Ken Macha hopped out of his loaner Hummer that brings Oakland's manager far more attention than he'd prefer, and made his way into the Coliseum for a team workout.

``Is something going on?'' he said, hardly a sarcastic tone to his voice. ``All these trucks.''

TV trucks, setting up for the Athletics' first AL championship series since 1992. For Macha, leading the AL West-champion A's past the first round of the playoffs and into the ALCS against the Detroit Tigers has been a stress-filled, exhausting and thrilling ride all at the same time.

It was a far cry from last October, when he had a roller-coaster ride of a different sort: briefly parting ways with the A's.

After missing the post-season for a second straight year, Oakland cut ties with Macha when general manager Billy Beane announced there would be no further negotiations to keep him for a fourth season as skipper. Macha called it one of the ``massive disappointments'' during his seven-year tenure in the organization _ yet just more than a week later, he was back as A's manager in a shocking turnaround.

This season has been justification for the 56-year-old Macha, who will receive votes for AL manager of the year though the award will likely go to the Tigers' Jim Leyland.

Macha's team trails Detroit 2-0 in the best-of-seven series after dropping two games in Oakland, and his managerial skills will be tested as the A's try to bounce back starting with Game 3 on Friday at Comerica Park.

Macha as much as anyone knows how quickly things can change.

While some may believe that managing in small-market Oakland would have far fewer pressures than in bigger markets like Boston, Chicago or New York, Macha has a demanding constituency of one who he has to please: Beane.

``It doesn't necessarily mean just because you have a payroll or what city you're in that the expectations aren't there,'' Macha said. ``The people that I work for and I answer to, they expect us to go out there and compete and compete well.''

When you manage the A's, taking a backseat to Beane is an understood requirement in the contract. In the best-selling book ``Moneyball,'' an in-depth look at Beane's innovative management style, the manager spot is practically interchangeable and not worthy of the big dollars some other franchises are willing to pay their skippers.

The A's interviewed Bob Geren for the manager job during the brief time Macha was out, then promoted him from bullpen coach to bench coach alongside Macha. Geren is someone the A's front office has long considered a manager in the making.

Still, it's Beane who brings the most attention to the A's _ who don't generate a lot of it on a national scale.

``The one thing Macha does best is he's always prepared and he lets his players play. He stays out of the way,'' third-base coach Ron Washington said. ``That's simple managing. Billy, he's always supplied us with character players to mix with the characters we already have. Once the games start, Ken Macha's in charge. There's enough credit to go around. Baseball can't ignore the job he's done with the personnel he's had.''

For Macha, doing this job has never been about money. Half of the US$50,000 bonus he earned for making the playoffs this season has already been divided among his coaches. He did that in 2003, too.

And that's from somebody who isn't getting many pats on the back from his boss.

``With all the injuries and makeshift lineups, he's done a great job keeping the team together,'' assistant GM David Forst said.

Still, Macha knows he has it pretty good.

Driving to dinner in the upscale Oakland Hills on Sunday night, he found himself reflecting. There have been trying moments this season _ numerous injuries, pitcher Esteban Loaiza's drunk driving arrest, several ejections by Milton Bradley _ but Macha got through it all while keeping a level head.

``It was a cool evening and I said, `Man, this is such a beautiful place, how lucky I've been to be out here for eight years,''' Macha recalled of the drive. ``To get your first job managing and to have a competitive team and to get in the playoffs twice and a near miss the other two times, people don't get that opportunity. I realize how lucky I am.

``I've got some great players in the clubhouse, high-character people who have been very helpful. That's not saying the job hasn't been challenging. I've got some high-maintenance people, too.''

He was admittedly grumpy down the stretch, when the A's failed twice to clinch the division at home before finally doing so in Seattle. Had they somehow blown their big lead the in West, he knew it would have been on his shoulders.

Owner Lewis Wolff mentioned a World Series parade last winter. Just a tad bit of pressure there.

``He actually parted ways with us, but in a nice way,'' Wolff said. ``I'm so delighted he's back. He does deserve manager of the year.''

The A's have long had a reputation for their hang-loose clubhouse, a place where just about anybody can fit in if they leave their ego at the door. Macha can be seen stopping in to congratulate his players for a big pitching performance or clutch hit.

``You have to give him credit,'' reliever Justin Duchscherer said. ``Ultimately, we're the guys who go out there and do the job on the field, but if you've got a manager that the guys don't like or don't play behind, they're not going to be as successful.''

Before Game 1 of the ALCS, he hollered to Carlos Guillen as Detroit's shortstop came across the field.

``Guillen, caliente!'' _ a reference in Spanish to Guillen's hot bat in the division series against the New York Yankees.

They shook hands and wished each other good luck.

``Mach brings a pressure-free, relaxed environment,'' ace Barry Zito said. ``He comes up, he talks to us. We just rap about this or that, just the day's affairs. I don't get too much of a tight feeling from Mach. I'm sure we're all focused on what we have to do, but he keeps it light around the clubhouse, and he lets the kids play, which is all we can ask.''

© The Canadian Press, 2007