(above : absolutely not Art Howe)

Though decorated film critic Yogi Berra is already on record in claiming Phillip Seymour Hoffman was miscast as former A’s manager Art Howe in the Academy Award-nominated adaptation of Tracy Ringolsby’s least favorite tome, Michael Lewis’ “Moneyball”, Howe himself seems to consider the motion picture an unfair obstacle in his path to becoming the new manager of the Toronto Blue Jays. “In the movie I never smiled once,” complains Howe, whose confident grin clearly made all the difference in the world when leading the New York Mets to consecutive 90 loss seasons. From the Toronto Sun’s Bob Elliot :

“Physically the actor didn’t resemble me,” Howe said. “He was a little on the heavy side. The way he portrayed me was very disappointing, probably 180 degrees from what I really am.”

“I got along with players, they loved me,” Howe said. “Our guys liked being at the park, our travelling secretary, Mickey Morabito, used to ask. ‘Why are we paying for the team bus?’ Everyone came to the park early on their own, ahead of the bus.”

“I want to manage again, the best thing I have going for me is my experience — seven years in the NL, seven in the AL,” said Howe, 65. “Toronto has always been an interesting team, they have some nice talent and were very competitive until they fell off with those injuries to their position players.