10/14/2005 2:10 PM ET
A's reach agreement with Ken Macha on three-year contract
OAKLAND, Calif. -- The Oakland Athletics announced today the club has reached an agreement with Ken Macha on a three-year contract to manage the club through the 2008 season. Macha, 55, made his Major League managerial debut with the A's in 2003 and guided Oakland to a 275-211 record in three seasons with the club, which is the fifth best record in baseball over the last three seasons. His .566 winning percentage is the second best mark in franchise history to Dick Williams, who compiled a .603 winning percentage from 1971-73.
Macha was named as the 16th manager in Oakland history and the 28th manager in franchise history on October 29, 2002 after spending the previous four seasons as the A's bench coach under Art Howe. The A's won the American League West division in his first season in 2003 with a 96-66 record, which was the 10th best win total by a rookie manager in Major League history. In 2004, the A's were eliminated from contention in the AL West on the second to last day of the regular season before finishing with a 91-71 overall mark. The 2005 A's which featured a rookie closer, a rookie starting pitcher, two rookies in the starting lineup and a starting rotation that included Barry Zito and four other pitchers who entered the season with a combined 32 wins on the Major League level, finished second in the AL West with a 88-74 record.
In addition to Macha, the A's have eight players under contract for the 2006 season and beyond, not including Scott Hatteberg, Jay Payton and Keiichi Yabu, who have club options for 2006. The eight players signed through the 2006 season include Eric Chavez (2010; club option for 2011), Bobby Crosby (2009), Keith Ginter (2006), Rich Harden (2008; club option for 2009), Dan Haren (2009; club option for 2010), Jason Kendall (2007), Mark Kotsay (2008) and Barry Zito (2006).
A's reach agreement with Ken Macha on three-year contract
OAKLAND, Calif. -- The Oakland Athletics announced today the club has reached an agreement with Ken Macha on a three-year contract to manage the club through the 2008 season. Macha, 55, made his Major League managerial debut with the A's in 2003 and guided Oakland to a 275-211 record in three seasons with the club, which is the fifth best record in baseball over the last three seasons. His .566 winning percentage is the second best mark in franchise history to Dick Williams, who compiled a .603 winning percentage from 1971-73.
Macha was named as the 16th manager in Oakland history and the 28th manager in franchise history on October 29, 2002 after spending the previous four seasons as the A's bench coach under Art Howe. The A's won the American League West division in his first season in 2003 with a 96-66 record, which was the 10th best win total by a rookie manager in Major League history. In 2004, the A's were eliminated from contention in the AL West on the second to last day of the regular season before finishing with a 91-71 overall mark. The 2005 A's which featured a rookie closer, a rookie starting pitcher, two rookies in the starting lineup and a starting rotation that included Barry Zito and four other pitchers who entered the season with a combined 32 wins on the Major League level, finished second in the AL West with a 88-74 record.
In addition to Macha, the A's have eight players under contract for the 2006 season and beyond, not including Scott Hatteberg, Jay Payton and Keiichi Yabu, who have club options for 2006. The eight players signed through the 2006 season include Eric Chavez (2010; club option for 2011), Bobby Crosby (2009), Keith Ginter (2006), Rich Harden (2008; club option for 2009), Dan Haren (2009; club option for 2010), Jason Kendall (2007), Mark Kotsay (2008) and Barry Zito (2006).
