Everyone wants to know who the America's Next Top Macha will be. Presumably Beane is going to haggle hard on the contract with whomever he gets, since we're paying Macha $2M to chew gum without authority.

Another flip-flop? Only on Beane's feet (Ostler)
Ken Macha was a good fire. A's mastermind Billy Beane fired Macha at 11 o'clock Monday morning, and by half past noon, Beane had recovered sufficiently to face a firing squad -- media people firing questions.

Washington is first, best and only choice
It now can, should, and must be said: Billy Beane needs Ron Washington to be the next A's manager more than Washington needs him, and in more ways than either of them knows. And because Beane's the one who can make it happen, well, tick tick tick.

Gwen Knapp thinks Macha-flip-flop poisoned his relationship with Beane.

Bruce Jenkins votes for Dusty Baker as the new Macha.

Purdy says Frank put the Hurt on Macha, Wash better be next and Macha was extremely competent at Xs and Os, but loveless. Agree about Hurt, not about Macha as XO mastermind and not about Macha as a joyless stub.

Killion thinks Macha was a nonentity and Leyland is a "truly great manager".

I don't get the Leyland is God mob. Yes, the Tigers kicked our butts by pitching lights out and hitting the snot out of the ball. Was Macha God for having the A's win much closer games versus the Twins?  The Tigers are young and talented, and that's what happens when you draft well as the worst team in baseball for a couple of years in a row and make good deals to bring in good veterans. Leyland is doing a good job, but how much value is he really adding here?

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Finally, part 3 of The Dialogues of Diego Chavez.

• Season One
  
• Season Two
  
• Season Three So Far (1. Grover Hearts Tapir, 2. Thunderbutt Seeks Year-Long Dump)
•