Until he hears otherwise, Ken Macha is planning on returning as manager of the Brewers in 2010.

Macha met with general manager Doug Melvin earlier this week in a routine end-of-season evaluation meeting to discuss a season that was anything but routine. There were certainly a number of topics on the agenda, namely the pitching staff and subpar seasons from cornerstone players.

One thing that didn't come up, however, was Macha's status with the organization. Without the help of an agent, Macha, who turns 59 on Tuesday, signed a two-year contract prior to this season. Despite the fact that Macha's contract wasn't discussed he isn't concerned.

"With all the conversations I've had with Doug, I feel comfortable," Macha said.

The manager said that he does his own evaluation of himself after every game.

"As a manager you self-assess yourself every time you go home at night," Macha said. "I've done t 156 times already. You try to get better everyday."

This season was Macha's fifth as a major league manager. Including four years managing in the minors, Macha has never had a losing season. With six games left, the Brewers are a pair of games under .500.

Injuries aside, Macha says the focus has always been on winning games and, if he's back in 2010, that won't change.

"If I'm the guy next year, I'll certainly be doing my best to win as many games as we can," he said.

After sneaking into the playoffs a year ago, the Brewers floundered in 2009. While Macha certainly didn't expect to lose a suddenly matured Rickie Weeks to injury, his beleaguered rotation to get decimated, and year-long slumps from Bill Hall, J.J. Hardy and Corey Hart, he did use a number of different lineup combinations and there have been occasional rumblings of a distant nature in an otherwise tight-knight clubhouse.

Whether or not to retain, fire or extend Macha will be one of the general manager's first orders of business when the season wraps up a week from now. Melvin originally wanted to offer Macha the Brewers job after the 2001 season but Macha, then the bench coach in Oakland opted to stay with the A's and replace Art Howe. Melvin instead hired Ned Yost, who was fired with 14 games to play last season.

In addition to meeting with Macha, Melvin also had individual meetings with each of the coaches. Hitting coach Dale Sveum and bench coach Willie Randolph are considered to be candidates for open managerial positions during the offseason and it's likely that Melvin, should he retain Macha, will allow his manager to pick his own pitching coach.

Bush's status uncertain: Dave Bush struggled Sunday against the Phillies, allowing a leadoff home run and giving up four runs in the first two innings of the Brewers' 6-5 loss.

After the game, Macha dismissed the notion that Bush, who spent several weeks on the disabled list with a torn right triceps, was still feeling the effects of his injury.

"He said he felt fine," Macha said.

Bush told reporters that physically, he doesn't feel discomfort but admitted that he's lost a bit of his velocity.

"It's not terrible, but it's not quite what I'm accustomed to," Bush said.

The right-hander is 2-5 in seven starts since coming of the disabled list but has been knocked around in his last two outings, giving up 11 runs on 13 hits in 5 2/3 innings.

After two consecutive short outings, it's unclear whether or not Bush will make another start before the season ends. The Brewers are off Monday and Chris Narveson, Jeff Suppan and Manny Parra are slated to start the three games in Colorado this week. Bush's next spot would likely come up either Friday or Saturday in St. Louis

For his part, Bush would like to make one last start and end the season on a high note.

"We haven't sat down and discussed anything yet," Bush said. "The rest is going to be good for me, no doubt about it. Since I got hurt, it's been a battle to feel completely healthy, so I'm sure that having a couple of months off and some time without throwing at all is going to be beneficial. Let my arm heal, let everything rest. I look forward to coming back in the spring feeling normal again.

"As for the last week of the year, I don't know. We haven't discussed that yet."

For the season, Bush is 5-9 with a 6.38 ERA.  Page 1 of 2 (view all on one page)

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Recent Talkbacks ...

Posted by jk1522 on Sept. 29, 2009 at 11:04 a.m. (report)

Believe me, I hear what you are saying. However, the Brewers arent giving up on Gamel by any means, he just isnt playing much this year. If they were giving up on him you would have seen him traded at the deadline for pitching. i also with you on Attanasio, but my point was that it wouldnt matter if they were .500, or not. Macha may not be back, but I believe Mark has his mind made up on that already and the last few games of this year wont sway that decision.

Posted by WestSideWillie on Sept. 28, 2009 at 10:05 p.m. (report)

The Cubs gave up on McG and I do not want to do the same with Gamel. He was twisting in the wind up here except for the ocassional pinch hit or rare start. I agree winter ball in South America or Puerto Rico would do Mat well. However, I still think Macha's position is more tenuous than people think, look at Ned last year, and who canned him? The Owner has a taste of the high life and will not accept anything less from his management.

Posted by jk1522 on Sept. 28, 2009 at 12:14 p.m. (report)

WestSideWillie-I totally disagree! Doug and Mark, or just Mark according to you, IS NOT going to make a decision based off of the last 6 games and a .500 record! So, if we get to .500 that was a good enough season to keep macha? Give me a break! Also, please explain to me how playing Hardy, Kendall, etc sets them up for a better chance to win games?! Doug has been quoted numerous times as saying he is playing Casey instead of gamel because he has a shot at ROY and they owe it to him. Plus, Gamel is going to play winter ball because it has been such a down year for hi and its to late to turn it around.

Posted by High_Life_Man on Sept. 28, 2009 at 9:33 a.m. (report)

Maybe it was because I didn't drink yesterday, but I noticed people were really, REALLY messed up at Sunday's game. One girl, in the beer garden, was slumped in a chair and looked like she was having a seizure. There was a cop on the other side of the fence just watching and laughing. As her friends (just as drunk) tried to get her up, she puked. Amateurs.

Posted by sandstorm on Sept. 28, 2009 at 8:10 a.m. (report)

"self-asses yourself" at least there's no chance Macha will be teaching English next year.