Milwaukee Brewers: Macha Is The Man

Milwaukee Brewers GM Doug Melvin didn't wait long to name his new manager.

In fact, Ken Macha was Melvin's choice all along, going back as far as 2003 when Melvin first offered the job to Macha.

Fast forward almost six years and Melvin had a second chance to bring Macha into the fold, and he took it.

While the decision to bring in Macha is an unpopular one with many fans, it may prove to be one of the best decisions that Doug Melvin makes in his time in Milwaukee.

Ken Macha comes to the Brewers with a lifetime of experience and a no-nonsense approach that is exactly what the young Brewers need to maintain success and take the step to the next level. Macha is the anti-Ned Yost, not afraid to be a disciplinarian and sit down a player if he's not performing.

Macha has experienced success with a mid-market team in his four seasons in Oakland. He had a record of 360-280, winning two AL West titles and never winning fewer than 88 games in a season.

Macha has no ties at all to any current Brewers player or coach, and that may turn out to be his greatest asset. He will be able to evaluate the talent on this team with no prejudice and give a fair assessment of who can play and who can't. Rickie Weeks had better put in the best offseason of his life this winter.

Dale Sveum is expected to be retained in some way to the 2009 Brewers coaching staff. Although he was devastated about not receiving the manager position, he is the perfect compliment for Macha to take over. Sveum knows these players as well as anyone and he can serve as a type of "good cop" to Macha's "bad cop" persona that he may take on in putting his stamp on this team.

Macha will definitely have his work cut out for him in his first season in Milwaukee. Although Doug Melvin is going to make offers to both CC Sabathia and Ben Sheets, the likelihood of either pitching for the Brewers next season is very low.

Macha isn't used to having less than stellar pitching rotations. In his time as Oakland manager, Macha boasted staffs with the likes of Mulder, Hudson, Zito, Harang, and Haren. 

The 2009 projected rotation for the Brewers is Yovani Gallardo, Manny Parra, Jeff Suppan, Dave Bush and Carlos Villanueva, which doesn't quite compare to the staff Macha had in Oakland. 

It is an absolute priority for Melvin to bring in a top-class arm for Macha this winter.

The Brewers have 12 free agents this winter, so there is no doubt that Macha will be walking into a team in flux.

Macha's teams are notorious slow starters but get better as the season goes on and they usually finish quite strong.

Can he blend the young roster with the several new faces that will come aboard this winter?

In the end, it will be Macha's relationship with his players and their willingness to reflect their respect for Macha in their play that will be the key for a 2009 playoff push in Milwaukee.