While reading the online version of the Phila. Daily News I learned in one article that Oakland coach Ken Macha reportedly has agreed to become the Brewers' manager but it won't be announced until after the Series per Bud's edict of no big announcements. In a separate article they mentioned a report out of NYC that Art Howe is leaving the A's to manage the Mets, and that his replacement would be....Ken Macha!

If Howe's really going to the Mets, I can only hope Macha stays in Oakland. The odd thing about the Howe story, according to today's NY Times, is that the Mets really want Dusty Baker, but they're so annoyed by the way the negotiations with Seattle for Piniella have gone, that they're doing a spurned-lover-on-the-rebound act with Howe.

According to the LA Times, it's official: Howe to NY and Macha promoted in Oakland. No public announcement (per Selig) until after the WS.

~Adam

Maybe I have been living under a rock for the most of my sportsfan life, but hasn't Howe been one of the most successful baseball coaches over the last 3 to 4 years? He took the once-floundering A's to the playoffs 3 straight years, didn't he? What was his reasoning for leaving Oakland? Did management run him off or what?

[quote]Originally posted by SmoothRon:
What was his reasoning for leaving Oakland? Did management run him off or what?

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The Mets offered him boatloads of money.

Stoopid stoopid Mets. Howe's a very good (regular season) manager. And Bobby V definitely wore out his welcome and the Mets needed to make a switch. But the Mets have this "star policy" practice. ("Star policy" is the practice used in some Vegas showrooms, where you book only big name headliners, like Tom Jones, Engelbert Humperdinck or Don Rickles.)

Rather than look at their needs, the Mets just go for the biggest name available. (Or, in the case of Mo Vaughn: the fattest).

I actually think BUCK SHOWALTER would have been a perfect fit for the Mets: a little discipline was surely needed for that franchise.

Ken Macha is a GREAT hire for the A's. He's been the bridesmaid for several managerial openings the last few years. There would have been no reason for the A's to have willingly canned Art Howe, but maybe this will shake them out of their ALDS-losing habit.

Charlie in the Trees,

It sounds like you are very knowledgeable about the going-ons in baseball. I need to communicate with you more often. Of the four major professional sports, I have the least amount of knowledge of baseball and hockey. NFL is my all-time favorite, then the NBA, then baseball, then hockey.

[quote]Originally posted by Charlie in the Trees:


I actually think BUCK SHOWALTER would have been a perfect fit for the Mets: a little discipline was surely needed for that franchise.

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*sigh* Y'mean a Dallas Green type? The guy who though Jeff Kent and Edgardo Alfonzo were losers? I'm sure Showalter will be sounding off if any Rangers wear their caps backward in BP, as he so famously ranted vs Griffey.

My understanding is that Billy Beane has always had fundamental philosophic differences with Howe, but his hands were tied by the regular-season success of the A's. You really can't hire someone as a "playoff manager," since even a meathead can be saved by his players (cf Bob Brenly, 2001).

Some of the NY press thinks the Howe hiring is a botch executed by newly "hands-on" owner Fred Wilpon ... we'll see. I'll feel a lot better if the Mets dump Rey Ordonez as soon as possible.

A Bay Area perspective from Ray Ratto in today's Chronicle:

Go East, Old Art

Billy never liked Art; the NY press hate him and he isn't even there yet. Big bucks for him to retire on in a year or two, at any rate.

[quote]Originally posted by Bill W:
*sigh* Y'mean a Dallas Green type?

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Dallas Green was once a pretty good manager. Won a World Series with a Phillies team that under-achieved repeatedly with the more easy-going Danny Ozark. Got the Cubs into the playoffs as their GM (if my memory is correct) ... no mean achievement there.

By the time the Mets got him, he was just an old crank.

Buck Showalter hasn't quite aged into old crank status. I do think hiring Showalter in Texas was a mistake. Showalter should be employed as a guerrilla warfare tactic. Hit quick then leave. I thought he would be the perfect man for taking a unforcused pool of talent that is close to winning, and molding them into winners. (Like Dallas Green did in Philly.) Since Showalter wears out his welcome fast, he's not the right choice for long-term rebuilding projects, like Texas.

The Mets would've been a perfect fit for Showalter. Toronto, too.