Bob Geren Deserves no Respect from Oakland Athletics and Fans

There's one word that can describe the tenure of Oakland A's manager, Bob Geren: "failure." It's perfectly suited as the season gets more frustrating under his direction.

I still cannot fathom why he didn't put in the closer of the team once the A's had a 5-3 lead in the bottom of the ninth inning. Yet, by the time Geren put in the A's closer, Brad Ziegler, it was already a given that it was going to the Tampa Bay Rays.

Ziegler is a capable closer and there was no reason to keep Aaron Bailey in the game to pitch the ninth inning after he struggled in the bottom of the eighth inning.

So, what does it say to your closer from Geren if, in a save situation, he doesn't even bother putting him into the game until after Bailey gave up the game-tying two-run homer?

It doesn't say much to Ziegler except that Geren doesn't have confidence in him being the closer if Geren isn't going to use him in a save situation, especially since the game would have meant the A's had won their third game in a row.

All of the momentum the A's had gotten in the top of the ninth inning went to waste, all because of the ignorance and the horrendous decision-making by Geren.

It wouldn't be so frustrating for the A's if this was the first or second time this has happened, but it's not the first time or the second time. There's been countless times that Geren has made the wrong decision and it's time for it to end.

Billy Beane has to admit that his hiring of Geren was one of the worst decisions he's ever made as general manager for the A's. Yes, there's still plenty of games remaining and the A's are seven back of the Texas Rangers in the American League West, yet it's hard to get any momentum in the division if the A's can't start putting more than just two wins in a row.

It seems like every time the A's have a chance to get that third win a row, something happens, and it's usually the result of poor decisions made by Geren. The A's would be a much better team without Geren.

No A's fans would miss Geren—that's for sure. He has rubbed them the wrong way with his laid back approach and his lack of emotion. It's rare too see Geren even remotely animated.

It's time for the A's to look in a different direction in terms of managing style. They need a manager who will call them out when they play badly, who will show his emotions, and make sure that every game they play is to the best of their abilities.

With the loss today when the A's managed to overcome two deficits and take a lead, it doesn't bode well for the team's confidence when Geren doesn't do his job.

So, it's another loss for the A's, but that's an understatement. It was plain awful the way in which the A's lost and it all falls on Geren for not using his bullpen like he should.

It really must be hard for A's players to fight to take a lead and then only to watch it disappear because Geren leaves a pitcher in for too long. Until Beane comes to his senses, there will be more of these horrific losses like today's game.

Again, in order for that to happen and for the A's to start competing in the division, Bob Geren must be fired.