I know getting swept by Detroit sucks, but Macha shouldn't have been fired over this one at all IMO.
Oct. 16, 2006, 3:52PM
Macha fired as Oakland's manager
By JANIE McCAULEY AP Sports Writer
© 2006 The Associated Press
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 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 A's became the sixth major league team to let its manager go since the final days of the season. Dusty Baker (Chicago Cubs), Joe Girardi (Florida), Felipe Alou (San Francisco), Frank Robinson (Washington) and Buck Showalter (Texas) are not coming back next year.
Macha went through a topsy-turvy October last year, too, during which he briefly was out as manager.
Right after missing the postseason for a second straight season in 2005, the A's failed to reach agreement with Macha on a new deal. The Athletics cut ties with him and Beane announced there would be no further negotiations.
At the time, Macha called it one of the "massive disappointments" during his seven years in the organization. The A's interviewed other candidates for the job and Macha talked to Pittsburgh about its managerial vacancy.
But about a week after being let go, the A's rehired Macha and gave him a three-year contract.
Macha joined the A's as their bench coach in 1999. He became their manager in 2003 and led them to the AL West title in his first year, and followed that with a pair of second-place finishes before winning the division again this season.
Macha fired as Oakland's manager
By JANIE McCAULEY AP Sports Writer
© 2006 The Associated Press
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 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 A's became the sixth major league team to let its manager go since the final days of the season. Dusty Baker (Chicago Cubs), Joe Girardi (Florida), Felipe Alou (San Francisco), Frank Robinson (Washington) and Buck Showalter (Texas) are not coming back next year.
Macha went through a topsy-turvy October last year, too, during which he briefly was out as manager.
Right after missing the postseason for a second straight season in 2005, the A's failed to reach agreement with Macha on a new deal. The Athletics cut ties with him and Beane announced there would be no further negotiations.
At the time, Macha called it one of the "massive disappointments" during his seven years in the organization. The A's interviewed other candidates for the job and Macha talked to Pittsburgh about its managerial vacancy.
But about a week after being let go, the A's rehired Macha and gave him a three-year contract.
Macha joined the A's as their bench coach in 1999. He became their manager in 2003 and led them to the AL West title in his first year, and followed that with a pair of second-place finishes before winning the division again this season.
Me too!