Ken Macha, ex A's Mgr

Red Sox and Oakland -- wrap up their very brief two game series tonight at Fenway Park joining us on the line is. Not only the former manager of the Oakland -- but one of my new -- and colleagues although I haven't seen him work yet I will see him on Friday for the first time Ken Mok who joins us on the line. Kenneth -- Michael how are --

I'm doing great economic get a little -- little bit like opening day though the picture -- probably. I gotta say that the right.

Wait wait wait wait -- American -- are dressed properly did you see yourself all last night you wear anything you want apparently

Mike good you know what while also would -- but pocket where -- Abate I basically had dressed up people tell you that story we're -- top flight one diamond when your aaa you'd. You meet at 6 O'Clock in drive up the -- and get on the plane. And I -- that is -- but he was wearing them that that they all off and I got the club but -- get the ironing board and the

and I.

This shirt and got a tie straightened out and so at least he was programmable.

Jerry Remy told him last night it looked like he was ready for shuffle board game or the early bird special and Fort Lauderdale one -- the other

eight that we should have from pictures that I could have stopped on.

Again I had never knew you were interested in the TV business how did you. Come about how did you how did you get this job what was the process of becoming and that's an analyst.

Well -- about how I got the job but back in December I got a call from met them and and they asked -- I was interested and here I am sitting here -- my wife says well you better get out out at least three weeks out of the year. That's what what the offer and might that well you know what that's the big night that will be it give me some -- or too little -- my. You know hand in the game a little bit you know may be you know a later date like the man. It again so. I think what the heck but let's give it a try so well I've -- these other guys go from -- men -- on on the green two analyze gain some. And they present that to me this way they had a lot. We got a great -- here we're going to great picture here we want to get the manager's perspective little bit so. But the not that thinks so we're going to get retried they'll work that.

a little bit of media advice on Friday when you make your debut as soon as the post game show starts. Just Mark -- and the manager

yes written probably -- good idea the -- eight people listening right now as we're -- equipment.

He was that we talked about it when you when you got the job he was pretty excited about the idea course you guys have known each other for a long time.

Break back yen 85 got the ball pretty well well look Montreal or both Pittsburgh guys that would have stopped them. And then I'll pay what my most enjoyable year managing what my first year in coComment 2000 three and in my bench coach that he had great way of keeping everything on the politely -- little bit of a lighter side -- the he'd get the big help them. I really wanted somebody that had previous major league manager or experience as my bench coach so that I could leave Amman on me for advice but he knows how you feel when things happen in game. Stable he you know a little bit light with that it was a great -- with the there.

You know what Theo Epstein left the Red Sox and came back before he came back -- always used to say. I'm hoping for 88 Ken -- a moment. With the only adding I hope that he he changes his mind and in return so you -- have your can -- he had -- Ken Mok a moment. What happened there when you left Oakland then came back.

Well -- this season ended we have such a great year. That was the women -- where we traded older and we. We went basically what very -- that then -- let me your experience for our let your experience. A -- last night about a month experience. We have very -- it was probably our only -- there that had been an experience that way and we are off. Just awful at the end of may -- 15 games than 500. And you know what -- when you're like that in your manager art pocketbook cover today but but I great staff was what work with these players and Nick -- we had and dropped we have other rookies in the lineup that is so we have a very young team and now you're you're the manager your leader of the team. Openly players develop your heart in these coaches trying to help them get these players that are will be called they got better we played tremendous these one on. -- wind up up 14 games over 500 for the season. And I just thought it was a tremendous fear him. Actually my three -- management errors in Europe and the -- and now to I'm one of the negotiate a contract and they. I got to offer them Billy said he did take currently that. And frankly he was not negotiate -- that we have supporting overweight Amnon. Unfortunately that we later so got back together and -- three years.

And Kenny -- read the book money ball like most other baseball fans and that's I. Art how it seemed like art -- had -- tough dealing with Billy being. How did you get along with Billy what was it like being a manager with him there in places as the --

Our right well I think the ball came out. December vote to order January vote theory out there in that area and as a said -- was my bench coach Stan. So -- read the book immediately and then he said to me has have you read this balked. Well whatever you do don't read it I look at that by accident despite still have the right second here -- man. Did you man Billy had offered me one -- in with the commendable rate and my agent said there yourself paper and read the book. Market read the book and now. I don't know how much the author of the -- You know -- from -- want them to world whatever but. I hope that oh wait art was treated I'd been there for years apart art of fine -- good manager yet it on the record. Now a lot of time -- got to step back and -- Loc the reason or haven't successes we have a guy like that equipment he. Thankful that we have somebody like that round but that was not a trade of all in the book. And in a way that felt that -- it painted a picture and that. Really want there. -- felt bad about that but Billy Billy -- have got to work for extremely demanding. If you're looking for somebody come pat on the back that -- that aren't going to happen he is is extremely demanding -- you know what there's probably other dropped out there -- the same way and my situation may not be in there now on Bob -- manager -- for Bob -- better you know Billy go back high school days. And the they're going to be able to build a relationship between them between each other it's going to be better though. And and I am hoping that I did manage again let them -- have a relationship and that going to be you know real positive. I was Watson the -- night game the other day the cardinals were playing in the the brewers. And about Melvin came on and he talked about his relationship with -- and how much respect the for the job that net. How much -- he has. And really to build your relationship with the management perspective. It's up be worn in but -- that fact that I have a man only have one manager with Texas Rangers. It's -- out there we built a relationship. Want -- be. For that trip they experience packed so -- and in his words -- resonate with me. And hopefully said that if I do -- albeit --

A big part of the book had to do with the baseball philosophy that the Oakland base employed how close was -- your personal philosophy of how the game should be played.

Well thought hey what the experience being out there I I learned a lot so it what -- I can't come provinces ban it. It was a negative earned not learned a lot of baseball there are a lot of things. That comment the play with their philosophy that are absolutely true. Okay one things is the more I get on base more -- going to score on base. It was such a big philosophy of the -- And that's absolutely true. You look at that the team with the most of the because on base percentages for the front look back at. They have bought some red fox they want the World Series they have a tremendous line almost every -- players one worked the count would take -- base on -- on base percentage was. Out of this world in -- is that -- I believe they -- league hitting it yours so there working the pitcher we have bolder and and then they go pick and for them even those guys have a under picked up at five innings. So a lot of that is true. I looked at the stolen bases. Being aggressive you're a cop out both it's -- it's really put under a magnifying glass little thing to do -- Happened on the curse of the court the game where maybe you gave up -- now. Trying to steal a base and see that the perky. So you have the make sure that the percentage you have a high percentage of those success. When you're gonna go after form of the -- part of it rolling my philosophy all along had ban I'm put the bomb on it by feel like that is now one game four. You know as compared to just on the and trying to get one time. And given the other team -- for -- seventh the eighth inning. Your bullpen is rested and had a tight ballgame -- part of the order -- pot didn't hear hitters that we're going to drive them. He noted is that -- a lot of plot being detained that all I benefited from that. He gave me a little different view view of the game and the and it was very helpful it is it's contribute much success.

You mentioned that you mentioned earlier that you Terry Francona are both Pittsburgh guys he was your bench coach. And Oakland in 2003. If the situation develops where you need to be critical of him injure relationships strong enough where you can go on TV and say he should have done this and it will be cool between --

well a -- that you are concerned about it your credibility okay you have to come out there and and and say well this would be my lock the -- Okay military always has reasons for what he you know what there was. Moved that I made that you know eat eat while the bench coach. What particularly -- percent on board with that but you know you'd you'd go out of there which she feels that he's going to do that from an analyst's standpoint I have -- look at -- and and say. Well I know these factors when in the play in his decision and and perhaps not every manager would -- that way so six have a drop it now. Analysts have be credible -- his B it's -- I'll -- agree with everything that.

I always wondered what it's like on on in a dugout and in a major league game and you guys things are going on you're talking to bench coaches or other coaches I mean is there. Discussion E is their disagreement even sit in the dugout no we shouldn't do that here we should do this that sort of thing

at times there are I mean the best thing to me I I felt as a manager my relationship my pitching coach probably the most important particularly in America only a lot I'm. You're right lineup but Barry let those guys go edit and when the bad and as I said you may poverty may -- run or have somebody steal and that might not -- shall we of the game the relationship with pitching coach really the most important thing you know there are a lot of times where it's because that. They don't let this guy -- there. About -- is that in and they'll do it but that relationship is built on the trot. Speak of the trust the -- that it's because have has got has -- You're going to be right they going to be double -- yet on the now going to get the pitcher and then would go and do that and move them the pigeon -- is that that was probably what I public. For the -- And for the development pitcher. So sometimes our discussions in the in and of this agreement -- there but really a lot of and people that sportswriters people -- really try to analyze the game they really don't know would go on and that managers had. They don't know all the pressures that come and play. Until you walk in a few and that that manager's shoes is not in understand all the pressure. -- at a member get home at our first year and I can't even describe anybody thinks that they walked in there with no experience. There there.

And there are lots of guys in the history of the game who have managed in the American league and in the national league. If you get another opportunity does it matter if it's an American league job or or are you comfortable being -- in the managing an utterly

you know what I -- I enjoy the national league game a lot there's there's a lot more thinkin' that involve actually what we played eminently sometimes nationally games were over there. I had a headache yet -- thanks so much you know I do enjoy that I think -- flawed. Easier to handle your players in the nationally because they're bubbles which in everybody's involved in the American league regular lineup but sometimes there are guys that sit there for long periods Iman don't get it that so. Consequently there in your office -- I -- can play. WiMax blah blah blah though if it really doesn't bad economy one where the other I I wouldn't I think I would very much -- that nationally one of the things that. Helpful for me right now so committee would admirably you know when you're familiar with the players it's it's helpful though -- actually you know a whole lot of players what -- and the power. Or even managers -- these it you have just theory though. I don't may have mattered may but I do like the.

I always wondered too about you know the the media pressures that a guy like Terry faces here that I'm guessing weren't quite the same for you in Oakland.

Well actually. I'm gonna saying that probably want to remember and true but I don't think everybody understand. The Bay Area how large -- an area that is everybody considers. You know on days of small market team they are not a small -- there or six newspapers cover up every day Sacramento -- chronicle San Francisco chronicle the San Francisco examiner the Oakland Tribune the comic -- the times and the analyzing -- Mercury news we have the reporters there every day. Okay so that is the large area there I would not consider the of them as they small market for large market so but I it would not -- Albion at the packet figures that picked up the Boston globe every day. And read the coverage and how things work cover. It's for the -- out there they have pop media of coverage and buffalo properly there but though really the it in the large part about there payers.

Arnold your favorite Bay Area newspaper that it got after they've -- six I'm pretty impressed that you.

Kamal I gotta have gone all the if -- I you know what I I Jimy Williams to manage the eight and in a packet said the may want things he tries not to do is read the papers. And really I try to stick -- philosophy I didn't want to get in the the eighth inning and think about what was written about me that they wore him. And have that it wants the decision for the most part they're great relationship with most of reporters out there at that they were there with mayhem. I've thought up there with them so or animal oppressive and being with them it did not present a problem. Now but there's always one. You know one or two instances the you have that become distasteful but for the most part way it was pretty have a call from well of the right chronicle I think government. There on Tuesday called on them -- going to be while we they've they were pretty good -- whole.

You spent four years as a player in Japan. Well let helped give you any insights into the dice came many of the Boston is experiencing this year.

Well I I know one thing how many media people are concerned what American players when they come to Japan okay. And you get that like you have this and flocks of -- Japanese reporters there probably every day. In Boston but he did the same thing over their one on American player and apparently they analyze everything -- videotape -- they they do with your weak point what they hitter really -- in the did you on the like this but are really have watched -- when he came over him. In all that every covered -- he thought. I know what a man. Bases in Japan probably appreciate baseball much interest they do happen with Daisuke doing over here. And actually when I went to -- them or idea. Interview flashed on station they asked him a question how Japanese pitchers -- I mean and so there and workable war it was more like an audition. Eclectic I did pretty well outpatient and a lot of things that -- probably have come true with the way it's so pretty good idea. Both solid hitters approach the game and -- the pitchers to pitch. So may be active and that.

Well drop some of that on us what was your assessment of how he duel over here.

Well I didn't I knew what how party through they city's gonna get overtime and that it's mine but really the Japanese pitchers worked so hard on -- role okay. And what I said what you'd think you're gonna get up about the Medal let's not -- really work on. It in the corner. When they do they're all -- they draw a line on the outside of wait and they have and the the plate and that line there and they try to -- pathways there really worked on. Control and a lot of bad but I did have over there they get involvement strike at street ball strikes. And they knew it taken so they get right on and then -- for a break them all period it's freedom -- get three into it go in for a split finger. And striking out OK so when you were when you're hot you weren't in anything that metal and then when god in the hitting -- Two three -- one thing like that for the most part there were very applicable because they had great man that -- though. Look for that all about Broadway it's not happening the point where. -- he will come up an -- some people I think quality outing he had won't walk but probably wasn't. It was just that you know trying to hit that corner of missed them by little -- I think you do well I think he's going to do well having that ought to have a strike out pitch like he does. -- walking a whole lot of people Portland all of them but it hit her with all of that.

make here on -- and debut on Friday night's Sox are on the road so you be back in the NS an HD studios were looking forward to watching you work and I hope we couldn't get a chance talk again sometime.

Okay no problem doesn't have a great day. I'll -- on Friday.

All right that is Ken Mok a former manager of the Oakland days new -- an analyst will make his debut Friday night