Jeff Manto has shined for the Buffalo Bisons, but can't figure out why he isn't in Cleveland

When Jeff Manto mulls what he was doing last year at this time, all he can do is laugh.

The veteran infielder was playing for the Cleveland Indians as they marched their way to the American League pennant. There he is on the cover of the Indians 1998 media guide, celebrating the clincher.

And although Manto didn't get into a postseason game, he soaked in the drama of last year's World Series. He felt the pain of getting within two outs of the title before losing it all to the Florida Marlins.

Now the 34-year-old Manto finds himself at Cashman Field in a different World Series. Playing for the Buffalo Bisons, he is participating in the first Triple-A World Series.

He is simultaneously honored and insulted.

"As a professional, you want to be in the big leagues," Manto said Monday night before the Bisons were beaten 7-2 by the New Orleans Zephyrs in Game 1. Manto went 2-for-4 with a run. "It's a catch-22.

"The Indians are not in their World Series yet, but we're playing in one. There's a lot of intensity, but it's a different World Series.

"But when you're a guy in the twilight of his career, you'll take what you can get."

Manto said the preceding remark with obvious sarcasm. He can't fathom why the Indians thought he was valuable enough to have on their postseason roster last year while leaving him in Buffalo this year.

"The most frustrating part," Manto said, "is that I have a tough time figuring out why last year I was there with (the Indians) for the seventh game of the World Series. Now, all of a sudden, I'm bouncing around the minor leagues with them.

"I don't understand that. How can I be good enough last year, and now I'm not good enough? For some stupid reason they don't feel that I can be a big leaguer."

Manto posted modest stats during brief stints with the Indians and Detroit Tigers this year. But his numbers were downright gaudy with Buffalo. In 62 regular-season games he hit .311 with 23 home runs and 63 RBIs. His slugging percentage was a team-high .694.

With the big-league season waning he isn't counting on an 11th-hour call from Cleveland.

"I don't expect anything to happen," he said. "I'm just going to finish the season and go on home."

It would be easy to understand if he wanted to approach the Triple-A World Series with a ho-hum attitude. After all, this is a man who was in the Baltimore Orioles dugout that magical night Cal Ripken broke Lou Gehrig's hallowed consecutive games record.

Manto, however displeased with not being in the bigs, is not taking this World Series lightly. He is enjoying the postseason excitement once more, albeit on a smaller scale.

"For the veteran guys, this could be the last World Series," he said. "And for the younger guys, this is their first one."

The inaugural Triple-A World Series has injected new life into the minor-league postseason. In years past, players wanted out of the playoffs as soon as possible because they: A) weren't going to get called up and wanted to go home; or B) were going to get promoted but couldn't go to the majors until their teams were eliminated.

"This is different now," said Manto, who has played for 15 different minor-league teams. "This is Las Vegas. And if anybody can put on a show it's Las Vegas. That hasn't happened yet, but we expect something to happen soon."

The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority has added more incentive by offering bonuses to both teams. Winning players will earn $2,000 each. Losing players will receive $1,000 each.

That money and the national television exposure provided by ESPN2 don't mean much to Manto, but he realizes the impact it will have on the younger players, especially the ones who have yet to taste the big time. That's why he is enjoying watching his teammates as they feel real postseason nervousness for the first time.

"There's a lot of pressure here," Manto said. "Us veterans tell the younger guys 'Follow us as emotions go. Adapt and adjust to the moment.' They have to practice dealing with pressure.

"This is the limelight. This is what they will have to deal with every day in the big leagues."

archive