azdad1978
Championship!!!!
By Ed Price, Tribune
Manny Acta apparently made a strong first impression Tuesday when he interviewed for the Diamondbacks’ managerial opening.
"Just a very, very impressive guy," general manager Joe Garagiola Jr. said. "If anyone asks me about Manny Acta , I’m going to tell them this is a guy who has a lot to offer."
Said Acta, who spent the past three seasons as firstbase coach of the Montreal Expos: "I just went in there and I was myself."
The other seven candidates are Wally Backman, who managed the D-Backs’ Class A Lancaster team this year and will interview today; broadcaster and former Arizona first baseman Mark Grace; Texas first-base coach DeMarlo Hale; former DBacks bench coach and Seattle manager Bob Melvin; Anaheim bench coach Joe Maddon; Al Pedrique, who managed the Diamondbacks the second half of this season; and Colorado bench coach Jamie Quirk.
The first round of interviews will be complete by the end of the week. Then the Diamondbacks will choose finalists — it was two in 2000 but could be more this time — and they will return for interviews that include ownership.
Garagiola said Acta was "very impressive, very impressive. I liked him a lot. This is someone who has a lot of presence, a lot of energy, and is very focused."
Acta, 35, managed eight seasons in the Houston organization before joining Montreal.
But he has some familiarity with D-Backs personnel: As a minor-league player, he was a teammate of Luis Gonzalez for two seasons, and he knows Pedrique from when they managed in the Astros chain at the same time.
"I love him to death," Acta said of Pedrique.
And as a Montreal coach, Acta made it his business to learn the opposing personnel.
"I know a lot (about the Diamondbacks) because that’s my job," said Acta, who manages Licey in the Dominican Winter League. "I always try to look at the other side. This is what I do for a living."
Meanwhile, Casey Close, the agent for first baseman Richie Sexson, said Tuesday that negotiations with Arizona are stalled.
Close did deny published reports that Sexson — eligible for free agency this year — is seeking a three-year, $30 million deal.
"We have not designated any figure at all," Close said.
"They’ve given us some things to look at, some suggestions," Garagiola said.
Sexson, limited to 23 games in his first season with the DBacks because of a shoulder injury, does want more than one guaranteed year in an extension, and Arizona has yet to respond to that with a contract proposal.
In about a month, Sexson will be able to test the freeagent market, and largerevenue teams Seattle and the New York Mets may be seeking a first baseman.
http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/index.php?sty=29641
Manny Acta apparently made a strong first impression Tuesday when he interviewed for the Diamondbacks’ managerial opening.
"Just a very, very impressive guy," general manager Joe Garagiola Jr. said. "If anyone asks me about Manny Acta , I’m going to tell them this is a guy who has a lot to offer."
Said Acta, who spent the past three seasons as firstbase coach of the Montreal Expos: "I just went in there and I was myself."
The other seven candidates are Wally Backman, who managed the D-Backs’ Class A Lancaster team this year and will interview today; broadcaster and former Arizona first baseman Mark Grace; Texas first-base coach DeMarlo Hale; former DBacks bench coach and Seattle manager Bob Melvin; Anaheim bench coach Joe Maddon; Al Pedrique, who managed the Diamondbacks the second half of this season; and Colorado bench coach Jamie Quirk.
The first round of interviews will be complete by the end of the week. Then the Diamondbacks will choose finalists — it was two in 2000 but could be more this time — and they will return for interviews that include ownership.
Garagiola said Acta was "very impressive, very impressive. I liked him a lot. This is someone who has a lot of presence, a lot of energy, and is very focused."
Acta, 35, managed eight seasons in the Houston organization before joining Montreal.
But he has some familiarity with D-Backs personnel: As a minor-league player, he was a teammate of Luis Gonzalez for two seasons, and he knows Pedrique from when they managed in the Astros chain at the same time.
"I love him to death," Acta said of Pedrique.
And as a Montreal coach, Acta made it his business to learn the opposing personnel.
"I know a lot (about the Diamondbacks) because that’s my job," said Acta, who manages Licey in the Dominican Winter League. "I always try to look at the other side. This is what I do for a living."
Meanwhile, Casey Close, the agent for first baseman Richie Sexson, said Tuesday that negotiations with Arizona are stalled.
Close did deny published reports that Sexson — eligible for free agency this year — is seeking a three-year, $30 million deal.
"We have not designated any figure at all," Close said.
"They’ve given us some things to look at, some suggestions," Garagiola said.
Sexson, limited to 23 games in his first season with the DBacks because of a shoulder injury, does want more than one guaranteed year in an extension, and Arizona has yet to respond to that with a contract proposal.
In about a month, Sexson will be able to test the freeagent market, and largerevenue teams Seattle and the New York Mets may be seeking a first baseman.
http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/index.php?sty=29641
