Overall, Melvin has done OK. Like management in many businesses, it seems his fatal flaw is an unwillingness to admit a mistake and change - the two big examples being the Suppan debacle and Macha. The whole Suppan thing is self-explanatory. Going further, Macha was a poor hire, plain and simple. Five years out, it's pretty obvious that Hudson, Zito and Mulder built Beane and to a lesser degree Macha, not the other way around. Any of us on this board could have managed that team to the playoffs with those guys. Sveum was the obvious choice, but Melvin had to have 'his guy'. I don't have too much of an issue about how he manages a game (though he doesn't utilize the speed on the team and makes the odd decision here and there), but I just get the vibe that he's not popular with the players and he's not an inspiring leader. He pretty much buzz-killed the whole playoff drive mojo (though admittedly losing C.C. contributed as well). If nothing else, Valentine would give the team some spark and try some new things. I agree that digging up Connie Mack isn't the answer as well. He would be another sucky, ex-A's manager. The only reason that he won so many games is that he owned the team.