Posted on 10/16/2006 2:56:24 PM PDT by mainepatsfan
After quick ALCS exit, A's fire manager Macha
ESPN.com news services
OAKLAND, Calif. -- Ken Macha was fired as manager of the Oakland Athletics on Monday, two days after the AL West champions were swept out of the playoffs by Detroit.
Macha had two years and $2.025 million left on his contract. The A's went 368-280 in his four seasons as manager, but have frustrated management and their fans by failing to get into the World Series.
Oakland won the West with a 93-69 record this year. After sweeping Minnesota in three games in the first round of the playoffs, the A's were eliminated by the Tigers in four straight in the AL Championship Series.
"Not to fault either side, but I felt a disconnect on a lot of levels," general manager Billy Beane said. "Once again, it's not to point the finger at Ken or anything like that. But that disconnect was there and it was something we needed to address as soon as possible."
The San Francisco Chronicle, citing team sources, reported earlier Monday that Macha's job was in jeopardy due to his trouble communicating with his players and his "callous attitude" toward injured players.
"The end of the year is the time for evaluation, not only players, but staff as well," A's general manager Billy Beane told the Chronicle. "It's a matter of routine this time of year."
Macha's relationships with a number of players have been the source of Bay Area stories for several seasons. Macha almost didn't return to the A's after last season, but was later rehired.
(Excerpt) Read more at sports.espn.go.com ...
The A'splayed much better ball in the postseason than the Yankees did. Granted the Tigers took them out in a sweep but they were far tougher games.
So, when are the A's going to trade Chavez? In the middle of the ALCS, he mused to the media that "these guys [the Tigers] are just better than we are." Hey, that's what I was telling friends last week at the sweep was unfolding, and it may have been obvious to everyone, but as the so-called "field leader" of the team, it's dumb to admit that you don't have the horses to beat the opposition in the middle of battle. Bad form.
How silly all of these firings are! The manager fired simply moves on to another team, and life in baseball continues. lol.
Well I have a feeling Ozzie Guillen is kicking himself for telling Magglio Ordonez "Go play for the F'n Tigers" LOL
The NLCS is going 6 games at least. The Tigers will have more than a week off between games. The World Series will be a perfect test for the extended rest good or bad argument.
I've always thought that long breaks between games can be momentum killers. I think that tends to be true coming out of bye weeks in the NFL. The breaks are nice, but I wonder if the NL team will have the momentum going into the WS.
I heard this on the radio and was surprised to hear it. Sounds lke something Steinbrenner would do.
Come to Washington! The Nationals would love to have a manager who's a winner.
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