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It begins with irrelevant song lyrics and a meandering prologue, but eventually, Peter Gammons gets around to a good look at the junior circuit in his latest column on ESPN. His most interesting observations include this summary of the A's philosophy:

Beane believes that the season comes in three parts: the first two months, when you figure out what you have; the next two months, when you take care of what you need; and the final two months, when you get into the passing lane and floor it.


It looks like Gammons took some time with this one, after a series of typos and non-sequiturs lately. He has some concerns about the Red Sox:

Meanwhile, for the last five weeks the self-absorbed Calvinists of Red Sox nation have bemoaned GM Theo Epstein's reluctance to trade Casey Fossum for one year of either Kevin Millwood or Colon. Never mind that the Boston farm system Epstein inherited is so pitiful that the Red Sox did not have a minor league pitcher win 10 games (or, for that matter, hit 20 homers) and that from the outset of his administration he has preached that the only way the Red Sox can beat a Brian Cashman team with George Steinbrenner revenues is through making this a "$100M developmental machine."

Nitpickers will say, "it's no surprise their minor-league pitchers didn't hit 20 HR," but we know what he means -- the cupboard is bare. P.G. surprisingly rates the White Sox almost neck-and-neck with the Twins, ahead of Boston and Seattle, and after cautioning that Stewart and Escobar won't be around much longer, has this to say about the "transitional" 2003 Jays:

This season is the time to develop Eric Hinske, Orlando Hudson and Chris Woodward in the infield, Vernon Wells in center, Josh Phelps at DH, Kevin Cash at catcher and, in time, Jayson Werth in right field.

True enough, but none of those guys is starting completely from scratch, and they could all contribute a lot this year. If Lidle and Sturtze pitch just a little better than Petey expects, there could be some meaningful Toronto games in September for the first time in five years and just the second in a decade.
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Mike D - Sunday, February 02 2003 @ 10:37 PM EST (#97258) #
Beane has made excellent acquisitions in "phase two" of the last two seasons. However, I do think it's at least a bit coincidental that Oakland has gotten so improbably hot over the last two seasons in "phase three." Yes, the team has figured out, in each of the last two seasons, how to best use its personnel. But the A's have had the fortune of having *many* of their players explode, all at once, down the stretch.

If the A's can simply "get in the passing lane and floor it" at will, that's awfully impressive. I mean, I admire Billy, but I just don't think Beane swivelled around in his chair and announced, in his "organizational philosophy" voice, "The situation calls for...a twenty-game winning streak. And so it was written, and so it shall be done."

It's a bit like the Wayne & Shuster routine, "British Baseball."

Shuster: "Last of the ninth, down a run. Situation calls for...a home run."
Wayne: "A home run, sir? Isn't that rather ostentatious?"
Shuster: "Ah, it's America. Carry on."
Gitz - Monday, February 03 2003 @ 02:59 AM EST (#97259) #
Excellent point, Mike. The games in April mean just as much as the games in September. And I guess they "turn in off" in the playoffs, then ...

The real "coincidence" in the A's success has been the confluence of Mulder, Hudson, and Zito. They don't have those three guys, and I'm not sure Billy Beane would be hailed as the best GM in the game. I happen to think he is one of the best, but their offensive weaknesses would draw more attention if the A's were losing. Of course, all team's faults look worse when they're losing ...
Mike D - Monday, February 03 2003 @ 11:01 AM EST (#97260) #
Gitz, I agree wholeheartedly with your post. Maybe add the simultaneous development of Tejada and Chavez to the "confluence" phenomenon. It has been simply extraordinary that five players on the same team have become so good while so young and so cheap.
_Chuck Van Den C - Tuesday, February 04 2003 @ 05:41 PM EST (#97261) #
Gitz: They don't have those three guys, and I'm not sure Billy Beane would be hailed as the best GM in the game.

True enough, but going around the league, any manager or GM's status could easily be squashed by taking his away his best players. Take away Bonds and you think Baker is pulling in the big bucks in Wrigley? Think I'm Not an Idiot is still employed as a GM?

Beane deserves tons of credits for recognizing that there is no such thing as a high school pitching prospect. (What's the ancronym I've seen floating around? TINSTAP?) The vaunted troika are all college boys who started their pro careers at 21 or 22. None got the chance to have their arms abused as young men and all arrived with a great deal of polish.

In recognition of Beane's success, organizations are starting to become more college-oriented at draft time (check out Ricciardi's latest haul). Yes, the A's have been lucky that all three young pitchers developed so well. But Beane deserves credit for implementing a draft strategy that enhances his odds of succeeding.
_R Billie - Wednesday, February 05 2003 @ 11:51 AM EST (#97262) #
True Chuck. And if Anaheim doesn't get lucky with K-Rod and Lackey coming up and being successful for the stretch run, do they win the World Series? Highly unlikely. Whether you're good or lucky in the draft (and you usually have to be both) all teams without the Yankees' payroll have to lean heavily on their fortunes there to compete in the long term.
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