The Death Of Moneyball?

Much has changed in the six years since Michael Lewis’ groundbreaking book, Moneyball, brought the Oakland A’s and Billy Beane’s unorthodox management strategies into the public sphere.   Tampa Bay is the reigning AL Champion, the Yankees spent a mindboggling $400 plus million in the offseason (on 3 free agents) and Oakland sits dead last in the uncelebrated AL West.   Could we all see this coming?   Some would argue that 2009 is an anomaly, a speedbump in Oakland’s next rise to prominence.   Some say it’s just bad timing; the market readjusted during a rebuilding season. Others, however, are more certain of the causes.   Moneyball has failed.   Billy Beane is a fraud.   Haters are unanimous in their outcry.   Just ask a Giants fan.   As they chase the NL wild card from their China Basin digs, they look across the Bay and see an aging, cavernous ballpark, a small time payroll, and a revolving door of Oakland&...