Just when you think you’ve seen everything in baseball something new happens that makes you realize you don’t have any real idea what goes on behind the closed doors of a major league front office.

Ken Macha is back managing the A’s when it seemed that he was on his way to managerial oblivion in Pittsburgh, Tampa Bay, or Baltimore.

Why did he return?

Click below for more!Macha never wanted to leave the A’s. He just wanted to be paid the going rate for a three year manager who had acheived the success Macha did with the team.

The candidates to replace the manager were not overwhelming with all due respect to Bob Geren and Ron Washington.

Faced with the prospect of hiring Jamie Quirk, Larry Bowa, or Orel Hershiser to run the team it became clear very quickly to the A’s front office that if there was a chance to rehire Macha that would be the safest course of action.

So when Macha called Billy Beane this week to clear some of the air surrounding the way the talks broke down during the previous week, it didn’t take much for these two strong personalities to kiss and make up.

Ever break up with a boy or girl friend and two days later say that was a mistake.

Pick up the phone and reconcile. That’s what these two did in record time.

That’s what happened here. Nothing more, nothing less.

Macha needs a big time hitting coach who can get the attention of the players. How about Rod Carew? He’s unemployed and knows how to teach the fine art of hitting.

The A’s have a history of colorful events.

Remember Connie Mack dismantling two world championship teams in 1915 and 1932?

How about all the fights the A’s players had in the clubhouse, including the world series, during the 70’s?

How about manager Dick Williams quitting his job immediately after the Mike Andrews incident in the 1973 world series?

What about the steroid allegations around some key members of the 1988-90 championship teams?

Don’t forget Billy Beane orchestrated Art Howe’s 10 million dollar contract with the New york Mets paving the way for Macha to get the job in 2003.

This scenario that played out today falls right in line with the colorful past of this franchise.

Bottom line: the right result happened, the method getting there was teen age behvior like, but the right man is running the club and he won’t be going to the poor house either.

Now if the six umpires who all should be watching the major league game they are officiating would just get the right result, this October will continue to surprise even the most hardcore baseball fans.

See something different every day, that’s a phrase that applies.

How about don’t burn your bridges, that might be the best lesson learned between the participants in the “great reconciliation”.