Ken Macha

Kenneth Edward Macha (born September 29, 1950 in Monroeville, Pennsylvania) is the former manager of the Oakland A's. He managed the A's from 2003-2006. He guided them to the American League's Western Division championship in his first season and followed that with second-place finishes in both 2004 and 2005. Macha's A's once again captured the AL Western Division championship in 2006. Macha was fired after the 2006 season. Macha was an infielder for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Montreal Expos and Toronto Blue Jays for six seasons (1974, 1977-81).

Playing career

Ken Macha is a graduate of Gateway High School in Monroeville, a suburb of Pittsburgh and played college ball at the University of Pittsburgh. He was selected by Pittsburgh in the sixth round of the 1972 June draft. He was the Eastern League batting champion in 1974 with the Thetford Mines Pirates. He hit a combined .258 in 180 Major league baseball games and spent four years in Japan(Chunichi Dragons) as well.

Coaching career

He retired as a player in 1985 and joined the Expos as a major league coach in 1986. He spent six seasons with the Expos before moving to the California Angels as bullpen, then third base, coach. He joined the Boston Red Sox organization in the fall of 1994.

The 1997 season marked Macha's first as manager of the Pawtucket Red Sox. In the previous two seasons he managed the Double-A Trenton Thunder to first place finishes, including a league-best 86-56 record and another division crown in 1996. He was chosen as 1996 Eastern League Manager of the Year. He was also picked to manage the American League affiliates in the Double A All-star game.

Macha then joined the Athletics as bench coach, serving under former Pirates teammate Art Howe from by|1999 through by|2002. In March 2002, the A's denied permission for the Red Sox to contact Macha about their managerial vacancy. Boston then hired Grady Little, while Macha spent a final season as a coach until he was tapped to succeed Howe, who became pilot of the New York Mets after the season ended.

In one of the most unusual contract moves ever, Macha's pact expired October 8, by|2005 and negotiations broke down between the two sides trying to reach a deal; eventually it broke apart and Macha was out of a job. Six days later – apparently after talking with the Pittsburgh Pirates but either not being offered the managerial position there or deciding not to take it – Macha reached a deal with the Athletics and became manager once again. He would be fired on October 16th, 2006 by general manager Billy Beane.

Managerial Statistics

After coaching

After the dismissal, the Seattle Mariners offered Macha a position as bench coach to manager Mike Hargrove, but Macha refused, citing his desire to take a year off. He was then offered a position as a senior adviser to Mariners GM Bill Bavasi [cite news | last = cMercury News Wire Services | title = A's hire ex-Royals bench coach | language = English | publisher = The Mercury News | date = 2006-11-30 | url = http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_4748696 | accessdate = 26 May 2008 ] . But in April by|2007, Macha accepted a part-time position as a pre- and post-game analyst for New England Sports Network, which telecasts Boston Red Sox games.

Personal life

Macha is a first cousin to Hal Newhouser. [ [http://www.case.edu/pubs/cnews/2003/4-17/sports.htm Nine to be inducted into CWRU athletic hall of fame ] ]

In the offseason, Macha lives in Murrysville, Pennsylvania with his family.

ee also

* Montreal Expos all-time roster
* List of Major League Baseball managers in 2006

References

External links

*Baseballstats |mlb= |espn= |br=m/machake01 |fangraphs=1007908 |cube=M/ken-macha