Ken Macha, ex A's Mgr

Red Sox in Oakland days 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 -- who joins us on the line. Kenneth -- Michael how are --

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

Wait wait wait wait him out there are -- what are dressed properly did you see yourself all last night you wear anything you want apparently

oh my goodness you know what one or so what Bob Arum but -- Abate I basically had addressed -- will tell you that story we're going to top flight one -- when your aaa. You meet at 6 O'Clock in drive up the Logan and then get on the plane. And I -- that is the but he was wearing them -- that that they all off and I got the club but I'd get the ironing board and the and I an undershirt and got a tie straightened out and at least he was preventable.

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.

A lot of tape 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 have -- I was interested and here I am sitting here or there -- my wife says well you better get out out at least three weeks out of the year so. That's what put the offer and -- that well you know what that's -- big night that will be it give me some but look forward to that'll keep my. You know hand in the game a little bit you know maybe you know a later date had like -- Again so to what the heck let's let's give it a try so well. I've -- these other guys go from management and on on the green two analyze -- some. And they present that to me this way they had a lot. We got a great -- here we've got a great pitcher here we want to get the manager's perspective a little bit so. But the -- that thinks so particular track they'll work that.

Or going to give -- a little bit of media advice on Friday when you make your debut as soon as the post game show starts. Just start written a manager

yes well written probably a good idea the -- 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.

Right back in 85 got the ball pretty well well look Montreal or both Pittsburgh guys so it up -- and then not say what my most enjoyable year managing what my first year in open in 2000 three and I used my bench coach that he had great way of keeping everything on the polite little bit of a lighter side -- is that the big help may. I really wanted somebody that had previous major league manager or experience as my bench coach so that I could leave -- on me for advice but he knows how you feel when things happen in game. Stable he you know a little bit -- with that it was a great year with the there.

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

Well you know out of season ended we have such a great year. That was still when or where we traded older -- them we. We went basically with very that that then parent company your experience for -- let your experience. A joke back to its last night about a month experience. We have very vividly it was probably our only -- there that had been an experience that way and we are off. Just awful at the end of may it would 15 games under 500. And you know what you're when you're like that in your manager art pocketbook cover today but great staff was what worked with these players when -- Nick Swisher hit 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. -- players develop your heart of these coaches trying to have them get these players that are will be called they got better we played tremendous -- one on. I'll wind up up 14 games over 500 for the season. And I just thought it was a tremendous hear him. Actually my three years managing errors and this year and it basically came down to I'm one of the negotiate a contract in the I got to offer them Billy said he did it take currently that. And frankly he was not negotiate those that we have supporting overweight Amnon. Unfortunately that we later so got back together and -- upper upper three years.

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

Are right well I. The ball came out December vote to order January vote theory up there in that area and a as a said Terry 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 so I look at that by accident despite still have been my second -- their man. Did you man -- an offer you won your pants and with that the men are -- race and my agent said there's yourself favor and read the book. Like every -- and now. I don't know how much the author of the -- You know made the work from the way he want them to world whatever but. I -- that oh wait art was treated I'd been there for years apart arts -- fine and good manager yet it's on the record. A lot of times you gotta step back and -- it -- the reason or haven't successes we have a guy like that equipment. Thankful that we have somebody like that round but that was not a trade of all in the -- And I am aware of that part it painted a picture and that really want there. Side felt bad about that but. Now Billy Billy -- cup got to work for extremely demanding if you're looking for somebody come pat on the back -- backed -- that aren't going to happen he'd hit is extremely demanding -- and you know what there's probably other dropped out there -- the same way and my situation not being in there now on Bob and -- manager now prep for Bob and a lot better -- 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 -- that. -- I did manage again let them -- have a relationship and that going to be you know real positive relations. I would watch in the yeah. -- night game the other day the cardinals player in the the brewers. And -- bout Melvin came on and talk about his relationship with net and how much respect he has for the job that the net. How much -- he has. And really to build your relationship with a manager respective. It's up -- the be open or but -- that -- that I have and only have one manager with Texas Rangers. It's money -- there we built a relationship. Wound up being the for that trip they experience that fact -- equipment has worked how to resonate with me. And hopefully -- I do get albeit --

A big part of the book had to do with the baseball philosophy that the Oakland days 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 that if I can't come across that is the ban it. It was a -- of its current -- learned a lot of baseball there are a lot of things. That come into play with their philosophy that are that absolutely true. Okay -- is more pat get on base more -- going to score on base. Was that such a big philosophy the Oakland. And that's absolutely true. You look at that the team with the most of the they get on base percentages -- the front look back at. The Boston Red Sox you're they won the World Series they have a tremendous line up almost every one of our players one worked the count would take -- base on -- on base percentage was. Out of this world and not only that but they believe they -- league hitting it yours so there working the pitcher we have older and -- them and they go pick -- for them even those guys have a hundred pitches after five innings. So a lot of that is true. I looked at the stolen bases. Being aggressive given -- I'll both it's vital -- 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 in. See that the perky. So you have -- make sure that the percentage you have a high percentage of success. When you're gonna go after form of the -- part of that rolling my philosophy all along had Dan I'm put the bomb on it by feel like that is now one game four. You know as compared to just on the -- trying to get one time. And given the other team another up the bottom -- seventh the eighth inning and your bullpen -- rested and at a tied ball game -- part of the order where he could spot it in the year hitters were going to drive them. Noted is that so a lot of plots being detained on that ball I benefited from that. He gave me a little different view view of the game and and it was very helpful it is it's contributed to my 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 a situation develops where you need to be critical of him if your relationship strong enough where you can go on TV and say he should have done this and it will be cool between your --

well a -- that you are concerned about it or credibility okay you have to come out there and and and say well this would be my lot of people want. Okay I'm not Harry always has reasons for what he does it and you know what there was. Moves 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 -- out of there which she feels that he's going to do that from an analyst's standpoint I have to look at it and and say. Well I know these factors went in the play in his decision and and if perhaps not every manager would -- it that way so six have a drop it now. Analysts have been credible in his camp be guided them. I'll disagree 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 your talking to bench coaches or other coaches I mean is there. Discussion -- is their disagreement even sitting in the dugout no we shouldn't do that here we should do this that sort of thing.

I had time there are I mean the best thing it's me I I felt as a manager my relationship -- my pitching coach probably the most important. Optically remarkably a lot of times you're right lineup but Barry let those guys go -- When the bad and as I said you may finally make -- run or have somebody steal and that might not be in shall we of the game the relationship with pitching coach really the most important thing you know -- a lot of times where it's because that. They don't let this guy in there. -- is that in and they'll do it but that relationship is built on the trot. Speak of the prospect. -- that that's because has has has -- has -- used as a manager of the your going to be right they going to be double B. Some time. Now going to get the pitcher and then would go ahead and do that and -- move them the pitching coach is that that was trying to do what I public that. For the C. And for the development pitcher so that's sometimes our discussions -- in and you have this agreements -- 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 in that man had. They don't know all the pressures that come and play. And so you walk in the if you and that that manager's shoes you're not in understand all the pressure. Early get a member get home at our first year and I said I can't even describe anybody thinks that they walked in there with no experience in. 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 in the managing an utterly.

I you know what I enjoy the national league game a lot there's there's a lot more thinkin' that the ball actually what we played eminently some of them as nationally games were over there. I had a headache yeah that thanks so much you know I do enjoy that I think it's flawed. Easier to handle your players in the national -- because -- doubles which in everybody's involved in the American league regular lineup but sometimes there are guys that sit there for long period of time and don't get -- that so. Consequently there in your office -- I -- it can't play. -- blah blah blah so if it really doesn't matter to me one where the other I I wouldn't I think I would very much into it naturally one of the things that. Helpful for me right now so -- would be there utley you know when you're familiar with the players it's it's helpful though two of them actually you know a whole lot of players what their and the power. Or even managers' tendencies -- you have just theory though. I don't play it mattered -- 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 you weren't quite the same for you in Oakland.

Well actually. I'm going to days 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 market there or six newspapers cover up every day Sacramento beat chronicle San Francisco chronicle that San Francisco examiner the Oakland Tribune the -- the times and the analyzing -- Mercury news we have the reporters there every day. Okay so that is the large area up there I would not consider the open -- as they small market large market though but I it would not -- Albion at the -- figures that picked up the Boston globe every day. And read the covered and how things work cover. It's for the reds are concerned they have pop media tough coverage. Buffalo properly there but -- really the it in the large market out there --

Arnold your favorite area newspaper that they got activated off fixed I'm pretty impressed that you.

Ball I have got all the if ever I you know what I I Jimy Williams to manage the eight I was managing in a -- said the one thing 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 that they wore in. And have that in for the most part they're great relationship with most of the reporters that there at that they were there with mayhem. I thought I was there with them so -- ample oppressive and being with them it did not that present a problem. Now but there's always one. You know one or two in instances he you have that become distasteful but you know for the most part way it was pretty. You know those guys were -- have a call from -- of the right chronicle I think government. There on Tuesday called them open going to be while we that the they've they were pretty good at 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 flock of -- Japanese reporters there probably every day. In Boston but he did the same thing over there won an American player and apparently they analyze everything -- videotape there they they do with your weak point what -- hitter really -- in the did you you're on the like this but -- watch Ichiro when he came over it. And -- that every coverages he got. I know what the man. Bases in Japan probably appreciate baseball much interest they do have them with Daisuke doing over here. And actually when I went to -- them or -- idea. Interview slash shot station they asked him a question how Japanese pitchers pitch. I mean and so there and what the World War one -- it was sort of like an audition. Eclectic I did pretty well out there and a lot of things that it's probably have come true with the way it's so got pretty good idea. Both solid hitters approach the game and -- the pitchers to pitch may be effective 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 eight cities in the get overtime and that it's -- but really the Japanese pitchers worked so hard on their role okay. And what I said was you'd think you're going to get up about the Medal let's not. -- really work on. -- in the corner. When they do their bullpen they draw a line on the outside of a plate and they have and the the plate in the line there and they try to early -- there really worked on. Troll and a lot of bad but I did have over there they get the ball strike at street ball strikes. And -- They knew it taken so they get right on and then it for a break them all period it's 31 get three into it go in for a split finger. And striking out okay so when you were when you're hot you -- and anything that Medal and then when he got in the hitting count. Who have three in one thing like that for the most part were very applicable because they had great command of breaking ball -- Look for that fastball about Broadway it's not happening the point where. -- he will come up an -- want some people -- think quality outing he had four walks but probably wasn't. It was just that you know trying to hit that corner just missed them by little oh I think -- do well I think he's going to do well having that velocity and have a strikeout pitch like he does. -- walking a whole lot of people Portland all of them but it hit her with a home run that.

Can you make here on -- and debut on Friday night's Sox are on the road so you be back in the -- 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 -- him. And I'll -- on Friday.

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