FIRED MACHA NOW!!!
I was going to write a retrospective today on the season and start handing out final grades to individual A's for their performances in 2006, but as always with our Oakland Athletics, the offseason is NEVER a dead time. As a matter of fact, AN has often seen growth in the offseason thanks to the hyper kinetic A's offseasons.
It appears like the A's will be firing Ken Macha today, who goes into the Oakland Athletics record books as the manager with the second highest winning percentage behind Dick Williams.
Macha did a fine job this year. He did cost the A's a game here and there, in my opinion, and he also didn't make enough use of the A's amazing bullpen in the playoffs. But for the most part, I don't think Macha is to blame for the A's coming up short. The offense and the A's starting pitching is largely to blame for that one. Well, that and the injury bug just never seemed to fully leave the A's.
Macha shouldn't have much of a problem finding a new job with all the managerial openings out there. He's a proven winner, although in many ways his winning was largely a result of the talent the A's front office gave him.
As for what direction the A's turn to, I would imagine the immediate candidates would be Tony DeFrancesco (the River Cats manager), Rene Lachemann (the A's first base coach), Ron Washington (the A's third base coach) and Bob Geren (the A's bench coach). Expect Geren and Lachemann to be the front runners.
If the A's look outside the organization (which seems unlikely to me), perhaps they go after someone like Bud Black or an under-the-radar guy like Orel Hershiser. I don't see them sweeping in and grabbing someone like Piniella or Dusty Baker as that's just not the A's. Remember that Beane likes the front office to have a lot of say in decisions made on the field and Baker and Lou aren't the type of look to the front office for input. Love it or not, that's the way Beane has felt about managers.
I don't think this is a bad thing. My problems with Macha has always been a couple of things...first, I do want my manager to show some emotion on occasion. I don't want a raving lunatic like Lou or Whiny Mike Scioscia, but I do want a manager who will call bulls%&t to an umpire on occasion. Macha took whatever bad breaks the umps gave him. Maybe that even keel worked in the clubhouse, but I don't think the players would've minded a guy who went out and fought the good fight on occasion.
Macha also didn't manage to win in the postseason. Bobby Kielty should've been in against lefties and if Kotsay didn't like it, that was tough. I know Kots made two great plays in the outfield to save runs, but he also didn't do anything against lefties offensively. And believe me, you won't find a bigger Kotsay fan anywhere than right here. He also should've really yanked Loaiza earlier than he did. You've got an amazing bullpen that was lights out for the majority of the series and you didn't use it as much as you should've. There's a reason that Beane built the team from the back to the front. And Macha needed to realize that. Granted Duchscherer wasn't available which left a gaping hole, but in the postseason you absolutely have to be more aggressive about pitching changes. I don't blame Macha for leaving guys out there a little too long in a 162-game season, but not in a seven-game series.
And ultimately, I guess what undid Macha is the fact that he had a poor level of communication with his players. That's pretty unacceptable for a manager. You need to know your players and what is going on with them. Even the ones who seem insignificant like Melhuse. That's YOUR JOB.
So, it appears like less than two days after the A's were eliminated from the playoffs, Ken Macha will be taking the fall. It's already shaping up to be a fascinating offseason in Athletics Nation. As usual.
[UPDATE: Macha has officially been fired. We move into a next phase of the Beane era now.]
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Comments
WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!
by baseballgirl on Oct 16, 2006 1:15 PM PDT 0 recs
Great wrapup by the way.
by baseballgirl on
Oct 16, 2006 1:15 PM PDT
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Blez,
by Salvatore on
Oct 16, 2006 1:31 PM PDT
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By the way
by Blez on Oct 16, 2006 1:15 PM PDT 0 recs
link?
by OaklandSi on
Oct 16, 2006 1:17 PM PDT
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It isn't up there yet
by Blez on
Oct 16, 2006 1:18 PM PDT
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I'm so sorry we couldn't do better by you
by salb918 on Oct 16, 2006 1:17 PM PDT 0 recs
It just doesn't have the same feeling this year
by baseballgirl on
Oct 16, 2006 1:20 PM PDT
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What Coaches
by fadedash on Oct 16, 2006 1:17 PM PDT 0 recs
Also
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 16, 2006
A's Manager Ken Macha Relieved of His Duties
OAKLAND, Calif. - Oakland Athletics Vice President and General Manager Billy Beane announced today Ken Macha has been relieved of his duties as manager of the club.
Macha compiled a 368-280 record in four seasons as manager of the A's. He joined the Oakland organization in 1999 as bench coach and was named the 27th manager in franchise history on October 29, 2002.
# # # # #
It's very real this time. I fully expect one of the guys on the inside to be the replacement. Remember that Bob Geren is one of Billy Beane's best friends.
by Blez on Oct 16, 2006 1:18 PM PDT 0 recs
I liked Macha but always knew he wasn't the right
He will have no problem finding work.
by Vegas A's Fan on Oct 16, 2006 1:19 PM PDT 0 recs
New
by doublehustle22 on Oct 16, 2006 1:19 PM PDT 0 recs
it would make sense
by flipgatey3 on Oct 16, 2006 1:20 PM PDT 0 recs
I think we should go for Phil Jackson
by mikeA on Oct 16, 2006 1:21 PM PDT 0 recs
Macha
I say, hire Rickey.
by mvk on Oct 16, 2006 1:21 PM PDT 0 recs
ha
you, melhuse, get rickey some coffee!
everybody, repeat after rickey: rickey is the greatest of all time."
by Backspin on
Oct 16, 2006 1:25 PM PDT
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well, at least Rickey would speak to Melhuse
by monkeyball on
Oct 16, 2006 1:43 PM PDT
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Now that
Rickey said you made him laugh.
by Leopold Bloom on
Oct 16, 2006 3:19 PM PDT
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Sounds like the Seinfeld episode
by wolffpackdavid on
Oct 16, 2006 5:42 PM PDT
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Ha!
by RickeySteals on
Oct 16, 2006 2:47 PM PDT
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If this is true, it's pretty sad
Washington should be the front runner. I'm hoping race isn't factor here.
by sactownbull on Oct 16, 2006 1:21 PM PDT 0 recs
Are you serious?!
by baseballgirl on
Oct 16, 2006 1:23 PM PDT
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Not possible
by Sashulia on
Oct 16, 2006 1:25 PM PDT
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No, Moneyball is totally racist.
by salb918 on
Oct 16, 2006 1:27 PM PDT
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Hope you are kidding
by Sashulia on
Oct 16, 2006 1:30 PM PDT
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Must be kidding...
by doubleplayer on
Oct 16, 2006 3:57 PM PDT
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I'm not saying the others shouldn't be considered
by sactownbull on
Oct 16, 2006 1:38 PM PDT
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He also has no managerial
by salb918 on
Oct 16, 2006 1:39 PM PDT
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I was waiting for someone to say that
by sactownbull on
Oct 16, 2006 1:52 PM PDT
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and just to be clear
by sactownbull on
Oct 16, 2006 1:56 PM PDT
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Difference between Geren and Wash...
by gmoneymcg on
Oct 16, 2006 4:46 PM PDT
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So how come Washington didn't get that job?
by sactownbull on
Oct 16, 2006 4:54 PM PDT
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Too valuable?
I don't disagree that Wash should get the job. I just see Geren as having more managerial experience than Wash.
by gmoneymcg on
Oct 16, 2006 5:24 PM PDT
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Good question.
by salb918 on
Oct 16, 2006 1:58 PM PDT
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Why should it have to be Texas
by sactownbull on
Oct 16, 2006 2:12 PM PDT
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he has managed in winter league
then again, having alot of managerial experience doesn't make one a good manager...there are plenty of examples.
by OaklandSi on
Oct 16, 2006 2:08 PM PDT
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Race isn't a factor
Geren trumps Wash.
by fadedash on
Oct 16, 2006 1:25 PM PDT
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I saw Geren for a couple years here in Sac
by sactownbull on
Oct 16, 2006 1:34 PM PDT
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and what has Wash shown?
Geren has had full control of the bullpen before and has had to make actual decisions.
All Wash has had to do is wave someone around.
by fadedash on
Oct 16, 2006 3:01 PM PDT
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I love how people make managing a baseball team
Anyone around the game as long as Wash will do just fine at the nuts and bolts stuff. It all comes down to dealing with and motivating players.
by sactownbull on
Oct 16, 2006 3:18 PM PDT
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and how do you exactly know
by fadedash on
Oct 16, 2006 5:41 PM PDT
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Amen that race isn't a factor.
by Salvatore on
Oct 16, 2006 1:36 PM PDT
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I still say Kotsay was the judas
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).
by Sashulia on Oct 16, 2006 1:22 PM PDT 0 recs
gotta be more
That combined with Macha's questionable use of Street and Ginterizing of, well, Ginter, and Perez might be enough to push things over the edge.
Otherwise, I don't see what we've learned this year about Macha that Billy didn't know when lowballing him last year in negotiations.
by Apricot on
Oct 16, 2006 1:30 PM PDT
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Some good points,
by Sashulia on
Oct 16, 2006 1:37 PM PDT
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Ginterizing?
by froggiethegremlin on
Oct 16, 2006 6:24 PM PDT
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Gossip gossip gossip...
by Salvatore on
Oct 16, 2006 1:38 PM PDT
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FIRE MACHA NOW!!!
by SD Erik on Oct 16, 2006 1:22 PM PDT 0 recs
Well, maybe not *here*...
by FormerHuntsvilleStar on
Oct 16, 2006 2:02 PM PDT
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In Bad Times
by Dan_Honolulu on
Oct 16, 2006 5:16 PM PDT
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well, a year ago Beane gave him a bris
by monkeyball on
Oct 16, 2006 1:47 PM PDT
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Uh...
by salb918 on
Oct 16, 2006 1:50 PM PDT
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Best to weat a helmet
by jeepers on
Oct 16, 2006 1:54 PM PDT
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Wow...
by solotar on Oct 16, 2006 1:23 PM PDT 0 recs
It's official official now
by Alameda Greg on Oct 16, 2006 1:24 PM PDT 0 recs
Official statement.
by Christine on Oct 16, 2006 1:24 PM PDT 0 recs
Just heard the news
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.
by knowledge24 on Oct 16, 2006 1:25 PM PDT 0 recs
Felipe Alou?!?!?!
by MikeyJ on
Oct 16, 2006 8:26 PM PDT
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Great move.
Also, the link.
by jeepers on Oct 16, 2006 1:25 PM PDT 0 recs
Macha's Firing ( Again)
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.
by scarr1 on Oct 16, 2006 1:27 PM PDT 0 recs
I think Wash has the stones
I really think he could be the right man for the job. However, I'm not convinced that Beane won't hire Geren instead.
by OaklandSi on
Oct 16, 2006 1:29 PM PDT
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That's what I worry about.
by WannaBeGM on
Oct 16, 2006 1:37 PM PDT
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Washington
I know that Texas isn't going to hire him, even though he would be a great fit down there.
Macha did a good job I thought considering the amount of injuries the A's had.
The injury to Mark Ellis and letting go of Mike Rouse were the big things that hurt the A's this playoff run, not Ken Macha's lineups.
by apilgrim on
Oct 16, 2006 4:49 PM PDT
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Well...
by Rickey35 on Oct 16, 2006 1:28 PM PDT 0 recs
Wash is by far the only correct move
by Sashulia on Oct 16, 2006 1:28 PM PDT 0 recs
Think about...
by NewPosterMojo on Oct 16, 2006 1:28 PM PDT 0 recs
Great News
He didn't manage the starting pitching and/or bullpen correctly...He left Zito, Loaiza and Harden in too long, but then yanks Haren out because its "do or die time". Is he saying that games 1-3 aren't do or die? So he might as well leave them in there?
I'm very happy about this. I know it won't happen, but I would be extremely pleased if they gave Girardi a look, although he is a hot head, and wants to manage the way he wants without someone from the front office telling him how to do it, but I believe with him working with this young club, with the exception of some of the vets obviously, Girardi could do wonders.
by mills16 on Oct 16, 2006 1:29 PM PDT 0 recs
It's not just that he leaves pitchers in too long
by sactownbull on
Oct 16, 2006 1:46 PM PDT
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I agree 100%
Let's hope they go out and get someone good...
by mills16 on
Oct 17, 2006 8:42 AM PDT
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I updated the headline
by Blez on Oct 16, 2006 1:32 PM PDT 0 recs



