OAKLAND, Calif., Oct. 17 (UPI) -- Oakland Athletics Manager Ken Macha has been fired after leading the team to a division championship and first-round playoff victory.
However, the Athletics were swept from the American League Chamnpionship Series by the Detroit Tigers and team officials suggested Macha did not relate well with his players.
"Not to fault either side, but I felt there was a disconnect on a lot of levels that we felt like we could improve upon," Oakland General Manager Billy Beane said at a Monday news conference.
"It's not to point the finger at Ken or anything like that. We just felt that disconnect was there and was something we needed to address as soon as possible, and both sides would be better served going in different directions."
Oakland posted a 93-69 record in 2006 and won the AL Western Division for the second time in four years under Macha, who posted a 368-280 record during his tenure.
Dusty Baker, let go from the managerial position of the Chicago Cubs this season, is considered a possibility for the Oakland position. Baker managed the nearby San Francisco Giants from 1993 to 2002.
