Michael Brantley News

Jordan Brown won the International League batting crown last season while with the Columbus Clippers, but he was miffed when the Indians didn't call him up.

Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Cliff Lee shuts down the New York Yankees in Game 1 of the World Series.

CLEVELAND: Last week toward the end of his second interview with the Indians, Manny Acta was asked what he would do if the Houston Astros and the Indians both offered him their job as manager.

This past Sunday, the Indians hired Manny Acta as their new manager. Former Washington Nationals skipper Acta was signed to a three-year contract with a club option for 2013.

If you were told you could have the next Willy Taveras, would you want him? My personal period of mourning for the 2009 Cleveland Indians is over.

CLEVELAND: Torey Lovullo is on General Manager Mark Shapiro's short list to be the Indians' next manager, but why have him go through the interview process? Don't the Tribe's deep thinkers know Lovullo by now? He has been in the organization for eight years, the past four as Triple-A manager, three at Buffalo and this season at Columbus.

Torey Lovullo biggest selling point is himself. "I've had almost everyone of these guys," said Lovullo, the third man to interview for the Indians manager job in the last four days .

Follow Starting Blocks on Twitter and keep up with stories as they're posted. More Starting Blocks on Twitter: @sblocks >> STARTING BLOCKS Starting Blocks is a compilation of perspectives and opinions about our teams, coaches and athletes from across the Internet.

This was Eric Wedge's worst season as Tribe skipper, ending at 65-97, tied with Kansas City for fourth place.

Lester showed no ill effects from his injury last week and was splendid in a final tuneup for the playoffs, pitching into the seventh inning and leading the to a 3-0 win over the Cleveland Indians on Thursday night.

Boston- The next manager of the Indians should be a good teacher of baseball's fundamentals.

The Red Sox lead the Indians, 10-4, tonight after three innings at Fenway Park. Early lead : The Indians took a 2-0 lead off Josh Beckett in the first.

Under the Dolan ownership of the Indians, it has become an article of faith that the way to fame and glory is an unending sequence of tear-downs and rebuilds every six years or less.

Clubhouse confidential: Shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera batted leadoff Saturday against Baltimore in place of outfielder Michael Brantley .

It's not supposed to be this easy, and rookie Michael Brantley knows it. Chuck Crow The Plain Dealer Michael Brantley is hitting .323 in 23 games with the Indians this season.

Hours before the Indians played host to the Tigers on Thursday night, manager Eric Wedge called a meeting with his players.

Michael Brantley hit a two-RBI single in the third inning of Thursday's game against the Tigers.

Michael Brantley has played in left field more of late. And he had better get used to it.

The Indians led the Tigers, 2-0, through three innings tonight at Progressive Field.

CLEVELAND: The American League Central Division is being panned as the worst in the majors, with the first-place Detroit Tigers only nine games over .500 going into Tuesday night's game at Progressive Field.