The Kansas City Royals will name a new manager today and unfortunately, A’s bench coach Ken Macha is not in the running.

Sources say that the A’s denied Kansas City permission to interview Macha just as they did when Boston asked to talk to Macha during the first week of spring training about their vacant managerial position.

For the 51 year old Macha, a thirty year veteran in professional baseball, being denied permission to interview for a major league manager’s job, has prevented him from reaching his dream job.

Somehow this doesn’t seem fair.

Manager’s jobs have opened up at an unprecedented pace this season. The Royals will name either Buck Showalter or interim manager, John Mizerock today, to fill Tony Muser’s spot.

Before going on as to why Macha should have at least been given a shot at the vacant jobs this year, one must know something about Macha’s baseball career.

Macha managed in the Boston organization for four seasons with a winning 317-249 record. He managed current Red sox players Nomar Garciaparra and Trot Nixon among many others.

He was well liked in the Boston area, being named International league Manager of the Year with Pawtucket in 1998.

Macha previously coached for the Montreal Expos from 1986 thru 1991. He was the third base coach for the Expos beginning in 1987 until he moved on to the California Angels in 1992.

Macha coached with the Angels until taking a job with the Red Sox in 1995.

He has been the A’s bench coach since coming to Oakland in 1999.

Ken Macha has experience on the major league level in all facets of the game as well as managerial experience in the high minor leagues.

Macha’s qualifications to be a major league manager are beyond reproach.

Ken Macha’s burning desire is to be a major league manager. He has earned the chance through hard work, the so called American Way.

Now, in baseball one must understand that organizations rarely hold an employee back who has a chance to move vertically in the game.

For example, if one is the scouting director and has a chance to move up to general manager for a competing team, permission to interview is routinely granted, and if the fit is right, the employee is allowed to make the advancement.

So, why hasn’t Ken Macha been allowed to make the jump this season.

The A’s denied the Red Sox, Macha’s former employers, the right to interview him this spring. The reason being that the A’s were beginning spring training and to have Macha leave at that time would be disruptive to the team.

Another reason being that Macha would be going to a league rival, one fighting for the same playoff spot the A’s were vying for.

How shortsighted are these excuses for holding Macha back?

Oakland has Art Howe as manager. Howe has received more votes for manager of the year in the American League over the past three seasons than any other manager in the league, including Joe Torre, Lou Piniella, and Jerry Manuel.

Howe has a staff of highly experienced professionals working with him.

Third base coach Ron Washington has been on the major league level as a coach or player since 1977.

Pitching coach Rick Peterson is the new pitching guru of the majors, given credit for developing the A’s young staff into winners.

First base coach Mike Quade, a minor league manager in the A’s organization since 1996 before being elevated to the major league staff in 2000, managed successfully 13 years in the minors, winning the AAA World Series in 1999 with Vancouver.

Brad Fischer, bull pen coach has been with the Oakland organization for 24 years as a coach and minor league manager.

Thad Bosley had a long major league career and is now considered one of the best hitting coaches in the majors. He guided his team to the Arizona League championship this past fall in his first managerial job.

Any one of these men could have stepped in and organized the spring training camp for the Athletics if Macha was fortunate enough to be chosen for the Red Sox job.

Any of these men could work with Art Howe, and not miss a beat as the bench coach if Ken Macha left for a manager’s job.

It was incredibly shortsighted and selfish to hold Macha back this spring from interviewing for one of the most highly coveted manager’s jobs, one he had a reasonable chance to be chosen for. His managerial dream job, no less.

Since spring, the Tigers, Brewers, Rockies, and the Royals manager’s jobs have opened up. Macha’s name surfaces as a candidate each time. It is rumored the Toronto job is the next to open.

Macha played professionally for 14 years with the Pirates, Blue Jays, and Expos before finishing his career in Japan in 1985.

The man has paid his dues.

Major league manager’s jobs don’t come along that often. 2002 is an exception. All the above jobs are being filled by interim manager’s who have a leg up on their competiton when a permanent replacement is chosen, either during this season or in the fall.

The A’s have adequate replacements on the staff if Macha was permitted to go.

Even with him here, the A’s are not hitting or pitching very well right now.

Can one say this team will turn it around quickly if Ken Macha remains as the bench coach or that the A’s are done for the season if Ken Macha leaves?

It would be helpful if Ken Macha stayed for the season with Oakland, but not the determining factor in whether this team return’s to the playoffs or not.

Kansas City called and the A’s said no dice on Ken Macha.

Buck Showalter and John Mizerock both breathed a sigh of relief.

Let the man go, for goodness sakes.

The A’s will be fine.