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Cactus League play has begun and the Cleveland Indians are off to a 4-0 start under their new manager Manny Acta. Already the feeling is quite different than it was the previous seven seasons under the guidance of Eric Wedge.

Acta has been a media darling since he was hired last October and now his style is rubbing off on his players. His style can be laid-back at times and very demanding when he wants to be.

“He is very passionate about the upcoming season,” Indians pitcher David Huff said. “His passion has fired me up.”

Expectations may not be high with Tribe fans, but do not tell that to Acta. He feels that if they do all the right things, this team has enough talent to be a winner.

“Winning is fun,” Acta said. “We have done what we are preaching. We have pitched well and played good defense so far.”

It is all about the approach that the Indians take to the field on a daily basis and it has paid off early in spring training. Offensively, the Indians are hitting .277 and have seemed to hit well with runners in scoring position.

“I think it has been paying off for the guys,” Acta said. “They have shown up early and getting in a lot swings already.”

Tribe's Grady Sizemore

This spring, the Acta approach has been working well. The first sign of changes came when he decided that Grady Sizemore would bat second and no longer leadoff.

This idea was something that Wedge was reluctant to do throughout Sizemore’s career.

“Basically, it gives him the ability to hit with guys in front of him,” Acta said. “Also, he has been known to be a pull hitter so he will have the opportunity to use the hole more.

“Gradually, we all know that this guy could potentially hit lower in the lineup.”

Acta also will have to figure out who will fill out the rotation is especially after Jake Westbrook. For the pitchers, if they stick to what the coaches are preaching to them, then Acta believes they will be alright.

“Results count obviously and those guys are competing,” Acta said. “We are looking at executing and trying to do what we are preaching here which is first-pitch strikes, pitch ahead in the count do what they have to do to get their defense involved.”

The Indians will need their starters to be better than last season if they have any dreams of competing in the American League Central. Westbrook, Fausto Carmona and Justin Materson are assured spots but the rest is up in the air.

“Obviously the results count,” Acta said. “But if they are pitching ahead in the count than it’s a different story.

“What we don’t want to see is guys pitching behind in the count and not being able to throw strikes and walk guys.”

Something that is for certain with Acta is that if you do not perform up to his expectations, then he will find someone that can do the job.

Indians pitcher Aaron Laffey has bounced from rotation to bullpen many times in his career with the Indians. His versatility to fill many roles on the pitching staff has made him valuable, but also has been his Achilles heel, unable to find a solid niche.

Tribe's Aaron Laffey

Partly the fault falls on Laffey, whose inconsistencies have limited his opportunities in Cleveland. The excuses are gone for the young hurler this season, and the time is now to claim his spot in the undecided starting rotation.

Two spots remain in the Tribe starting five which currently include pitchers Jake Westbrook, Fausto Carmona, and Justin Masterson.

That leaves Laffey, Carlos Carrasco, Mitch Talbot, David Huff as the leading candidates for the fourth and fifth starting spots, with Jeremy Sowers likely to begin the season on the disabled list.

Laffey must separate himself from the field this spring, and let his pitching speak for itself.

On Tuesday, Laffey did just that in two innings of work, breezing through the Seattle Mariners lineup in route to a 6-4 Indians win.

He finished only surrendering one hit, and keeping the ball on the ground with two groundouts to only one via the air.

Indians manager Manny Acta spoke highly of Laffey’s ability to be effective.

“I thought he threw very well,” Acta said. “He didn’t get as many first pitch strikes as he would like, but still he made pitches even when he was behind in the count.

“If they are pitching ahead in the count it’s a different story. They are sinker ballers, they need to throw strikes. That’s what we’ve been stressing in this camp and so far they’ve been good.”

The six-foot, 185-pound pitcher has seen many peaks and valleys in his career with the Tribe. Last season, Laffey started 19 games in 25 appearances finishing up with a win loss record of 7-9 and an earned run average of 4.44.

When compared to some of the other southpaw tossers in the American League, those numbers stack up favorably. However for him, it is not just about the stats.

Consistency has always been the name of the game for Laffey, and most pitchers in the same mold. In his short career he has had stretches of greatness, cut short by periods of inconsistency in control, and lack of focus.

The Tribe needs Laffey to emerge with that control. He needs to grab the job with force, rather than by default, never looking back. He has all the tools, now they must be applied.

This season has become make or break for him, and many others in his position with other young arms waiting to take their shot at the starting rotation. Laffey knows much of this spring training is about the preparation for the season, as he has been put in this situation before.

“When I came in they told me I was here to compete for one of the last two spots.” Laffey said. “I’m just here to do my work, get prepared and get ready for the season.”

This is his fourth trip to the big league spring training, and those experiences appear to be helping him in his approach. Instead of simply standing idly by, he has made the most of his time leading into this year’s large opportunity.

Laffey spent much of the offseason improving some of his existing pitchers, including two of his best pitches, his sinker and changeup.

“I changed the grip on my sinker,” Laffey explained. “Something that will help me keep on top of the ball, and has created more depth in my sinker.

“I also spent some time developing my changeup, that is the two biggest things I worked on in the offseason.”

Laffey will continue to get time to develop and try more things throughout this spring, as he prepares to face major league hitters on a daily basis. His work ethic and continued development shows his desire to become the pitcher the Indians organization first believed he could.

From here on out, the opportunity is Laffey’s to take hold of.

Sometimes in Major League Baseball a team cannot decide what they want to do with a pitcher. Is he a bullpen guy or is he a starter?

For Indians pitcher Justin Masterson, he is all too familiar with this.

Indians' Justin Masterson

“It’s been that way my whole career,” Masterson said. “I’ve had some success as a starter and some success as a reliever, so it’s easy to speculate both ways.”

Luckily for Masterson, the Indians saw enough in him after he was acquired in the Victor Martinez deal to give him a spot in their rotation. So far knowing what his role on the team has helped Masterson get off to a quick start this spring.

This spring Masterson has pitched well in his two appearances. He has struck out six while holding batters to a .143 average through three-and-a-third innings of work. 

This gives hope to what many that feel this will be a below average starting rotation.

“There are a lot of guys who they’re unsure of this year,” Masterson said. “Fausto Carmona has been down the last couple years and Jake Westbrook has been hurt; those guys pitch well I think we have a pretty good staff.”

With the starting rotation in such flux the Indians need Masterson to step up and be the player they thought he would be when he was acquired from Boston last summer.

To help make himself a better pitcher, Masterson spent this winter working on a changeup to go with his fastball and slider. He hopes that a change up to go along with the other two pitches will help him improve his nearly eight strikeouts over nine innings.

“It’s something I have in my back pocket, I already feel comfortable with it,” Masterson said.

So how did all the switching back and forth between the rotation and bullpen happen?

“I don’t know,” Masterson said jokingly “I’ve been a starter my whole life, I’m just confident and excited to be in the starting role.”

Masterson labored at times Tuesday while trying to build his pitch count, but with a starting spot secured and a great performance against the Cincinnati Reds last Friday it appears Masterson has finally nailed down what type of pitcher he is–a starter.