In Billy We Trust

If I had more time in the day, I'd write more often for this blog. If I had even more time in the day, I'd start my own baseball blog. As it is, I'll have to settle for being a moderator for the message boards over at White Sox Interactive (shameless plug).

If I had that blog I'd like to do things like...oh, I don't know...interview the general manager for my favorite team. Tyler Bleszinski over at Athletics Nation got the chance to do that very thing with the best GM in baseball today, Billy Beane.

Beane has had outstanding success with the Oakland A's since taking over the team. He's done it in a slightly controversial way, throwing away some conventional baseball wisdom and questioning the dogmas and theories that have been in the games for decades. He's even had a book written about him, "Moneyball." (A must-read for any baseball fan) Nobody can claim his philosophy doesn't work -- he's well on his way to guiding the team to its 5th consecutive playoff appearance.

Part one of the interview, for the most part, discusses this year's Oakland A's club. The second part is probably the most interesting, tackling the myth and mystique of the book "Moneyball," written by Michael Lewis. Part three wraps up with a look at the playoff ststem in baseball, the future, and people "getting" what he's trying to do as a general manager.

I think the most intersting lines in the interview come in Part Two when Beane talks about his philosophy. So many have tried to pigeon-hole the team into a "softball team" that relies on the home run and the walk, forgetting about the "little things" like bunting and stealing bases. To address that Beane says:

For us, it’s all about filling in on the backend and figuring out what people
are undervaluing. You know, one day we’re going to have a team with guys who
steal 50 bases because people aren’t paying for it. But it’s all about wins.
That’s all that matters.

The point being Beane doesn't care how he wins. It just so happened that when he began his tenure as GM, on-base percentage and home runs were generally undervalued in the game. That's changing now, and so are the A's. The team is now one of the leaders in defense and pitching.

It's a great interview and a fascinating read. I only wish the White Sox would find a general manger with half the skill of Billy Beane. Instead the team is stuck with Kenny Williams. But hey, at least we're not in 4th place this year...yet. And it's not like we traded the top prospect in the organization for a slightly better than average starting pitcher. Oh...wait.