in the 2012 season.
He'll be replaced on an interim basis by Sandy Alomar.
Acta compiled a record of 214-266 (.446) over his three seasons after being named manager on October 25, 2009. Acta previously managed the Washington Nationals but was fired at midseason and replaced by Jim Riggleman.
"The Cleveland Indians would like to thank Manny Acta for everything he has done for the organization in his three seasons as our manager," said Chris Antonetti, executive vice president and general manager, in a team-issued statement. "Manny's passion for the game, positive attitude and tremendous knowledge of baseball helped guide us to a number of high points during his tenure. Managerial changes are never easy or taken lightly, but as we approached the end of the season and turned our attention to assessing the year, we determined a change was necessary."
Alomar is a candidate for the manager's job and a search for a permanent manager is underway, the Indians announced.
The 46-year-old has been a member of the coaching staff since 2010 and was bench coach last season.
---The Houston Astros announced Thursday that Washington Nationals third-base coach Bo Porter will be their new manager.
Porter will remain with the Nationals through the remainder of the regular season and playoffs.
General manager Jeff Luhnow said Porter was the only candidate to receive a job offer, the Houston Chronicle reported.
Porter is in his sixth season as a major-league coach, including the past two with the Nationals. A former outfielder, he played three seasons in the majors.
--Max Scherzer has been scratched from a scheduled start Friday at Minnesota.
The 16-game winner isn't sure he'll be back in the rotation until a possible playoff appearance.
The Tigers, who entered play Thursday with a one-game lead in the American League Central, named Drew Smyly as the probable starter against the Twins.
--Bobby Valentine's future is uncertain, and comments made by Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington on Thursday won't soon silence speculation that 2012 will be the manager's only season in Boston.
In a radio interview with WEEI in Boston, Cherington went into detail about the time commitment.
"I'd always rather get the decision right than rush it," Cherington said. "But what we know we need to do is hit the ground running this offseason. One of the things that, as I look back on last offseason, that didn't go perfectly was simply the amount of time that we spent on the manager search and what that did to the rest of the offseason and I would like to spend less time on it this offseason, that's for sure."
Cherington clarified later in the day. He told ESPNBoston.com via email, "I meant it in the most literal sense. We've made it clear that we'll meet after the season (to make a decision on manager Bobby Valentine). One way or another, my hope is to spend less time on the matter than we did last offseason."
---Seven years after Adam Greenberg was struck in the head by a pitch during his first major-league at-bat, he'll get another shot at the big leagues with the Florida Marlins.
The Miami Marlins received major-league baseball's approval to sign Greenberg to a one-day contract. Marlins president David Samson guaranteed Greenberg, 31, would get one at-bat next Tuesday in a game against the New York Mets.
Greenberg never played in the majors again after Marlins pitcher Valerio de los Santos plunked him in 2005 while with the Chicago Cubs. Greenberg has experienced vertigo, vision problems and post-concussion syndrome since then.
---San Francisco Giants outfielder Melky Cabrera will not rejoin the team in the postseason when he becomes eligible to return from his 50-game suspension, Giants manager Bruce Bochy said Thursday.
Cabrera received his 50-game ban for testing positive for testosterone on Aug. 15. That came with 45 games remaining in the regular season, which would make Cabrera eligible to return to the Giants in their sixth postseason game, if they get that far.
He would have been allowed to begin rehab assignments 10 games prior to returning, which means he could have begun rehabilitation on Saturday, when five games remained on the Giants' regular-season schedule.
