Time to assess the Indians candidates for Manager. Three guys showed up this week for their formal interview and subsequent meet-and-greet with the press. The fourth will show up next week. How do they look?

Manny Acta: He showed up first and is also a candidate with Houston. Most of the press offered glowing appraisals of Acta. He is an avowed user of sabermetrics and a modern statistical approach to the game and would fit in well with the front office. Had a terrible record with the Nationals. The team did quit on him this year. Not sure what to make of him. He's young, but would he be Wedge 2.0? He says bunting is outdated, he will have selective base stealing, and the stat heads will go ga-ga over him. Therefore, we might see Shoppach against lefties, Marte at third and no more Trevor Crowe! Fun Fact: When the late Yankee pitcher Cory Lidle crashed his airplane into an apartment, Acta lived in the building.

Bobby Valentine: He is probably what the Indians need as a Manager. One who can sell the club as well as manage it. But the more I think about it, his press interview was awful. I mean if you don't even take the time to find out a little about your potential club, division or league, you are not the right candidate. I wouldn't dismiss him out of hand, but the front office has probably already crossed him off the list. Very sad. Fun Fact: Watch him get mobbed riding his bike in Japan in "The Zen of Bobby V".

Torey Lovullo: Torey Lovullo was last this week. His familiarity with the situation helps him immensely. I do give a lot of credence to what he did this year with some of the players in AAA. Andy Marte flourished under him. Both Rafael Perez and Jensen Lewis could not get anyone out in the big leagues, but in the bizarro world of Columbus, they were both unhittable. I think Lovullo and his pitching and hitting coach have done pretty well. The problem is the fans will not like his hiring. They will view the move as cheap and an extension of the front office. Again. Fun Fact: I saw his first game as an Indian.

Don Mattingly: The fourth candidate is the wild card, Don Mattingly. I saw an interview with him on the MLB Network before a game this past summer and was mesmerized by his chat about hitting. If Donnie Baseball knows one thing, it's hitting. Look at his work with young Dodger hitters like Loney and Ethier. But can he survive this ragtag bunch of arms that we have called our starting rotation? And will he use the Indians job as an apprenticeship for some eventual return to the Dodgers as Joe Torre's replacement. He's never managed before at any level. Fun Fact: Peter Gammons has already said he will get the job.

Meal of Links

Soupy Sales died the other day. All I remember from him is showing up on Merv, getting hit with pies and the stunt he pulled all those many years ago. You know, the one where he instructed kids to go in their parents' pockets and purses and send him those green papers with the president's pictures on them.

Jeezy creezy. China has a lot of pollution.

Bronson Pinchot talks. A lot. Wow, Denzel Washington is not one of his favorites.

Remember how last week's Bills-Jets game went way over and delayed CBS Sunday programming by a lot of time. Welcome to the world of Eye-Alerts. They will give you the scoop.

President Obama's thesis on the Constitution was printed on line. Of course, Rush ran with it. But it was a hoax. Rush finally figured that out and said Obama thought that way anyhow.

A Sgt. Pepper album cover without any Beatles. That's gold, Jerry, gold!

The Rock and Roll HOF concerts are coming up next week. But what do the performers say about the current state of the hall.

Exercise Yard

This may be a sign of the times in the NBA. Nearly half of the teams will have a roster of only 13 or 14. Not the max of 15. It's the economy, stupid.

Visitor

57 Across: McAn of shoes (4 letters) Answer: Thom (Yes, I bought shoes there.)