Acta looks to manage

Manny Acta plans to interview for the Giants' and Rangers' managerial vacancies, the third base coach confirmed yesterday. GM Omar Minaya said Acta will be allowed to interview during an off-day, but added that neither San Francisco nor Texas has yet formally asked for permission through Major League Baseball. Acta hoped to have one of the interviews this week
"It is my goal, and it is going to come some day," said Acta, who managed in Dominican Republic the Licey Tigers to a championship and to conquer the Caribbean World Series in 2004. This year, he managed the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic, and previously interviewed with Arizona and Los Angeles. "There's always time for everything. And I'm in a no-lose situation. Even if I don't get one of those jobs, I still have a great job with a great team that I think is going to be in the hunt for years to come."
Lou Piniella became this week the new manager of the Chicago Cubs. The Cubs will try anything if it means ending a World Series winless streak. Not since 1908, when the USA was no bigger than 46 states, have the Cubs been world champions. Piniella is here to change that when he agreed to a three-year contract worth nearly $10 million, with an option for a fourth year.
As expected, someone asked Piniella about the possibility of luring Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez to the Cubs. And as expected, Piniella activated the deflector shields and said he hadn't had any discussion with GM Jim Hendry about acquiring A-Rod. Hendry later said any conversation involving Rodriguez would constitute tampering and that the topic was "inappropriate."
The Cubs can't say it publicly, but they did say that they are looking to acquire "another outstanding hitters. Hmmm. Outstanding hitters, eh? That shopping list could include Miguel Tejada, Alfonso Soriano, Carlos Lee and, Alex Rodriguez, who, like all players, can be had for the right price.
The Cubs are going to change the culture of losing. The last time they went to the World Series was in 1945 ... they're going to turn the day games into a competitive advantage ... they're going to prove once and for all that the franchise doesn't suffer from snake bites.