Macha Out; Washington In?
History Says Ron Washington Will Take Over
You got the feeling that A's manager, Ken Macha, was toast when GM Billy Beane offered a low-balled contract extension. Macha must have known, too, if he had any contact with former skipper Art Howe.
A press release, today, from the A's announced that Macha will not manage the team next season.
Apparently, Beane's offer of three years and $2.4 million two days ago was his final offer. It also mirrored a similarly abrupt offer to former manager, Art Howe, five years ago.
"There were no negotiations," said Macha, "Their offer was basically a take-it-or-leave-it deal, so that's that. ... Billy said he wasn't budging from his first offer."
If the past is our guide, this shoud not of came as a surprise. In Beane's Moneyball theory, the importance of the manager is muted and diminished in authority. Beane simply will not overpay for a manager just as he won't for homegrown free-agents like Jason Giambi and Miguel Tejada.
Now, the speculation begins as to whom the next manager of the Oakland A's will be. It actually has a very simple answer: Thirdbase coach Ron Washington.
Beane is easy to read. He prove the entire baseball establishment wrong, again by trading two of his best players and contended until the last five games of the season. Moneyball is still a viable method of running a big league team.
Back when Macha was hired from the A's bench coach postion there was speculation that he would take the manager's job in Boston. At that point, Beane rushed to sign him.
Early word is that a few teams are interested in interviewing Washington for vacant positions, notably in Tampa. History looks to repeat itself with Macha joining his hometown Pirates and failing while the next bargain skipper takes over a young talented team in Oakland.
You got the feeling that A's manager, Ken Macha, was toast when GM Billy Beane offered a low-balled contract extension. Macha must have known, too, if he had any contact with former skipper Art Howe.
A press release, today, from the A's announced that Macha will not manage the team next season.
Apparently, Beane's offer of three years and $2.4 million two days ago was his final offer. It also mirrored a similarly abrupt offer to former manager, Art Howe, five years ago.
"There were no negotiations," said Macha, "Their offer was basically a take-it-or-leave-it deal, so that's that. ... Billy said he wasn't budging from his first offer."
If the past is our guide, this shoud not of came as a surprise. In Beane's Moneyball theory, the importance of the manager is muted and diminished in authority. Beane simply will not overpay for a manager just as he won't for homegrown free-agents like Jason Giambi and Miguel Tejada.
Now, the speculation begins as to whom the next manager of the Oakland A's will be. It actually has a very simple answer: Thirdbase coach Ron Washington.
Beane is easy to read. He prove the entire baseball establishment wrong, again by trading two of his best players and contended until the last five games of the season. Moneyball is still a viable method of running a big league team.
Back when Macha was hired from the A's bench coach postion there was speculation that he would take the manager's job in Boston. At that point, Beane rushed to sign him.
Early word is that a few teams are interested in interviewing Washington for vacant positions, notably in Tampa. History looks to repeat itself with Macha joining his hometown Pirates and failing while the next bargain skipper takes over a young talented team in Oakland.
Washington would be a great choice- just the man to lead Beaners team right to the edge of greatness only to be chopped down by trades as soon as the up-and-comers are sent packing before the moths can escape billy's wallet
Posted by
M. Santos |
Sunday, October 09, 2005 9:46:00 AM