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The A's are set to announce today that Ken Macha won't return as the club's manager after the two sides failed to reach an agreement on a contract.

Macha and his agent believed that the A's three-year, $2.6 million offer was a starting point, but it turned out it was a take-it-or-leave-it situation. It's possible that third-base coach Ron Washington will replace Macha. Washington is also viewed as a candidate to become the Dodgers' manager. Oct. 5 - 4:16 pm et

Source: athletics.mlb.com

 

I'm not for or against this. I'm just throwing his name in the discussion.

He would be a good option. Fredi Gonzalez would still be my first choice though.

Interesting for sure....but I'm unaware of Macha's style of managing....I see he has a winning record in three years with the A's so that has to count for something I would think.

A's managers are like Braves pitchers. Inexplicably good there, unable to replicate past success elsewhere...I mean, look how badly Art Howe failed.

A's managers are like Braves pitchers. Inexplicably good there, unable to replicate past success elsewhere...I mean, look how badly Art Howe failed.

 

 

And Tony LaRussa. :plain

ESPN said MAcha wanted a 3-yr $4M+ deal

A's managers are like Braves pitchers. Inexplicably good there, unable to replicate past success elsewhere...I mean, look how badly Art Howe failed.

 

 

And Tony LaRussa. :plain

 

OK, but his big time was in '89 and '90.

 

And just for argument's sake...how many rings has he gotten since he left Oakland? His first four seasons in St. Louis weren't all that great, and not to beat a cliche into the ground, but if you have the talent that the '04 and '05 Cardinals have had, it's more of an eye raiser that LaRussa got swept in the World Series than they made it that far...

 

My point was with the "moneyball" A's being a product of Beane's philosophy that a team performs better over the course of 162 games, not because of a manager's expertise.

He's an interesting option, one who would certainly appear to be the kind of guy who'd have no problem getting the most out of young players like Aguila, Willingham, Hermida, Johnson, Vargas, etc.

 

I've been quietly hoping for Fredi Gonzalez for a while now (because of his Marlins/Nation League experience and tutilege under Bobby Cox) but Macha represents an alternative that might generate the kind of American league excitement that might work well here.

 

One thing that might sway me towards Macha is his immediate availability (the Fish could conceivably wait a month on Gonzalez) which would allow Beinfest and company to get a jump on preparations for next season.

 

On the otherhand, he's not without his critics, even after three winning seasons. For those looking for an anti-Macha POV, see http://firemacha.blogspot.com/

 

Here's the San Jose Mercury's take: http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews...ws/12825440.htm

A's managers are like Braves pitchers. Inexplicably good there, unable to replicate past success elsewhere...I mean, look how badly Art Howe failed.

 

 

And Tony LaRussa. :plain

 

OK, but his big time was in '89 and '90.

 

And just for argument's sake...how many rings has he gotten since he left Oakland? His first four seasons in St. Louis weren't all that great, and not to beat a cliche into the ground, but if you have the talent that the '04 and '05 Cardinals have had, it's more of an eye raiser that LaRussa got swept in the World Series than they made it that far...

 

My point was with the "moneyball" A's being a product of Beane's philosophy that a team performs better over the course of 162 games, not because of a manager's expertise.

 

Yeah, I was just having some fun.

 

But, unless I'm wrong, isn't Macha only the 2nd "moneyball" A's manager? I don't think it's fair to make a judgement on how he'll do outside of Oakland based on how Art Howe did with those overrated Mets rosters anyway.

Here's a little something I picked up on Macha.

 

He lives in Pittsburgh...hmmm.

Here's a little something I picked up on Macha.

 

He lives in Pittsburgh...hmmm.

 

 

That's why he walked away from the A's, but it seems that the Pirates are more interested in Tracy.

Here's a little something I picked up on Macha.

 

He lives in Pittsburgh...hmmm.

 

 

That's why he walked away from the A's, but it seems that the Pirates are more interested in Tracy.

 

You might be right but from what I've read their interest in Tracy started without the knowledge that Macha might be available.

 

It may be that the Bucs are already so far down the road with Tracy that Macha won't be considered but it will be interesting to see how it all plays out.

 

There's a bunch of discussions on a Pirates board regarding their search for a new manager. For those interested here's a link:

 

http://discuss.pittsburghlive.com/viewforum.php?f=5

A's managers are like Braves pitchers. Inexplicably good there, unable to replicate past success elsewhere...I mean, look how badly Art Howe failed.

 

Yeah but Macha had much less to work with compared to what Howe had....such as Mulder, Hudson, Tejada and Giambi.

More on Macha, including his agent's contact with the Fish.

 

from AP via ESPN -

 

Beane bounces Macha as A's manager

Associated Press

 

Ken Macha will walk away from the Oakland Athletics after seven years with fresh memories of another winning season, despite a young and injury-depleted lineup.

 

He hopes potential employers appreciate that, too.

 

Macha was out of a job as A's manager Wednesday after failing to reach an agreement on a new contract, which he called one of several "massive disappointments" in his tenure.

 

"Who knows how the rest of baseball views you?" Macha said hours after general manager Billy Beane announced there would be no further negotiations to keep the third-year skipper.

 

"I can go home and sleep and know that we used tremendous character to get through this season," Macha said.

 

Macha led the A's to the AL West title in his first year as manager in 2003, the club's fourth straight playoff berth. But Oakland failed to reach the postseason the past two years despite a 91-win season in 2004 and 88 victories this year.

 

"We offered a three-year deal with a club option and they countered with a three-year deal without a club option," Beane said on a conference call. "I don't think we were ever going to be able to bridge the gap. It was a significant gap."

 

The option would have allowed the A's to decide whether to keep Macha after three seasons.

 

"There are no hard feelings whatsoever," Beane said. "This is part of the business."

 

Macha had said he hoped to return to the A's, but declined to discuss specifics of the team's offer, saying money matters are strictly personal. His agent, Alan Nero, told The Associated Press he received an offer from Beane on Monday, then offered two different counter proposals, the second of which brought the sides much closer.

 

"We were significantly apart," Nero said in a telephone interview. "Then I made a proposal and we were very close. Billy declined to make another proposal because he felt Kenny wouldn't be happy."

 

Nero called it a "sad day" for Macha, the fans and the players. "It was an amicable separation and it's time for everybody to move on."

 

Nero said he spoke Wednesday to Pirates general manager Dave Littlefield about the managerial vacancy in Pittsburgh, where Macha lives. The Florida Marlins are also interested in the 55-year-old, Nero said.

 

Macha hopes teams will take into account how the A's performed with such a young roster. Four rookies played huge roles.

 

"Hopefully something will work out," Macha said. "You have experiences, and that was a growing experience."

 

The A's seemed out of it in May when they had two eight-game losing streaks and finished the month with a 7-20 record. Oakland rebounded with another strong second half, overcoming injuries to key players, including shortstop Bobby Crosby and No. 2 starter Rich Harden.

 

Macha's departure didn't catch players by surprise. Center fielder Mark Kotsay hopes Macha gets a chance with another club.

 

"I know contract offers were exchanged, and they probably couldn't foresee themselves coming to terms," Kotsay said in a phone interview. "I think he definitely had a respect for the players and allowed us to handle ourselves as professionals. He was just a good guy."

 

Macha was 275-211 in three seasons with the A's. He came to Oakland in 1999 following four seasons as a manager in Boston's farm system. He was promoted from bench coach when Art Howe left for the New York Mets following the 2002 season.

 

Beane said the sides had exchanged proposals this past weekend because both parties wanted to come to a resolution quickly, leaving Macha time to explore other openings.

 

"This whole issue didn't sneak up on us," Beane said. "It's disappointing we couldn't come to a conclusion that was satisfactory."

 

Beane said he would work to form a list of candidates to replace Macha, and didn't say whether members of the existing A's coaching staff would be considered.

 

On Monday, the A's announced hitting coach Dave Hudgens' contract would not be renewed.

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2181862

Someone that has won with a young team chock full of rookies. I'll take him.

Here's a little something I picked up on Macha.

 

He lives in Pittsburgh...hmmm.

 

 

 

Didn't Macha play for the Pirates???

 

Littlefield would be crazy to let him get away.

 

:mischief2

One of the good things about Macha entering the mix is that instead of a bunch of failed or overthehill retreads to choose from as has been the case in other years, the Marlins appear to have a quality group of candidates to work with.

 

With guys like Macha, Gonzalez, Tracy, Pena, Girardi and others out there (if I left out your favorite forgive me) for serious consideration, we'll hopefully not be left to pick the least objectional candidate in the end.

I don't like Tracy, but all the other guys Marlins2003 mentioned are solid. We've got to remember that there are other managerial vacancies, so it's not like we necessarily have our pick among them. We're the most competitive among the teams with vacancies, though, so hopefully that will give us an advantage.

One of the good things about Macha entering the mix is that instead of a bunch of failed or overthehill retreads to choose from as has been the case in other years, the Marlins appear to have a quality group of candidates to work with.

 

With guys like Macha, Gonzalez, Tracy, Pena, Girardi and others out there (if I left out your favorite forgive me) for serious consideration, we'll hopefully not be left to pick the least objectional candidate in the end.

 

 

Are we really considering Pena? I'm not saying he shouldn't be an option (or that he should, for that matter), but I don't recall him being mentioned by anyone but wishful posters. Of course, I may be missing something, wouldn't be the first time.

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