Manny Acta: Keys To Success for the Cleveland Indians' New Manager
10/27/2009
Samantha was born in Arizona, but grew up in Cleveland. There she acquired the childhood nickname of Buh, after Al Bubba Baker (fortunately not due to any physical resemblance), the requisite chip on the shoulder that all Cleveland fans have, and permanent frostbite from attending Browns games in December. Her love of sports and tendency toward attachment to teams that choke began with the 1986 Browns.
After suffering through The Drive, watching Bill Belechick run her team into the ground while blaming it on Bernie Kosar, and even forcing herself to root for Vinny Testaverde, the Browns rewarded her for her loyalty by leaving town.
Unable to find a suitable replacement team to adopt, she switched her primary devotion to baseball. She fell in love with the Indians and the game itself, and before she knew it found herself reading scouting reports and uttering the phrase "sorry, I don't have time to date during baseball season."
Like her hero Crash Davis, she's got an "I believe" speech. Inspired by the effect of Crash's speech on Annie, she hopes to someday use the following to impress Scott Van Pelt:
She believes that either baseball or Miller Lite is her soul mate, that Omar Vizquel is the greatest defensive shortstop in the history of the game, and that Jose Mesa may be the embodiment of pure evil. She believes in respecting streaks, the power of a sell-out crowd, and that a 6-4-3 double play can be one of the most beautiful things in the world. She would rather steal home than hit a grand slam, thinks that the bench clearing brawl is an art form but that it is rarely executed to perfection, and that the 1919 Black Sox may have been the greatest team of all time. She believes that MLB should outlaw purple jerseys, the wave, and Joe Morgan. She believes that the home run is overrated and the triple is underrated, that Lou Pinella throws the world's best tantrums, and that Jamie Moyer is often the only thing that gets her out of bed in the morning.
She thought it best to provide a few additional details for a more complete description of herself in case she ever gets any fans, enemies, or stalkers: She has several useless talents which include shooting pool, crosswords and picking locks, but she is a terrible bowler, can't seem to stop stealing holiday decorations while out drinking, and has a problem with authority.
She blames Art Modell for her trust issues, her Cleveland Stadium Dog Pound training for the time she got kicked out of a Penn State game for throwing things, and 10-Cent Beer Night for the fact that she can no longer upgrade her seats at ball games through squatters rights.
Her fastball tops out at 55.
Find me on twitter at: https://twitter.com/samanthabunten
Find me on fanhuddle at: http://fanhuddle.com/alcentral/
Dear Samantha:
Here's my latest on how Bay could be a "$20 million man."
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/286429-why-jason-bay-might-be-worth-20-million-a-year-to-the-right-team
Two busted pitching prospects and two fielders barely above replacement level for him? Someone was asleep at the switch.
But you were NOT that person.
Tom
13 days ago
Dear Samantha:
It took me this long to figure out how to get the info about the "Cleveland connection" to you without making you by the book.
If you google "tom au, a modern approach to graham and dodd investing," and browse the book preview, on page xiii (of the foreward), you may be able to read the saga of a Cleveland woman named Clara Weber Lorenz.
Tom
24 days ago
Is Craig Anderson really all that he's cracked up to be? Find out in my latest article and please feel free to leave feedback!
Thanks,
Patrick
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/280125-is-this-guy-for-real-craig-andersons-miraculous-month-of-october
25 days ago
Here's how we all voted. Thanks so much for the help. Enjoy.
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/273191-the-2009-bleacher-report-featured-columnist-baseball-awards
37 days ago
In wake of the ALCS, please check out my interview with the former Yankee and Angel, the truly inspirational, Jim Abbott!
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/272194-inspirational-words-from-former-yank-and-angel
38 days ago
this man belongs in Canton :
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/265091-crazy-canton-cuts-don-coryell
51 days ago
Dear Samantha:
It's because the stakes are lower (Wedge is a "flying monkey," not a "wicked witch,") that I enjoy writing about baseball. That's analysis without the angst. It's regarding Wall St. where you have to deal with some really evil people.
And if you've wondered why I take an interest in Cleveland baseball (e.g. my Sowers article), the roots of my earlier Wall St. career, and my book, go all the way back to Cleveland.
52 days ago
Dear Samantha:
Voted for your "Wedge" article as a PoTD.
And here (starting about the middle of the piece), is a "financial" version of the "Ding Dong" song.
http://seekingalpha.com/instablog/399221-graham-and-dodd-investor/29334-the-kansas-tea-party-against-bankers
Tom
52 days ago
Hey Samantha...
You've been awesome with Tribe Talk all year long... Fantastic job.
Last year we all did the sort of "end of the year awards" type deal.
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/65728-cleveland-indians-end-of-the-year-awards
I don't know if you were thinking about anything as far as the end of the year went, but would you like to have part in sort of what we did last year? I'm thinking some changes need to be made to the format at least and probably some of the questions. I'm just not sure how many people would submit, so who knows how long it could be if we did it like last year again.
Let me know your thoughts. With a week left, now is probably the time to get this up and moving. I'd also like to incorporate the preseason stuff we did, I still have all the results.
-Nino
55 days ago
The NY Yankees and the media are trying to manipulate you.
Yankee propaganda must be exposed as lies and crushed before it can spread any further.
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/261540-exposing-the-ny-yankee-propaganda-machine
57 days ago
check this out :
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/259315-zorn-flops-on-while-redskins-nation-flounders-in-anger
61 days ago
This may be the article I'm most proud of. Let me know what you think.
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/259173-eight-years-ago-today-we-were-all-mets-fans
62 days ago
Hey there! I just created my first slideshow on BR! Come check out my starting lineup for week 3 in college football w/analysis & predictions:
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/257295-college-football-starting-lineup-for-week-3
[Feedback is appreciated]
65 days ago
Hey Samantha!
Well, it has been an incredible journey so far on B/R and I thought it was time to give back to the fans. So here is an article talking about being a NASCAR champion. Enjoy!
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/251698-gimme-some-truth-what-makes-a-nascar-sprint-cup-champion
Rob
73 days ago
Great Debate: Bronze Medal
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Ash Marshall said...
DeleteHi Samantha,
I'm writing articles on the MLB 9s and thought you'd like this piece on the Cleveland Indians
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/291536-mlb-9s-cleveland-indians-albert-belle-shoeless-joe-jackson-shine
Let me know what you think. Any feedback would be appreciated.
Cheers,
Ash
6 days ago