Moneyball? Maybe Not So Much

Billy Beane has been known for the conecpt of Moneyball, acquiring talented baseball players without having to open up the checkbook that much. However, over the past two years, Beane has made some questionable decisions. I know being i n that small market makes it hard to keep players long term, but look at the arms that have come through Oakland throughout the years. Barry Zito, Mark Mulder, Rich Harden, Joe Blanton, and Tim Hudson to name a few. Beane just threw $10 Million at a guy who hasn't pitched for a whole season in Ben Sheets. I was surprised he signed for $10 million; I figured he would sign in the $5 or $6 Million range. Beane really has placed a lot of trust in Sheets, who is already the ace of that young staff. The Matt Holliday trade did not work out well for the A's, as Holliday did not put up the kind of numbers he usually put up with Colorado. The Holliday and Sheets acquisitions really stumped me, and it makes me wonder what direction "Moneyball" is really going in.