It may have been the worst-kept secret in all of Major League Baseball, but it looks like Ken Macha has managed his last game for the Milwaukee Brewers.
Macha told the Associated Press Sunday evening that Brewers general manager Doug Melvin has declined to pick up his option for 2011.
The team wrapped up the 2010 campaign Sunday with a 3-2 loss at Cincinnati. Out of the race for most of the season, Milwaukee finished 77-85, 14 games behind the Central Division Champion Reds.
Macha managed the Brewers for two seasons, during which the team woefully underachieved. The team, which went to the playoffs in 2008, went 157-167 (.485) under Macha.
Milwaukee was among the league leaders in home runs and runs scored during Macha's two seasons, but struggled to get consistent pitching. In 2009, the Brewers' 4.83 ERA was 15th in the National League. This season, the staff had an ERA of 4.60 -- good for 13th in the NL.
After signing a two-year contract before the 2009 season, Macha was given the option for 2011 on the final day of the season.
Rumors of Macha's fate began swirling early in the season. Melvin repeatedly gave the manager a vote of confidence -- as did owner Mark Attanasio -- but neither would discuss Macha's future beyond 2010.
After the team's final home game, outfielder Ryan Braun discussed his manager's future. Repeating the same tone of Melvin and Attanasio, Braun said that the blame, at the end of the day, needs to fall on the players' shoulders.
"Managers are always given too much credit when a team has success and too much blame when a team ultimately fails," Braun said. "They're not able to go on the field and perform for us. As players, we're disappointed in our performance, and I don't think as much of that should fall on (Macha) as has to this point."
The two losing seasons were the first for a Macha-led team. In a previous four-year stint at the helm of the Oakland A's (2003-2006), Macha's teams went 368-280, twice winning the American League West Division.
The team has yet to issue an official announcement but Macha and Melvin are to meet Monday morning.
No decision has been made regarding the team's coaches. Hitting coach Dale Sveum and bench coach Willie Randolph could be interviewed for the position. Sveum served as interim manager during the final two weeks of the '08 season as well as in the National League Division Series.
Randolph was the Mets' manager from 2005 to 2008. Both he and Sveum interviewed for the position when Macha was hired.
Pitching coach Rick Peterson could return next year. He signed a two-year contract before the season and developed a good rapport with the team's young pitchers, many of whom are expected to play a big role next season.
