FanGraphs Audio: Manny Acta Brings Anecdotes

Episode 955

This week, we get stories from a baseball lifer before a casual chat about some teams that could use a little help.

• At the top of the show, David Laurila welcomes Manny Acta, former major league manager, current third base coach for the Mariners, and founder of the impACTA Kids charity foundation. David asks Acta about growing up in the Dominican Republic and dreaming of becoming a ballplayer, and what coming to the United States at a young age was like. We also hear personal stories about baseball greats like Billy Wagner, Tuffy Rhodes, Brad Lidge, Roy Oswalt, Tim Redding, and Frank Robinson. [2:39]
• After that, Dan Szymborski and Ben Clemens discuss the Phillies and the Angels, two clubs with promise if they can fill some holes. Dan and Ben discuss those teams’ lopsided outfields and some free agent pitchers who could help them, as well as the Cardinals’ own impressive outfield. The conversation then shifts to Tyler O’Neill hitting the ball very hard, free agent Carlos Martínez, and players who felt like they should have hit for more power than they eventually did. [36:17]

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Audio after the jump. (Approximate 57 minute play time.)

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