Toy Cannon
10-14-2005, 07:11 PM
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2191370
The Oakland Athletics rehired Ken Macha as manager Friday, just more than a week after they failed to reach terms to renew his contract after three years.
The A's announced that the club reached a three-year agreement that will keep Macha under contract through the 2008 season.
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.
Macha, 55, called it one of several "massive disappointments" in his seven years with the team when the sides couldn't reach a deal Oct. 5.
The A's interviewed both bullpen coach Bob Geren, a close friend of general manager Billy Beane, and third-base coach Ron Washington for the opening, while Macha interviewed for the vacancy with the Pirates that was filled with former Dodgers manager Jim Tracy. Earlier this week, Rangers pitching coach Orel Hershiser was cleared to interview with Oakland for the manager job.
"It's good to have him back," right fielder Nick Swisher said in a phone interview from his home in West Virginia. "Macha's a great manager and he knows the game. I'm excited for next season to get started. Billy knows what he's doing. Just like everyone else in this organization, he's always going to push us in the right direction."
Messages left for Macha and his agent, Alan Nero, weren't immediately returned Friday.
Macha and Beane have had their tense moments during Macha's tenure, but Macha hoped he would receive some credit for getting Oakland to win this season with young players and an injury-plagued roster.
"Who knows how the rest of baseball views you?" Macha said last week after Beane said there would be no further negotiations to keep the skipper. "I can go home and sleep and know that we used tremendous character to get through this season."
When they parted ways, what turned out to be just a brief hiatus, Beane said the A's had offered a three-year deal with a club option, while Macha had countered with a three-year deal without a club option.
The option would have allowed the A's to decide whether to keep Macha after three seasons.
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. He earned around $630,000 this season.
Nero told The Associated Press he received an offer from Beane on Oct. 3 and then offered two different counterproposals, the second of which brought the sides much closer. Beane said he "verbally" declined the last proposal.
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.
Oakland watched the Angels clinch the AL West on the A's home field for the second straight year.
The A's have almost their entire roster back for 2006.
The Oakland Athletics rehired Ken Macha as manager Friday, just more than a week after they failed to reach terms to renew his contract after three years.
The A's announced that the club reached a three-year agreement that will keep Macha under contract through the 2008 season.
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.
Macha, 55, called it one of several "massive disappointments" in his seven years with the team when the sides couldn't reach a deal Oct. 5.
The A's interviewed both bullpen coach Bob Geren, a close friend of general manager Billy Beane, and third-base coach Ron Washington for the opening, while Macha interviewed for the vacancy with the Pirates that was filled with former Dodgers manager Jim Tracy. Earlier this week, Rangers pitching coach Orel Hershiser was cleared to interview with Oakland for the manager job.
"It's good to have him back," right fielder Nick Swisher said in a phone interview from his home in West Virginia. "Macha's a great manager and he knows the game. I'm excited for next season to get started. Billy knows what he's doing. Just like everyone else in this organization, he's always going to push us in the right direction."
Messages left for Macha and his agent, Alan Nero, weren't immediately returned Friday.
Macha and Beane have had their tense moments during Macha's tenure, but Macha hoped he would receive some credit for getting Oakland to win this season with young players and an injury-plagued roster.
"Who knows how the rest of baseball views you?" Macha said last week after Beane said there would be no further negotiations to keep the skipper. "I can go home and sleep and know that we used tremendous character to get through this season."
When they parted ways, what turned out to be just a brief hiatus, Beane said the A's had offered a three-year deal with a club option, while Macha had countered with a three-year deal without a club option.
The option would have allowed the A's to decide whether to keep Macha after three seasons.
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. He earned around $630,000 this season.
Nero told The Associated Press he received an offer from Beane on Oct. 3 and then offered two different counterproposals, the second of which brought the sides much closer. Beane said he "verbally" declined the last proposal.
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.
Oakland watched the Angels clinch the AL West on the A's home field for the second straight year.
The A's have almost their entire roster back for 2006.