DETROIT — Cleveland Indians manager Manny Acta shrugged off comments by closer Chris Perez about the way the team has been run, saying he cares more about how the right-hander performs in the ninth inning.
Perez was quoted in a foxsports.com report, saying the difference between the Indians and Detroit Tigers is “different owners.” He said Tigers owner Mike Ilitch is spending money, and “he’s got a team to show for it.”
Acta says that’s Perez’s opinion, and he doesn’t have anything to add to it. Acta said: “What really concerns me is that in the ninth inning, when he needs to save the game, he comes in and gets it. The rest of the stuff, we handle it internally.”
Perez made comments earlier in the season that were critical of fans for not coming to the ballpark to watch the Indians.
Indians general manager Chris Antonetti doesn’t like what his surly closer had to say but he also is not happy with the Indians play.
“While we work to understand various perspectives, we strongly disagree with Chris’s comments,” Antonetti said in a statement. “Nonetheless, we are not satisfied with our recent results and our entire organization remains committed to fielding winning teams and that is the standard by which we will continue to operate.”
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