Michael Lewis’ “Moneyball” originated the oft-repeated claim that A’s GM Billy Beane was making game decisions while field manager Art Howe was nothing more than a stooge (Howe’s tenure in Flushing seems to lend validity to this charge). Following Ken Macha’s departure from Oakland this week, the SF Chronicle’s Bruce Jenkins says a spine will be surplus to requirements in Beane’s next hire.
No established, self-respecting manager would even think of working for A’s general manager Billy Beane (above), let alone get an invitation, because Beane wants a pushover. He wants dull. He wanted Art Howe, then Ken Macha, and the choice now could be between organization mainstays Bob Geren and Ron Washington.
Nothing against those two men, by the way. Washington, in particular, has for years struck observers as a future manager. It’s just remarkable to consider that the A’s have perhaps the finest assemblage of young talent in the game, complete with a marvelous clubhouse atmosphere, and the manager will be one of those “just glad to be here” guys who might be pretending, just a little, that he’s cool with everything.
The new managers of the A’s and Dodgers will have to buy into a philosophy in which they may not completely believe. Bring your loyalty and a smile; leave your identity behind.
I don’t understand why anyone would criticize a GM for hiring a manager that agrees with his philosophy. That’s the point of the interview process, isn’t it?
Writers like Jenkins just disagree with the Moneyball principles, so they want a manager who will buck Beane/DePo and do what they would do if they were coaching. Why they think they know better than Beane after all of his success (wasn’t this supposed to be the year the A’s collapsed?) is puzzling.
indeed, and DePo has yet to work with a manager that he hasn’t inherited.
Based on everything I’ve read about the breakdown in Oakland, Beane would’ve taken Macha back, but wasn’t willing to pay a premium to do so. WIth all the vacancies at the moment, it would seem as though Macha thought he had a bit of leverage (as did Tracy, who pretty much gets a free pass from a lot of writers after demanding a contract extension following a season in which he finished 20 games under .500.
Indeed, the A’s came pretty damn close in what probably should’ve been a rebuilding year. For all of Beane’s supposed arrogance, if you look at his resources compared to those of Moreno’s Angels, Nintendo’s Mariners or Hicks’ Rangers, a close 2nd is still an achievement.
But don’t vacancies work both ways…I mean, look at all the ex-managers out there just waiting to be recycled
Very true, and there is a slight musical chairs element to all of this, especially if Piniella and Tracy end up with new jobs. I only know what I’ve read, so I’ll assume this was a negotiating gambit on the part of Macha and Alan Nero (ie. rejecting a 3 year deal), figuring that in a worst case scenario (ie. Beane saying, “ok, we’re done”) the former Trenton Thunder skipper would be a strong candidate elsewhere. And maybe he is. But there’s a lot of candidates to go around at present, and as always, some of the same names keep popping up. Terry Collins, anyone? Please, wake me when Dallas Green gets his good suit out of the closet.
Billy Beane rules. Ken Macha? Holding out for more dough? Will he even get one of the open jobs?