Ken Macha is the new Brew Crew manager

[SPTO]

I'm surprised there isn't a thread on this. I guess all the Milwaukee fans are as baffled and pissed off as I am. I mean Macha's a good guy and he had some success in Oakland but I think he's way too laid back. Not that the Brewers need a fiery guy but I think they need a guy with a little fire in his belly.

I also don't think Macha's style of managing fits that team. He doesn't strike me as a guy who favors toolsy players which is what the Brewers have and focus on in their drafting. It'll be interesting to see how Macha does managing in the NL though.

TSN link

[WazzuRC]

Re: Ken Macha is the new Brew Crew manager

Wow...don't like the hire for the Brewers. He's a decent enough guy, but I don't think he's an upgrade over Ned Yost or even Sveum.

[roadman]

Re: Ken Macha is the new Brew Crew manager

Macha wasn't really a surprise. It's been reported by the Milwaukee media over the last week he was the leading man.

Melvin wanted to hire Macha over Yost in 2002 or 03. Macha was offered the job, but took the A's job.

It's only a two year contract, the same number of years as Melvin's extension.

Macha might have been better than Brenly and Randolf. Anything is an upgrade over Yost.

Sveum only managed 12 games or so. If Melvin thought he was managerial material, he would have hired him. Melvin told Sveum he wanted more managerial experience, which is what Macha has. The beat writers for the A's are saying that Macha got along with the players just fine, it was Beane and Macha that butted heads.

[av7]

Re: Ken Macha is the new Brew Crew manager

Hmm radio today thought that if Willie Randolph didnt get this Brewers job, he'd be the new bench coach for the Rockies.

[rsox]

Re: Ken Macha is the new Brew Crew manager

I'm not sure if Macha was the best choice for the job, but he is not the worst either.
He did finish 108 games over .500 with the A's and did take them to the ALCS in 2006 so Macha does know how to win games with young players.

The key to the Brewers success moving forward is not necessarily who manages the team as much as it is what happens with Sheets, Sabathia and their bullpen.

[roadman]

Re: Ken Macha is the new Brew Crew manager

Macha said they are offering CC a contract today and Sheets a contract as well.

I do know about Sheets, he can't seem to complete an entire season without going on IR.

[pfunk880]

Re: Ken Macha is the new Brew Crew manager

Yeah, this was being reported for awhile before the official announcement.

I think it's a good hire.

[Speedy]

Re: Ken Macha is the new Brew Crew manager

Wow...don't like the hire for the Brewers. He's a decent enough guy, but I don't think he's an upgrade over Ned Yost or even Sveum.

Didn't Macha get fired after taking the A's to the ALCS a few years back? I'm a fan of Ned Yost, but I think he's a product of Bobby Cox - his treatment, use and game-choices of the bullpen is horrendus

[av7]

Re: Ken Macha is the new Brew Crew manager

Looks like Randolph will be with the Brewers

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3689927

The Milwaukee Brewers hired former New York Mets manager Willie Randolph as bench coach on Saturday.

"I'm excited, looking forward to this next challenge and getting to work," Randolph said in a conference call. "I love teaching and I'm passionate about being in the game."

[Trevytrev11]

Re: Ken Macha is the new Brew Crew manager

The one knock on Macha, at least right after he was fired from the A's, was that he didn't do a great job of communicating with the players. A few players said they were never sure of what their role on the team was or how they fit in on the team. These were guys like Marco Scutaro and Justin Duchererer, who at the time were role players, but also Mark Kotsay, who's always been pretty professional.

Some of this may have been made in haste as the season had just ended and guys may have still be a little fired up. Also, the A's have always been a pretty laid back and easy going club, and I don't think Macha fit that bill as much.

He's said he's not a guy who is going to be buddy buddy with his players, but as others have said, he's not a very firey guy either. Just kind of goes about his business every day.

[roadman]

Re: Ken Macha is the new Brew Crew manager

The one knock on Macha, at least right after he was fired from the A's, was that he didn't do a great job of communicating with the players. A few players said they were never sure of what their role on the team was or how they fit in on the team. These were guys like Marco Scutaro and Justin Duchererer, who at the time were role players, but also Mark Kotsay, who's always been pretty professional.

Some of this may have been made in haste as the season had just ended and guys may have still be a little fired up. Also, the A's have always been a pretty laid back and easy going club, and I don't think Macha fit that bill as much.

He's said he's not a guy who is going to be buddy buddy with his players, but as others have said, he's not a very firey guy either. Just kind of goes about his business every day.

GM Melvin stated that he investigated those allegations very closely and didn't find anything definitive.

Sports radio in Milwaukee said they did some checking around and it was actually Beane who was handcuffing Macha and spreading the word after he fired him that it was a lack of communication between Macha and the players.

Actually, I don't think it's really a good idea being buddy buddy with the players. That philosophy hurt Yost a lot because he would stick with Weeks and other players more than he should have.

Hiring Randolf will be good for Weeks to help him with his fielding and hitting woes.