Whether it's fair or not, when most people think of Ken Macha's tenure in Oakland they remember how it ended. The A's were swept by the Detroit Tigers in the 2006 ALCS and Macha was then fired by GM Billy Beane who Macha had an interesting relationship with to say the least. Experience and success in the big leagues were the main two prerequisites for the Brewers managerial position and Macha definitely fits both of those. His teams in Oakland never won less than 86 games. Milwaukee has won more than 86 games only once since 1992. That speaks for itself.

The key for Macha will be learning from his mistakes during first major league managing stint. Same thing goes for Scott Skiles with the Bucks. If he doesn't make a few adjustments then things will end the same way they ended in Phoenix and Chicago for Skiles. However, Macha isn't going to become one of the biggest players' managers ever. That's for sure based on his comments during his introductory press conference on Thursday.

Brewers Coverage: • Macha To Manage Milwaukee  • Melvin Preparing Big-Bucks Deal for Sabathia • Our Experts Chime In • Brewers Raising Some Ticket Prices, but Not All   Audio: • Brewers introduce Ken Macha • Macha talks to Greenhouse on Newsradio 620 WTMJ  • Sports Central - Journal Sentinel Brewers Beat Writer Anthony Witrado • Sports Central - Former A's Beat Writer Rich Hurd on Macha • Sports Central - San Francisco Chronicle National Baseball Writer John Shea on Macha Blog: • Big Unit Blog: Macha's Past - Overblown and Misdirected • The Llama Laments: Hey Macharena! • Clubhouse Insider: Macha Up to the Challenge • Sports Glance with Lance: Brewers Fever Heating Up | Not Keen on Ken

Under the watch of Macha, many young pitchers came of age. Dan Haren, Rich Harden and Joe Blanton all came into their own while Macha was the skipper in Oakland. Now, Macha's job is to help Yovani Gallardo and Manny Parra make the next step in their young careers. There is a chance that Gallardo and Parra are the Brewers' top two starters next year. CC Sabathia being in Milwaukee next year is still a pipe dream at this point. Also, there are rumors of Mike Maddux heading to the Texas Rangers to be their next pitching coach.

One school of thought is that for the most part the baseball playoffs are a crap shoot. Oakland made the playoffs twice during the four years Macha managed the team. The farthest the A's made it in the postseason under the helm of the cousin of Hall of Famer Hal Newhouser was the ALCS in 2006. Was it Macha's fault that Oakland got swept during that series and was it Dale Sveum's fault the Brewers lost in this year's playoffs? They probably were not the main reason for failure in either situation. However, chances are that Macha is better equipped to be the manager to lead the Brewers during the 2009 regular season in order to get Milwaukee back to the playoffs. Once in the postseason, who knows what could happen. It may rain, a lot.

During his time in Oakland, the A's did not have a payroll of over $70 million but Macha's team still never finished below second place in the AL West. The Brewers payroll in 2009 should be over $80 million once again, with or without Sabathia. The roster will not doubt be good enough next year for another playoff run.

The two-deal year doesn't matter much. Macha knows that he has to win right away. What's the difference between a two-year and a three-year contract when you can get fired at any time as Brewers GM Doug Melvin said on Thursday? At one point, Ned Yost was under contract for 2009 and look what that got him. Yost has a lot of free time on tap during next year's season as of right now.

Just from his first press conference in Milwaukee, Macha seems to be open minded and doesn't hold anything back. Those things have been lacking in the team's manager during the last few years. Those characteristics will go a long way in helping Macha become a successful Brewers skipper.