Athletics name Geren manager
OAKLAND (Ticker) - The Oakland Athletics once again have decided to fill the position of manager from within.
The Athletics on Friday named former bench coach Bob Geren as their manager, filling the last remaining vacancy left in the major leagues.
Geren, who received a two-year contract with a club option for the 2009 season, succeeds Ken Macha, who was fired after four seasons on October 16.
The 45-year-old will be introduced as the A’s 17th manager in Oakland history at a press conference at 4:00 p.m. EST.
Geren served the last four seasons under Macha, who compiled a 368-280 record since the start of 2003, guiding Oakland to a pair of AL West Division titles in that stretch. This past season, the A’s advanced to the AL Championship Series for the first time since 1990.
Similar to Geren, Macha served four years under former Oakland manager Art Howe before being tabbed for the top job following the 2002 season.
A former catcher who batted .233 in 307 major league games over five years, Geren also served as a minor league manager for seven seasons, compiling a 452-390 record. He was named the Class A California League’s Manager of the Year in 1999 with Modesto, an affiliate of the A’s.
Geren beat out Colorado Rockies bench coach Jamie Quirk and former Texas Rangers pitching coach Orel Hershiser for the job.
Oakland had also considered a trio of candidates who recently accepted managing jobs with other teams - Ron Washington (Texas), Bud Black (San Diego) and Manny Acta (Washington).
