CLEVELAND, July 11 (UPI) -- After receiving an ultimatum from Charlie Manuel, the Cleveland Indians fired their lame duck manager Thursday three hours before their game against the New York Yankees.
Manuel was in the final year of his contract and demanded a commitment beyond this season, but was rebuffed, then was relieved of his duties by general manager Mark Shapiro.
"I felt forced to make this decision," Shapiro said after his meeting with Manuel. "He felt now was the time to make a long-term commitment with him or for him to part ways. I just
wasn't ready to make that decision at this time."
The Indians promoted third base coach Joel Skinner to interim manager.
"When I woke up this morning I wasn't prepared for this," Skinner said. "I talk to Charlie every day and he had given me no indication that this would happen. I think this is surprising to all of us."
Skinner takes over a team that was 39-47 at the All-Star break, 9 1/2 games behind first-place Minnesota in the American League Central, and in a rebuilding mode after trading ace Bartolo Colon to the Montreal Expos for prospects on June 27.
Manuel, 58, is the seventh manager to be fired since the start of the season, following Phil Garner, Davey Lopes, Tony Muser, Buddy Bell, Buck Martinez and Don Baylor.
"The players are understandably shocked and I'm disappointed he didn't have greater trust in my ability to consider him (as the manager) at the end of the season," Shapiro said.
"I think Charlie was unhappy, not knowing what the future was for him," said Indians reliever Paul Shuey. "I think he thought if he did not get some guarantees, he thought he would take his
show on the road."
Cleveland won 91 games and the AL Central title last season under Manuel before losing in the Division Series to the Seattle Mariners, 3-2. It was the Indians' sixth division title in
seven years.
But owner Larry Dolan instructed Shapiro to cut $15 million off the payroll. The Indians traded All-Star second baseman Roberto Alomar and did not re-sign slugger Juan Gonzalez in the
offseason.
The offensive burden has fallen on Jim Thome, who has produced 26 homers and 60 RBI, but the Indians rank last in batting average and near the bottom in runs in the AL.
After flying out of the gate with an 11-1 start, the Indians lost 15 of their next 17 games. They officially moved into a rebuilding phase last month with the Colon trade and are expected to make a few more moves before the July 31 deadline.
Manuel was in his third year as manager after replacing Mike Hargrove in November 1999 and compiled a 220-190 record. He previously served as the team's hitting coach for six years. Manuel suffered health problems in his first two seasons as manager, battling an infected colon. He missed 13 games last season after undergoing colon surgery and was not with the team to celebrate the division-clinching win.
The Indians won 90 games in his first year but failed to make the playoffs for the first time since 1995.
Skinner has served as the Indians' third base coach since the 2001 season. Prior to that, Skinner managed for six seasons in Cleveland's minor league system, posting a record of 448-333.
"Obviously, managing in the big leagues is something I wanted to do," Skinner said. "I'm excited about it. I am going to be myself. I can't be Charlie or nobody else."
In his final season at Class AAA Buffalo, Skinner recorded an 86-59 record and was named Minor League Manager of the Year.
