Why won't the a's extend art howe's contract

[Guest oldschoolwrestling]

The A's have made a big deal about getting all their important pieces signed to long-term contracts (Mulder, Hudson, Zito, GM Billy Beane).  But for the third year in a row, Art Howe is working with a one year deal.  Two years ago he took a young team that was supposed to finish last to the AL West championship and they almost beat the Yanks.  Last year he took them to a wild card (only because Seattle had an incredible year) and just came up short again against the Yanks (if only Jeremy Giami knew how to slide).  They are once again saying they will wait til the year is out to make a decision.  Art has already come out and said that this bothers him.  If he feels disrespected, who's to say they won't lose him like Giambi?  Remember, Giambi said he would sign if they would give him a no-trade clause. They waited til it was too late and he left.  So what happens when Art makes the playoffs again, but this time says he's going to test the market?  Oakland does hold the option for next year, but if he comes out and says he will only honor his contract and no more, ala Jon Gruden, that will leave him as a lame duck coach and could cause problems for Oakland down the line.

[Guest ajc]

You make some good points, oldschool, but I don't agree with everything you say.  I think Art Howe has done a great job with one of the youngest teams in the league.  However, so far, he hasn't stepped into the "elite" class of managers yet.  Sure the A's have made the playoffs the last two years, but they've been bounced out both times.  Look at Larry Dierker in Houston.  Save for the injury-plagued 2000 season, Dierker had the Astros in the post season every year he managed and after all those 1st round exits, ownership showed him the door.

 

It's no secret that Billy Beane and Art Howe don't always see eye to eye, but beyond that, a low-revenue (I hate the term "small market") team like Oakland should be tying up money in the on-field talent.  Managers really aren't *THAT* important in the longterm.  For example, if you gave Joe Torre the 1990 Yankees, instead of his current group, he couldn't turn the likes of Lee Guetterman, Kevin Maas and Andy Hawkins into World Champs.