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Macha out as manager

Photo

Photo by AP Photo/Morry Gash, File

This Sept. 26, 2010 file photo shows Milwaukee Brewers manager Ken Macha waiting for the start of the first inning of a baseball game against the Florida Marlins in Milwaukee. "They're not going to pick up my option," Macha told The Associated Press on Sunday night, Oct. 3, 2010, in response to the club's decision to let him go.

MILWAUKEE — Manager Ken Macha is out of a job with the Milwaukee Brewers.

“They’re not going to pick up my option,” Macha told The Associated Press on Sunday night.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel cited unidentified sources earlier Sunday in saying Macha would be let go. About an hour after the report, Macha said he spoke with general manager Doug Melvin.

“He said he’s sorry if I heard it on the radio,” Macha said.

Macha said Melvin felt “terrible” about the way the news came out, but Macha said he didn’t ask any questions and will attend a meeting with the general manager this morning.

Macha declined to speak in-depth about the decision until hearing Melvin’s take and will drive home to Pittsburgh after the meeting.

The Brewers held a club option on Macha’s contract for 2011, but it looked more unlikely they would pick it up after two losing seasons. Milwaukee finished 77-85 with a loss on Sunday.

Melvin did not return messages left by The Associated Press. A formal announcement is expected shortly after the meeting.

The 60-year-old Macha, who won two division titles with the Oakland Athletics from 2003-06, spent a large portion of the season dealing with speculation he’d be dismissed before receiving the support of owner Mark Attanasio and Melvin. But the club has failed to live up to expectations following its postseason berth in 2008.

Melvin now must decide whether to hire two potential candidates on Macha’s staff—bench coach Willie Randolph and hitting coach Dale Sveum—or look outside the organization.

Macha’s last game as Brewers manager ended in a 3-2 loss at Cincinnati, where Jay Bruce hit his fourth homer of the Reds’ NL Central title-clinching week.

Cincinnati, the NL Central champion, eased into the playoffs for the first time in 15 years.

Bruce’s ninth-inning homer on Tuesday secured the division title. He hit three more in the last two games, helping the Reds finish with 91 wins. His solo shot off Randy Wolf (13-12) snapped a 2-2 tie in the fourth.

Corey Hart had three hits for Milwaukee. He unsuccessfully tried to steal home in the seventh off Aroldis Chapman, who was pitching from the windup.

The Brewers finished 80-82 in 2009, Macha’s first as manager. They slipped to 77-85 this year. Milwaukee went 26-23 in one-run games.