The Ken Macha Machine

Dale Sveum’s/Ned Yost’s replacement was named today, and that man is Ken Macha.  Macha has four year’s of managerial experience with the Oakland A’s, where he led the A’s to two postseason appearances.  He finished second in the division in the two seasons that he missed the playoffs.

While I would have preferred someone like Davey Johnson, who has had more success over a longer period of time, Doug Melvin stated that he had narrowed down the candidates to three in Macha, Bob Brenly, and Willie Randolph, so it looks like Johnson never really had a chance.

I’m not disappointed in the hiring, yet I can’t say I’m overly enthused either.  Macha claimed two division championships in what is possibly the easiest division in baseball to win, based on the fact you only have to have a better record than three other teams.  Now he switches to baseball’s biggest and possibly most difficult division to win, in that you have to stay ahead of five other clubs.

Macha is definitely a step up from the Yost/Sveum combination.  He also doesn’t have any ties to Milwaukee and can be considered an outside hire.  Most importantly, he has succeeded before in a situation similar to Milwaukee.  Oakland runs it’s organization similar to the Brewers, by developing players through the minor leagues.

Can Macha lead this team back to the postseason again next year, and also challenge the Cubs for the division crown?  Only time will tell.