I'll take thier word over some "stat nazi"* any day. :)

Not inplying that you are such.

This was a lot like the Bill Callahan situation in his last year with the Raiders, when his frustration with Al Davis led to disengagement with the team. History repeats itself in Oaktown.

For Macha to say that they forgot to go over 2b coverage with Jimenez because Crosby had "handled it" all year, is a firing offense.  It didn't make a difference, but it could have.

Too often managers are judged on the outcomes of their moves, rather than the reasoning that went into them.

Creating a positive environment for success is the most important job of any leader.

1. Roster Management - this encompasses a manager's ability to get maximal value from a given roster. Is the best reliever in the game during the highest leverage situations? Was the closer forced to go 5 dys in a row? Are the backups getting enought at-bats to keep both the backup and regular players fresh? Are those at-bats timed to maximize value (i.e. is Kielty getting his ABs against lefties). This is long term planning.
2. Tactics- There is a lot of interaction between tactics and roster management. Sometimes a manager is forced to employ sub-optimal tactics to keep a particular player rested, for example. Tactics is a different sort of decision making, though. It involves short term decision making. To bunt or not to bunt?
3. Personell management- keeping players happy. Making sure a clubhouse atmosphere contributes to performance. Etc.

In terms of tactics, I thought Macha did a good job. We didn't give up many outs to bunts. When a particular pitcher or catcher was vulnerable, the A's stole some bases. Generally, he evaluated his bullpen well.

It was in roster management that I think Macha had some serious shortcomings. Perez and Ginter's careers may both have been ruined by Macha's refusal to play them more. Street was overworked. Many of the regulars were clearly worn down over the course of the season. Macha didn't seem to do much planning ahead.

I think it's obvious.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/chronicle/archive/2006/10/17/SPG4ULQPA31.DTL&type=a s

The A's hire Geren and I will not renew my season tickets, period.  

Lew and John need to tell Billy he is wrong here.

We also need more Big Hurt and Swishers on the team.  More geographic diversification.  More people who did not grow up in SoCal.

The SoCal clique needs to be de-empahsized. I wouldn't be surprised if Mark Judas Kotsay believes his own whining press about the lack of back from Macha. What a huge personal disappointment for me personally after reading those comments this morning.

Both clubs then hire "away game" only managers -- there have to be enough managerial re-treads in every "away game" city that you could just plug them in when the A's/Giants come to their town:

Macha in Pittsburg,
Howe in Houston,
Tommy Lasagna in LA,
etc., etc

(Ok, so it isn't the best idea of the day, but what the hey!)  

I think a bad manager can do harm, but I don't think a good manager provides much upside. I can remember watching Joe Torre on WTBS suffer with the Braves. Casey Stengel was a laughing stock when the Yankees hired him. The Tigers got lucky when they hired the Pittsburg and Florida version of Leyland and not the impostor who managed Colorado.  The only manager I can think of consistently made an immediate impact was Billy Martin, who always wore out his welcome.

I hope the A's hire from within either Geren or Washington. I think all organizations, not just sports teams, benefit when they demonstrate that there is an advancement path.

However, just for grins I googled Dick Williams. He is 77. The A's need the early 1970's version.

"There were things that transpired over the course of the year that the players were unhappy about,'' A's center fielder Mark Kotsay said. "There's no question there were things throughout the year, but the fact of the matter is that that by the end of the year, the players didn't have the same feeling about the manager as they did at the start of the year -- and that was at a point you'd think everybody would be happy, with a six-game lead. ... I believe there was friction.''

Third baseman Eric Chavez, the longest-tenured member of the team, said several times in a phone interview Monday evening that he likes Macha and got along with him well personally, but Chavez had seen enough happening around him to realize there were problems.

"The whole thing was a weird situation for me because ever since he came here, we had a pretty good relationship, but over the last couple years, I could see things unfold, and I kept hearing things,'' Chavez said. "He's always been very open and communicative with me, and with some other players, that wasn't true. I heard some things that were kind of disturbing. I think there are going to be a lot of guys who are happy about this.''

Many of the players thought that the tone set by Macha was gloomy, even when the club was playing well.

"The atmosphere wasn't positive, for some reason,'' Chavez said. "That was hard for us to deal with -- here we are, winning the division, we're banged up but we're still doing what we should be doing, and every time he spoke to us, he'd say how much he appreciated the effort, but then you'd read things where he was always smashing people. ... This negative cloud was just eating at everybody.''

Some of the players had the impression that Macha was miserable in his job. Starter Barry Zito, who is a big believer in the power of positive thinking, said that Macha dwelled too much on what might go wrong and that that was detrimental.

If the A's are not in the 90 win range next year, Judas Kotsay's post-Macha comments shall not be forgotten.  If they get to the WS, he can have his given first name back.

One question: why did Judas Kotsay bitch about the Kielty platoon one week before the post-season started (and on live TV to Ray Fosse the evening A's clinched in Seattle?).  Was he "having his teammates back" with such comments?

"Keeping him on the field is huge," Macha said. "He's a grinder. You want all your guys playing like that. He sets an example of what to do. He's pretty much in charge of the dugout too."

Any guesses????  Grinder....sets an example...and in charge of the dugout.

<que the jeopardy theme song>

Times up. Your answer please.

Nellie allegedly disrespected budding NBA stars like Billy Owens, the basketball equivlanet of a .260 hitter versus lefties.

If Beane is looking for a stronger manager model, I think Bobby Valentine might really gel with a non-traditional ballclub like the A's.

Who is the A's genius that came up with "take the first strikes" against Rogers? Kenny threw first pitch strikes to 18 of 25 batters! What a mastermind! I'm an old timer, and I believe that kind of "robotic formula managing" in a short series is suicide. That is why the A's get stuck in quicksand every post season. Player by player the A's have overmatched many playoffs opponents on the field, but never in managment.

But those teams actually respected and believed the manager and coaches can make a difference! Wow! ...and fluke of flukes, they won 9 of 10 attempts! Not to worry, small sampling!

Leaving Z in without a curve for strikes, leaving Loaiza in to give up 7 runs, pitching relievers beyond their proven capabilities back to back and too many innings. The A's office made the series with Detroit look like somebody feel asleep at the wheel with the car going 90 during commute hour! But anyone can manage, ...right?

I'm just an old timer overreacting, what does it matter who the manager is? Hell! Macha proved that right? Oops! I guess he can't! He was fired. ...Anyone can do it except Macha.

Anyone can be bullpen coach too!
Geren spent the three previous years; 2003-2005; as bullpen coach!
Talk about your memories!
Rhodes, Dotel, Foulke, Juan Cruz, Duke's tendinitis, Garcia-Cassilla, those consecutive seasons of reliever/bullpen meltdowns, ...complete utter bullpen disasters like that could happen to anyone! Geren just happened to be there! Kind of like an innocent bystander. I keep over reacting! Like a manager or coach is actually doing something!

...Geren and BB are from San Diego! ...What a coincidence! Same High school?

Blez, I think you realize Geren will be Mgr and the reason your essay stresses the over importance placed upon the MGR by some teams is that BB has no real choices. BB treats managers like jokes, mindless puppets, dunces on his short leash to jerk around at will.

What self respecting manager would work for BB?

Who would volunteer to take that ridicule and see the media heap story upon story of how Beane considers coaches as functional failures requiring his constant input and direction. Hell, they can't even follow directions!

Welcome on board Mr. Geren!
Green leash, or gold?

Are Rhodes, Dotel, Foulke even in baseball?

You are all idiots!!! Have fun at 75 wins! I am done.

But If Im in Beanes Position, I have major issues with players airing the dirty laundry to the media

Ok Ill give them the fact they were frustrated by the ALCS Performance, always good to hold ones breath and cool off before speaking.

If I was BEane and Im not soon as I hire  a manager and get the chance I get everyone together and make it clear who runs the team, if you have problems this is how you deal with it, your paid to play basebal, ILL handle the rest, if you dont like it give up your contract and find work elsewhere.

http://mercextra.com/blogs/kawakami/2006/10/18/a-great-beane-macha-moment-i-just-remembered/

Excerpt:

   Where did we go for the talk? Billy zipped right into Macha's office, which was empty for the time being, plopped down and started eating.
    Looked at me, said, "Go ahead, ask." Usually, everybody stays out of the manager's office, by the way, unless the manager is there and is fine with it. Not the A's way, though.
    I started asking (questions), but a few minutes later Macha and Curt Young came back, with plates of food and just in their underwear, obviously looking to eat, change clothes and relax.
   They stared at us, I stared at them, Billy just kept eating and talking.
   Macha tenatively sat down behind his desk for a few seconds. Very uncomfortable. Shot another glance at Beane. Glared at me. I shrugged, said to Beane, "Umm, maybe we should do this somewhere else."
   Beane looked up like this was the first he'd noticed Macha was there-or cared that he was there-dropped his plate, then just waved at Macha, pointing him out the door. Remember, this was Macha's own office. After winning for something like the 33rd time in 40 games.
    "Ken, you can let us do this, right?" Beane said as he waved.
    Beane turned back to me and never looked at Macha again as Macha and Young sighed, got up, and moved out.
   That was the relationship. Right there.

This is typical of BB and why I said "What self respecting manager would work for BB?"