I guess Billy really doesn't care what it looks like to reverse yourself:

1. Takes the Boston GM job then returns
   
2. Gives the Mets a short window at Howe, then gives them another one when the first one fails.
   
3. Rehires Macha after first effectively firing him.

...or maybe it'll be Bud Selig that takes off HIS mask.  We'll find out he's really Suzanne Pleshette(if you remember the last "Newhart" episode....another dream sequence)

Blez, your mock phone conversation between those two was hilarious. I just read it to my mom. I doubt she's ever laughed so hard at work. Good stuff, man.

If there was ANY confusion in anyone's mind - players, coaches, media, fans - we all know that the front office is firmly in charge, and hell, I can live with that.

The promotion of Geren would almost be seen as nepotism because of his close relationship to BB.  No one would be viewed as more of a pawn than Geren.  An easy way to avoid this and not completely piss off your friend - rehire the old guy.

Macha tested the waters and when no one bit, he came back home.  BB saw that he could rehire a productive manager for what he was offering and possibly keep the peace amongst his staff and clubhouse.  Seems like an odd situation, but the decision is not completely stupid.

Question: will Lacheman return as bench coach? If not, will Geren or Washington be offered the job?

have your speakers on.

safe for work.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2005/10/06/SPGAJF39BV1.DTL

I guess they call it the bottom line for a reason...

Now I only hope BB trades Kendall to the Padres for a hitting coach!

1. Let's not forget that Beane moved Howe to New York to ensure that he wouldn't lose Macha after the 2002 season;
2. Please read the Nightengale column in USA Sports Weekly yesterday where Macha basically goes negative on Beane, saying that this past offseason (after resisting for nearly a year and a half) he finally read Moneyball, after friends imploring him not to. Macha "seethed" about Beane's disposable philosophy toward managers. It went on to say that he had a tough year, having to get lineup approaval from Beane and assorted other indiginities;
3. Macha's options were few and far between;
4. Like I predicted, beane was underwhelmed with the Geren-Wash options;
5. Don't you think Curt Young might have offered an opinion regarding either Hershiser or Bud Black, the two most prominent names to emerge in the past several days? "After all i did this year, you'd bring in another pitching coach to be my boss?"
6. Both sides got off of their high horses and realized that, for the money, each couldn't do any better.

http://www.athleticsnation.com/story/2005/7/16/85730/8391

I'll even stand by my own comment in the diary:

http://www.athleticsnation.com/comments/2005/7/16/85730/8391/6#6

It could be much, much worse folks.

Dude. You're dead-on with your assessment. I did like how Macha's improved since he started as manager, since it gave me hope that I wouldn't be so angry someday. And the Dairy Queen thing was nice. And the players liked him.

But it was SO MUCH FUN thinking about the future. Something new and fresh and that we weren't ready to strangle with hatred for the way he goes cracktastic on the bullpen and hates Adam Melhuse.

THINK OF THE MELHUSE, PEOPLE.

This makes me sad. I think Blez's assessment of the phone call was right on. Can't wait to see the next interview with Blez and Billy, 'cuz... dude. I mean. DUDE.

No doubt in my mind that Macha realized he wouldn't have teams pounding on his door to pour cash on him, that he had a damn good thing in Oakland, so he came crawling back to Billy on his KNEES. BEGGING. Those KNBR guys are absolute idiots to think otherwise. I wish I was listening at the time, so I could have called them.

I'm so bummed. I was excited. Hell, I was even starting to believe that Wash might have a chance for the job.

FIRE KENDALL NOW!!

Kidding aside (sort of), I don't think we would have been better off with Geren or Washington or anyone else out there.  The manager pool doesn't exactly scream success except for Tracy, and he doesn't fit our system.  Geren was a very average AAA manager and Wash has never had legitimate success managing (not coaching, managing).  

I still cannot believe he is back...Damn!!!

when he says take it or leave it he means it

there is no mystery about what Billy and the A's do

dont ask them to change

take it or leave it

I don't think the A's job is very appealing to the majority of baseball. I think the perception is that there is too much micro-managing from the GM's office. I don't know whether this is true or not, but my gut feeling is that there is a great deal of shall we say "help" from the GM's office.

Happy birthday, BBgirl:)

Break out the whistles and party hats.

Which has now been shoved off its perch by this one:

:)

If he didn't, even better; they could get Wash (though maybe not if Billy was quick to pick Mach back up), or one of the other guys from within.

I've never actually hated him, though I would've preferred Wash or something homegrown. Macha's been with these guys for a while now, and coupled with his growing experience (good or ill) as a manager, should help the A's contend.

I say let's show Macha a little respect. I, for one, am so tired of in-fighting.

I like the way Billy runs the team and like the way Macha handles the players.  

Why search for a figure-head manager when what we need to find is a big bat to bat DH behind Chavvy.

Billy didn't do anything to dis Macha.

And Macha did not do any crawling.

I thought both Beane and Macha handled the situation with great dignity and candor.

Now let's move on.