Athletics manager Mark Kotsay looks forward to managing in Sacramento and is considered the perfect manager for the job. A steady hand, works well with the players, and the players respond to his managing style. (AP News file photo)
Mark Kotsay — The Perfect Manager for the A’s
That’s Amaury News and Commentary
Amaury Pi-Gonzalez
The first time I met and interviewed the A’s Manager,Mark Kotsay, this is the way he described his managing style: “I really see myself as someone who comes across as transparent. I want the players to know that I care about them. That comes with the relationships I’ve developed inside this organization”. Kotsay creates a positive team culture, excellent communicator, and a great knowledge of the game, especially the game’s situation on the field.
Mark Kotsay is a leader, and he is excited about these off-season moves, like signing pitcher Luis Severino to a three-year $67 million contract, the largest in A’s history. He wants to be with the A’s long term and see the organization succeed, and even though the team will have a new home in Sacramento in 2025 and until 2027, he believes the team’s tenure in Oakland should be honored appropriately. And why not?
The A’s played in Oakland for 56 seasons under various owners and left a rich tradition of winning four World Series titles while playing at the now-historic Oakland Coliseum. They also won four World Series when they were the Oakland A’s.
As a player with the Padres, Marlins, Athletics, Braves, Red Sox, White Sox, and Brewers, Kotsay played 1,914 games. He also coached the Padres and Athletics before becoming the A’s manager for the 2022 season.
Mark Kotsay was a legend at Cal State Fullerton as an outfielder who guided the Titans to a 149-41 record in his three seasons. His .404 batting average still a record for the school. He was inducted into their Hall of Fame in 2007.
As a young manager at 49, Kotsay will soon prepare his team for this Spring Training in Arizona. Kotsay played for the A’s from 2004–2007. He also coached for the A’s for six years, serving as bench coach, quality control coach, and third base coach.
During the three years that Kotsay managed the A’s the team(s) record; 2022 (60-102) 2023 (50-112), 2024(69-93) There was evident improvement during the last season at Oakland with 69 wins, and with the changes this off-season Kotsay hopes his Athletics(soon to be playing in Sacramento) can reach the .500 mark this season.
Managers are evaluated in wins and loses. Kotsay has done a great job developing the young players, even with the team’s low budget investments in players in recent past. I wish nothing but the best to a very good man during this upcoming season. Sacramento will welcome a baseball man with the talent and integrity of Mark Kotsay in my humble opinion the perfect manager for the A’s.
-Mark Kotsay is one of only three people to have played for and managed the A’s, along with Tony LaRussa and Jeff Newman. There is a lot of excitement in Sacramento with the arrival of the Athletics. This is understandable, for the first time, they will have a major league team that also will host teams like the Yankees, Dodgers, Giants, plus other American and National League teams, making the State Capital a Major League City.
A fan recently asked me how the A’s players feel about playing in Sutter Health Park, West Sacramento, some have played there while they were playing at the Triple A level. Most players are happy to be on a team they believe are building up for the future, there is optimism.
Let’s face it, these are professional baseball player, they do not chose where they are going to play, but for what I have been my contacts there, what they told me, the vibes are good going to Sacramento.
Amaury Pi-Gonzalez – Cuban-born Pi-González is one of the pioneers of Spanish-language baseball play-by-play in America. Began as Oakland A’s Spanish-language voice in 1977, a role he continues to this day (interrupted by stops with the Giants, Mariners and Angels). Voice of the Golden State Warriors from 1992 through 1998. — .2010 inducted in the Bay Area Radio Hall of fame.
