I say, hire Rickey.

Kotsay along with Payton were cited by Slusser as the key people disatisifed with Macha's communications.  But in reality it wasn't about style - it was about playing time.  

And yes, Kielty should have batted agains lefties in the post-season.

Just conjecture, but it seems like Kotsay got his cake (playing time in the post-season) AND got to eat it too (Macha fired).

I think Ron Washington or Bob Geren would be a good replacement candidates. I'm not too impressed with guys from outside of the organization, although getting Dusty Baker or even Felipe Alou just to screw the Giants would be kind of funny to me.

While I think Macha is smart and analytical, it would seem he has trouble relating to players and is not a good communicator with the press or fans. I think he keeps the team stable when losing but provides little inspiration.

I don't think the A's will ever have a great manager with Beane as GM since he clearly doesn't want a manager to challenge his authority. I think Beane respects the opinion of his brain trusts but not the manager. Could you imagine Detroit getting ten people in a room and voting on the rotation for the playoffs? A great manager like Leyland wouldn't allow that to happen.

While I love Wash in his current position, I wonder whether he is just too nice a guy to be a manager that can't please everyone. Also, his time to teach would be diminished and that is what he excels at and loves.

If we lose Macha, I don't think the replacement will be much better or worse given the type of manager Beane desires. We will just be out $2 million dollars and look stupid for not making the change last year.

Ironically, our very active General Manager has too often set a passive tone for the team, based on who gets "rehired," and who gets the juicy contract.

Uncomfortable with Miggy's active nature, Beane let him go elsewhere.  Fortunately, Wolff saw value in the active nature of Bradley.  Otherwise the last four games would have been truly disastrous wipe-outs, if the A's had even gotten into the playoffs.

And for a guy whose strength was supposed to be "leaving the players alone and not managing too much", it is obvious his players didn't think much of him.  If he couldn't keep the players happy, there was no reason to keep him around.

The problem with hiring any A's manager comes down to will they be allowed to think for themselves or will they have to just be Beane's mouthpiece and can they straddle the line between the two.

A strong backboned manager like Pineilla and Girardi would never fly with the A's.  I'm guessing it will be Geren, although, I thought it would be last time too and Beane ended up re-hiring Macha instead.  So, maybe that isn't such a slam dunk.

BuBye Ken Macha, YOU SUCK!!!

Loyal org soldier (been here since '97), very good third base coach, which shows an ability to think quickly, infield coach, probably sets the defense.

And let's acknowledge the giant elephant in the room and say that a black manager in Oakland is a good promotional tool.

I think then he should bring Rickey in as a coach of some sort.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=PeSJ5moEiHU

This right here is why Geren should absolutely NOT be hired as the A's next manager.  Anyone ever tried being the boss of your best friend?

Anyone who has been called "the yoda of baseball" can be the skipper of my team.

Go A's!

How much of Macha's release has to do with re-signing Frank Thomas?

Plus Macha was a jackass whenever I tried talking to him.

Don't let the door hit ya buddy!

Dondolin Alessandro, a captain in the Italian Navy, suffered wounds to his stomach and hands. Antonio Gonzalez Perez, a farmer who tried to intervene, suffered a left-elbow injury but was treated and released."

Sorry, wrong Perez but I thought it would help his hitting...

On anothe note, I am discouraged to see the race card being thrown down.  Racism does not always flow from the traditionally expected sources.  Beane is a proud man, and anyone who feels that they can coerce him into hiring a black manager because it would be the "politically correct" move are doing Wash no favors.  It could end up hurting Wash's chances, and I want to see the man get a fair shot at the job, based on his merits alone.  He deserves that.  
 

If the following, by Blez, et. al., is true ("And ultimately, I guess what undid Macha is the fact that he had a poor level of communication with his players."), did his poor communication suddenly appear this year ("Gosh, teammates, why is Ken not communicating with us this season?)? If so, why? If not, why was he re-hired??

I would agree that Wash deserves a chance and would apparently be the players' choice. However, the qualities of a great coach and mentor (as Wash has been) do not always translate to being a great manager. Nor do the traits of a great manager necessarily fit those of his GM.

So the questions are: 1) What are the qualities necessary for a great manager?

2.  What are the qualities necessary for a manager to fit well with this GM?
3. Do Wash, et. al. within the organization possess those qualities? Who else does? Billy Martin?

1. Both are Black Belts in Martial Arts.
   
2. Both put down their own players/students (Melhuse and Johnny Lawrence, respectively)
   
3. Both got ousted by more powerful men (Billy Beane and Mr. Miyagi, respectively)

That said, I'm happy to see Macha go for many reasons and, like many here, I'd like to see Washington as the next manager. It will be telling to see how Beane handles picking someone new.

Lach's career record is HORRIBLE.

I posted a list of who I want in the other thread, but i'll do something a little more in depth here.

• Washington: I like him, but I don't like his lack of experience in the big game.  I feel like, in the end, the team would take a step BACK with him at the helm.
• Bruce Bochy: Smart, good manager and man, but I think Alderson wants him gone.  Not good.
• "My name is Buck and I'm here to fuck" Showalter: No.
• Bud Black: Addition via subtraction.  Could be good.
• Orel Hershiser: Same thing.
• Carney Lansford: Why not?

• Larry Bowa: Crazy, but will light a fire under asses.
• Johnny Oates, cancer survivor: Worked magic in Arlington a while ago.
• DAVEY JOHNSON: guy knows how to win, baby.  I think this guy is our golden ticket.

But just my two cents.

"They let you, Wash, drive on their track?" Kotsay, circa April 07.

I think someone already said something about the philosophy being one of the organization as a whole and I think that's dead-on.  I don't believe that the A's higher ups (Billy Beane) are against winning ball games at any cost.  They would be against a manager coming in and trying to change the overall approach of the players, i.e. changing one player into a bunt-happy lead off hitter with a permanent green light and another into a free swinging power hitter looking yard all the time. Maximize the K/BB ratio on both sides of the ball, play sound defense and don't give away outs in high risk/low reward situations.  As long as any manager stays within that framework, I think that they will work fine within the organization.

I was hoping that Beane fired him more because of the fact the Macha was half retarded and the other half dumb ass than that he was firing him for not being a likable character.

I hope that Kiger was there so that Kielty could bat for Jimenez and that Kiger's glove would replace him.

I hoped that Beane having a deep system and roster would allow more players to rest.

I hoped for many things that I HOPE THIS QUOTE MEANS.

Beane gave him the pieces and told him why, then there was a disconnect. That disconnect was where Macha's left lobe meets his right lobe and all parts on both sides.

The next one might be worse.

Washington is the man.