The premise of Billy Beane being aided so much by a computer analyst in “Money Ball” is way over exaggerated. As mentioned before, Oakland could afford to lose their top hitters because they still had the best pitching in the league and other returning good hitters as well. They didn’t need to have a new first basement produce Giambi type numbers but rather be able to hold his own for what was expected by first basemen. The same with the outfielder (name escapes me for a moment but I think it was Frank Thomas). Thanks to their overpowering pitching and defense they still outscored opponents by one of the biggest margins in the league despite a drop in run production.

One thing, however, if Billy Beane did need the aid of a computer analyst after 2000, it is more a reflection of how poor a general manager he is and his reputation far exceeds his actual talent.

Happy New Year to Maniac, Vinny B, Omar, Alex, Shamsky, 224, Joe D., Kelly, Delcos, oldtimer, baby al, lifelong and the few others I don’t mind debating

thank you for finally seeing how ridiculous Metsie actually is.

you think anything in that comment is something I would actually say? LOLOL

Saber just throws all of it into garbled stats and trivializes it all. Disgraceful.

If you can’t hit, you can’t play so all this OBP is a waste of time – just leave that to the batting coaches and you’ll save everybody tons of keystrokes. Of course there are all kinds of tangibles to building a team and no set number (unless it’s 40 HRs, 120 RBIs) is the right kind of stats for any team. They all need something different.

Oh and if you have a good eye than most likely you ALWAYS had a good eye, even as a kid playing ball. But now everybody claims to be a coach. Even the indian guy at the deli store can say “yes, yes, plate discipline, yes, yes) Doesn’t mean he knows one damned thing about the game.

Then you have someone like Ruben Tejada who is a very intelligent player and worked well with the new hitting coach (who we always said we needed anyway) and improved his hitting and changed his approach. But most sluggers who have a good eye always had one.

Obviously you never saw Oliver Perez facing a pitcher with the bases loaded and two out.

Metsie lives in another world.

There are some instances where a player is locked in on taking pitches and working walks when he should be MORE aggressive(to drive in Runs), but the One Base ABILITY is all about taking pitches and situational approaches. Lineups that emphasis the approach KILL opposing starters by driving them out of games with pitch counts…OOPS–another point of argument…Pitch Counts

Fact is he’s been an average hitter at home and below average for LF and below average for all positions on the road.

Having Ortiz, Pedroia, Youkalis, Lowell, Victor Martinez, Drew, Ellsbury and Beltre in the same lineup and hitting in a small park got him a lot of good pitches to hit.

Keep on going my little kindergarten friend!

Remember the time you crapped your pants and your mom had to change your diaper?

You Should it was just the other day!

Good to see we’ve got something to look forward to in the near future.

and what Omar did with the mets was successful because the attendance went up and we had three meaningful septembers in a row. But what Beane did with the A’s was a complete failure, when he was having meaningful septembers, and winning over 100 games and making the post season. in that instance, meaningful septembers mean nothing, because it doesn’t fit with his agenda.

the list could go on and on and on and on…..

However, factoring BABIP, you see he is most likely having a run of bad luck.

I find it hysterical that in your attempt to rail against advanced stats, you actually provided a case for them. well done.