Another Macha/"No fire, no heart"/is it time to panic ?

by Vacafan on May 14, 2006 6:39 AM PDT Comment 11 comments

Athletics Nation has always been pretty split when it comes to "Does the team show enough fire" opinion . . . half of us wish Macha/Chavez/whomever would throw a tantrum after every failed at-bat, while the other half seems to think it ok to see someone smile while the A's lose 10 in a row, the team plane loses an engine, and the hotel goes up in flames.
In other words, it's hard for us to find a happy medium. My ? is this -- is it time for Macha to rally the troops in a meeting, especially if the A's get swept today? Or do they just write the slump off to injuries, and say "What's the use?"
I loved it that Leyland ripped into the Tigers barely 2 weeks into the season -- and I'd love to claim it's the reason they're playing so well -- but then, I definitely fall into the "pitch a fit" every time something goes wrong side of the spectrum.
Then again, expecting someone (Macha) to do something outside of his character is probably unrealistic. Sure would love to see someone "go off" right about now, however -- always makes me feel better when I see at least one guy on the team cares as much as we do.

0 recs | Comment 11 comments

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Bradley

He musta been an angel after your soul, eh? I think that's what Bradley adds to this clubhouse. I can't wait till he comes back.

<Insert angry hockey players with no teeth>-AsGirl

by ohad on May 14, 2006 7:19 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

No tantrums needed

Look, this team WILL play better for two reasons:

They can't really play any worse
If this team WERE to continue to play this way and lose 90 games, it would be one of the MOST underachieving teams in recent history.

Neither of these outcomes seems especially likely.

I remember this debate from last May, and it all worked itself out. Wait till people get healthy before we call off the season and go home.

That being said, IF we lose our next 10-12 games in a row or something, you might see a shakeup (aided by a Chavvy motivational speech on the team bus)

by Crosbino on May 14, 2006 9:12 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I agree

If we get out of this recent wave injuries while remaining about 5 games or so out of first, we'll be fine.

"Put a Milo on him." -Billy Beane

by kaweahkaweah on May 14, 2006 9:27 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think Macha's job right now

is not to suggest that the current level of play is unacceptable--I think everyone is doing the best they can under AAA circumstances.

I think his job--and this is what he does well--is to remind them that last year at this time, we were getting swept by the Yankees in games more like 15-6 than 2-0 and 4-3, and that if we just "hang in there" and "keep grinding with a good attitude" it will pay off soon.

by Nico on May 14, 2006 9:36 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Agreed, to a point

But this lineup is not as much AAA (though the pen is) as much as it is: established major league players who can't seem to hit for whatever reason. That includes Payton, Perez, Scutaro, Kendall. I'm all for making excuses for the team's lack of success, but it's more due to underachieving talent, than it is due to young, inexperienced players (like it was last May)

by Crosbino on May 14, 2006 9:39 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Maybe I should have added

an "A"--certainly these are not AAA players, maybe more like AAAA players. These are guys who don't start every day for a reason. They belong in the bigs, but not in the every day lineup. Same with Halsey, perhaps Saarloos, and much of the current bullpen.

by Nico on May 14, 2006 9:42 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

AAAA

Agreed.

I've talked to a few of my Dodger buddies. They can't understand how Perez is playing so poorly. He was terrific for them last year.

And Payton? Please, Jay, no more bitching about lack of playing time. THIS is why Boston wouldn't play him.

by Crosbino on May 14, 2006 9:45 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

he might also be facing better pitching

by OaklandSi on May 14, 2006 10:14 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I've levelled my share of criticisms at Macha ...

... but I think that suggesting that he's somehow to blame for the A's recent W/L record is not just unfair but patently ridiculous. Unless Macha's been oaktoon's suspect for being paid off by gamblers to poison Chavvy, strain the obliques of half the roster, and blow out Frank's quad -- OK, maybe on that last one ...
Unless you believe in faith healing, Macha throwing a tantrum won't magically heal the roster. And if you think injuries aren't the problem with the A's right now, you haven't been paying attention.

Binturongs are frugiverous. @('.')@

by monkeyball on May 14, 2006 9:42 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

reaction to macha's decisions today?

i just posted a similar comment on the post-game thread. i'm curious to know what people thought (and how they reacted) to macha's decisions today.

i missed the game and have only been able to read the wrap-up and the boxscore, but two things stick out with respect to macha.

the lineup looked ridiculous. why was perez dh-ing with mellhuse available?
we stole 3 bases!!! are you kiding me? what was that all about? how important was it in the runs we scored? does macha deserve (and has he received) any credit for this?

Zito: You ever think about the space time continuum?
Huddy: Uh... no.

by mendelbob on May 14, 2006 2:54 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Re #2

Macha absolutely deserves some credit for that. It was very clear that they were trying to take advantage of the Unit's inability to hold baserunners. Straight steals in all cases--and a fourth was actually attempted (the ball was fouled off).

"The first night, we were right there," Bradley said. "All we needed was a couple of touchdowns, and we would have had them."

by jeepers on May 14, 2006 3:02 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs