By TOM WITHERS
AP Sports Writer

CLEVELAND(AP) -- During his search for Cleveland's pitching coach,
new Indians manager Manny Acta was meeting with general manager
Mark Shapiro when Tim Belcher's name came up for discussion.

After a few minutes, Acta had heard enough.

"He said, 'Why are we going any farther? This is the guy,"'
Shapiro said.

Belcher, who has done just about everything but pitch for the
Indians, is the first member of Acta's new staff. The
48-year-old Belcher had spent the past eight seasons as a
special assistant, instructing, evaluating and scouting players
throughout Cleveland's system.

Now, he'll coach their best ones.

"I view it as a good opportunity and challenge," Belcher said
Friday.

Belcher replaces Carl Willis, who was let go after seven seasons
when the Indians fired manager Eric Wedge and his entire
coaching staff last month. Cleveland had its worst season since
1991, a slide that was tied in many ways to the Indians'
pitching problems.

It's up to Belcher to get them worked out.

The former major leaguer, who won 146 games over a 14-year
career with seven teams, is very familiar with Cleveland's arms.
Belcher served as an interim pitching coach in each of
Cleveland's minor-league levels and was an in-uniform instructor
during spring training. His knowledge of the Indians pitchers
made him attractive to Acta.

"He has all the intangibles that we were looking for," said
Acta, who is still interviewing candidates to fill the other
coaching vacancies. "We wanted to bring in a guy who could right
this ship."

Belcher has turned down other coaching opportunities in the
past, but couldn't resist the chance to accept one about a
90-minute drive from his home in Sparta, Ohio.

He's got his work cut with Cleveland's pitching staff. The
Indians' 5.06 ERA was the second-highest in the AL, while
opponents batted .294 against the club's starters. The Indians
are counting on Fausto Carmona to bounce back after a disastrous
season and hope Jake Westbrook makes it back from elbow surgery.

Acta said he and Belcher have discussed pitching philosophies
and they already share a common belief.

"Pound the strike zone," Acta said. "Whether your name is Fausto
or Zausto, if you're not missing bats, you better not be walking
people."

Acta said he strongly considered three candidates for the job,
but came away convinced Belcher was the best qualified because
of his background, preparedness and intellect.

"One of his ex-teammates told me that he's too smart to be a
pitching coach," Acta said.

Belcher has not spent much time with Acta, but he has been
impressed with Cleveland's new manager. Belcher said before
accepting the job, he did his research to learn about his new
boss.

"I got nothing but rave reviews from anyone I talked to," he
said.

Belcher made 373 starts in the majors before retiring in 2000.
He won at least 10 games in nine seasons and in seven of them
pitched more than 200 innings. He's been a workhorse before and
isn't afraid to take on the Indians' pitching staff, another
heavy load.

"I'm challenged by it, but I wouldn't view it as a daunting
task," he said. "I've got a lot of work to do in building trust
with some of the new guys and building relationships with them."