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When people mention the name of Oakland A’s general manager, Billy Beane, many adjectives follow: Overrated, brilliant, shrewd and ring-less are a few. And while there are those who may never give Beane the credit he deserves for having built a solid small-market playoff contender during the 2000s, the job he has done in 2012 simply cannot be overstated.

Understand, the A’s were simply supposed to be a bad rebuilding team working towards a new stadium in Oakland or elsewhere. It was expected that their nucleus would not be solidified until at least 2014, and this was supposed to be the year when the bottom finally fell out completely to allow the A’s to reload through the MLB Draft like the Washington Nationals and Tampa Bay Rays.

Instead, the Oakland A’s sit on top of the American League Wild Card and a mere four games from the top of the AL West standings. Much has been made of this story, but considering that Beane made moves that all seemed to shake in Oakland’s favor, it is high time he is given the credit due for turning this team into a mostly unlikely playoff contender.

The moves Beane made have turned a middling franchise into the talk of baseball. And here are his best of 2012 and why he should be Executive of the Year.

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As the 2012 MLB season trickles down to the final stretch, a handful of teams are seeking playoff berths, while others seek vacation destinations following game 162. 

For the first time since 2006, the Oakland Athletics are putting their postseason paradises on hold. 

Oakland’s midseason surge peaked in July during the 19-5 stint and has yet to fully subside. 

Boasting a 31-14 record since the All-Star Break break, Bob Melvin’s Athletics have patched up their 2012 season quilt with variations of miscellaneous fabrics—and boy, is it warm. 

Following the series-opening 20-2 demolition of the Boston Red Sox, the A’s preserve the top spot in the AL wild card race in front of the Baltimore Orioles on the shoulders of these second-half standouts. 

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After Oakland GM Billy Beane scooped Brandon Inge up when the Detroit Tigers released him at the end of April, I wrote a piece titled, “Brandon Inge’s Heroics a Flash in the Pan: Oakland Athletics Need a 3rd Baseman.”

At the time, Inge had 10 hits, 17 RBI, and four home runs in 39 at-bats, including remarkable stretch of four straight games with four RBI. Inge, incredibly, became only the second player in 80 years to have four RBI in four games over a five-game stretch.

The other player to do this? Lou Gehrig.

There he was, in Oakland, seemingly rejuvenated by a change of scenery, and Billy Beane’s moneyball approach seemed to have worked yet again, with a majority of Inge’s $5.5 million salary being picked up by the Tigers.

In my article, I mentioned Inge’s career slash line of: .234/.304/.387 and the fact that in his last season with the Tigers, he batted a mere .197 over 269 at-bats.

Since Inge’s big splash in Oakland and the mania that ensued, he has managed to return to his old self, batting .218 with a .294 OBP. During his time with the A’s, Inge has grounded into seven double plays and struck out 47 times in 165 at-bats. Somehow, his WAR (wins above replacement) managed to stay positive, at 0.4.

A change of scenery can do players good, but in Inge’s case, his history as a poor batter has caught up with him. It’s likely that Inge will simply be another glove in a rotating cast of third basemen for the Athletics.

For what it’s worth, Billy Beane got a deal on a veteran for the clubhouse.

(H/t Baseball-Reference.com for stats)

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Last year, a player that emerged from obscurity in the Oakland Athletics farm system was third base prospect Stephen Parker.  

In 2010 he hit .296, with 21 home runs and 98 RBI, yet coming into 2011 he was still largely overshadowed by fellow prospects Grant Green and Michael Choice.  Despite his breakout 2010 campaign, he solidified his position as the team’s third baseman of the future with his consistent and solid play last season.

Parker, like Green and Choice, was drafted out of college.  That’s usually been Billy Beane‘s draft philosophy, select players out of college who’ll be more prepared for professional ball, and therefore advance through the minors quicker.  In recent years, however, he’s started to value high school players more in the earlier rounds.

Though a lot less is known about the high school players, there’s generally more of an upside to them even though they have the potential to become boom or bust kind of prospects.  But it also means that they may not scratch the surface of their true capability until two or three years into their minor league careers.

Here are five prospects who can break out in 2012. 

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Do not buy the Oakland Athletics 2012 team calendar for anything other than humorous reasons. 

As an avid fan, let me explain why. 

Recently, I was at a Barnes and Noble doing some last-minute holiday shopping, along with what seemed like everyone else in the Bay Area. The store was packed and the shelves barren. I found myself wandering into the calendar section, the only place that didn’t look destroyed by Hurricane Procrastination. 

Scanning the available stock, I was sorely disappointed with myself—socks and calendars rival each other as the most thoughtless gift to give someone. 

But on Christmas Eve, anything becomes a possibility. 

Top shelf, at eye level, a green and gold one caught my attention. It was the A’s team calendar for 2012, with four players gracing the cover: starting pitchers Brett Anderson and Trevor Cahill, closer Andrew Bailey and catcher Kurt Suzuki. 

At the time, half of those players had already been traded away. Before the year even started!

Needless to say, I got a good chuckle. It was an LLOL moment, I literally laughed out loud at the item that stood before me. That was followed by the dejected realization that the club had once again parted ways with more proven players in exchange for unproven prospects. A pattern us fans have sadly grown accustomed to. 

The calendar not only represents 2012, but the past decade of frustration as we’ve watched several quality players develop in an A’s uniform only to be traded or allowed to walk away as they enter their prime. 

The growing list includes Jason Giambi, Miguel Tejada, Tim Hudson, Dan Haren, Carlos Gonzales and plenty more. The trend has continued this offseason with the dealing of the organization’s three most recent All-Stars (Gio Gonzales, Bailey and Cahill) and outfielder Josh Willingham, the only power-hitter in an otherwise impotent lineup.

It’s a merry-go-round that seems to have no end. 

So, once again, purchase the calendar at your own risk. The remaining two on the cover may be traded while you stand in line at the local bookstore. 

Then again, you didn’t need me to tell you that, as fans have adopted the frugal philosophy of Billy Beane’s front office. 

Good thing the calendar is probably at a heavily discounted price by now—at least half off. 

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Though Thanksgiving has come and passed, the period of giving thanks and self-reflection for what we are fortunate to have in our lives continues.

Athletes, sports franchises and owners are no different. Once in a while, they need to set aside some time for introspection. And in the end, they get to cherish all that they have going for them in the tumultuously wild world of sports ownership.

Surprisingly, the Oakland Athletics organization, one of the worst teams in Major League Baseball, has a lot to be grateful for. Despite the worst five-year stretch since their move to Oakland, the A’s should be happy this holiday season. Here are five things the Athletics organization is thankful for.    

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With the release of the film Moneyball earlier this year, many fans have learned about the fascinating economics of the Oakland Athletics. Specifically, the viewpoints on what the A’s deem to be important—and unimportant—pieces of a baseball roster and the best way they can attain the highest return on their investments. The central theme, obviously, is how to stretch the very little amount of money they have and use those pennies to create the most competitive roster possible.

Every year, the cash-starved Athletics use their food stamps to collect oft-injured free agents or to acquire aging veterans through trade. But under Billy Beane’s tenure as general manager, one specific area where the Athletics seem to be the most frugal is the role of closer.

In Beane’s 14 seasons with the Athletics, eight players have been designated as the true closer, with several others filling in as injury replacements along the way. It’s been a revolving door during this entire period, as no closer has held onto the role—nor stayed with the team—for more than four full seasons. Given recent history, the tenure of the Athletics’ current designated closer, Andrew Bailey, might not last much longer.

That should not come as a surprise. Rumors are circulating that the Athletics are shopping Bailey, their former Rookie of the Year and All-Star closer. Beane has always been outspoken on his belief that the role of the closer is overrated and, more importantly, overpaid.

Because closers are valuated almost entirely based on at most an inning of work each appearance, the A’s believe that they can get any good relief pitcher to come in and fill that role. At least for a couple of years. Then management finds another reliever, either off the dregs of the former-starter scrap heaps or through their farm system.

Rinse and repeat.

With this pattern embedded into Oakland’s business model, it’s likely that Bailey will be shipped out this winter. Particularly because the Athletics’ stadium status is up in the air. The A’s want to conserve their reservoir, reducing payroll in the next couple of seasons to put money back into their (potential) new ballpark.

Bailey has already reported to have drawn interest from the Toronto Blue Jays and the Boston Red Sox, that latter team looking to replace the recently departed Jonathan Papelbon. Should the A’s pull the trigger and let go of their fan-favorite reliever?

Obviously, Oakland will trade him sometime this offseason. Their best bet is to acquire a lot of minor leaguers in return while Bailey’s stock is still high. Despite his injury woes the past couple of seasons, Bailey is experienced enough in his role and young enough (27) to last for a long while at an All-Star level.

With the Athletics’ farm system trudging along with mediocre crops (see lifelong minor leaguers Chris Carter and Michael Taylor), it’s a great time to replenish the well. Especially since the A’s have not been able to cultivate a legitimate position player through their garden in nearly a decade.

And even though Bailey has been a solid closer in his term, he has shown small signs of decline, notably his 5.40 ERA last September and .289 opponents’ batting average in August. The A’s have several candidates waiting in the wings to replace Bailey, specifically Fautino De Los Santos and Joey Devine—who was Oakland’s next in line until his slew of injuries the past few seasons.

Giving up Bailey wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world. It’s just a matter of who they’d receive in return. The Red Sox are renowned for their shallow minor league system. But the Blue Jays could offer some help: outfielders Eric Thames and Darin Mastroianni; first baseman Michael McDade; and starters Asher Wojciechowski and Griffin Murphy could all be of service.

To be sure, Bailey’s departure is inevitable. Based on the Athletics’ tight wallets this winter and disfavor of closers in general, Bailey will not be in an A’s uniform next season. From all angles it makes sense for Oakland to maximize his value and get as many prospects in return as they can.

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Moneyball star actor Brad Pitt does a fantastic job representing Oakland Athletics Billy Beane in both the personal and professional aspects of his life.

Beane is a man obsessed with living up to his predictions, and using statistics and mathematical formulas to determine which players can be successes in Major League Baseball.

Pitt plays this role perfectly, and really gives us a sense of how difficult Beane’s life was as he rose to prominence among the ranks of baseball’s great minds.

Beane’s struggles as a general manager, father, and husband are well played throughout, and the film is as much about losing and dealing with that disappointment than it is about baseball.

Despite the 2002 Oakland Athletics not winning the World Series, and Beane not taking the Boston Red Sox job, one that would have been easier to do than in Oakland, Beane handles the failures with great strength, which Pitt displays beautifully.

Most of us know the story already, but the emotional impact and hardship behind the obvious is the reason to see the movie, and each part is done to perfection.

Pitt shows the struggles of Beane to create a winner with the Athletics, and trying to convince himself, his organization, and his friends that his way is a winning way.

In a movie that accurately portrays Beane as someone who couldn’t make it in the big leagues, that even has an even deeper meaning seen throughout the film.

Via SI.com:

“One of the things I think the story accurately portrays,” Pitt went on, “is how imperfectly we understand ourselves. We are so full of contradictions. Our weaknesses are our strengths and our strength are our weaknesses, and those things are constantly in flux.”

Moneyball is a fantastic film that pays great attention to the small details of Beane and his story, and in the process creates an emotional and exciting film.

Nicholas Goss is a Featured Columnist at Bleacher Report. Follow @NicholasGoss35.

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With September here, it’s only a month away from the Cubs starting the only season that matters to them this year—hunting season for a new general manager. And according to all reports, Cub owner Tom Ricketts is hunting big game.

You keep hearing Andrew Friedman, Brian Cashman, Theo Epstein and Billy Beane’s names thrown out there.

Cashman and Friedman will be available once the season is over, while Epstein has a year left on his contract, and Beane owns a piece of the A’s and is signed through 2014.

Epstein is an intriguing figure. Having broken the Bambino’s curse, would he be brave enough to take on the billy goat?

Others came close before him in Boston, but in Chicago, we’re not playing with hand grenades – because the Cubs haven’t been close enough to cause collateral damage.

He is exactly what Tom Ricketts described when talking about what he was looking for in a new GM. The problem is he would probably want a title that has president in it.

Normally a team will let you out of your contract if you are bettering yourself, but moving laterally doesn’t fit that criterion. Would he really want to leave his favorite team growing up, along with deep pockets for the challenge that is the Chicago Cubs?

While I would love him, I don’t see that happening.

Speaking of deep pockets, there is talk Cashman is ready to leave the Yankees because he is tired of working for the Steinbrenner boys. He’s had a lot of success in New York, but he inherited a stacked team, and has unlimited funds that nobody else can match.

You have to ask if he is as good a GM as his record indicates. It’s easy to build a team when you can pay for your mistakes to go away. He’s not going to have that in Chicago.

The question is if he really is that good a general manager. I don’t think he’s good enough to break the curse in Chicago, and I would take a pass.

That brings up to my choice—Andrew Friedman. The word is that he is very comfortable in Tampa.

THIS IS NOT MY COMPLETED ARTICLE. I PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED THAT EVERYTHING AFTER THIS DISAPPEARED TO THE EDITOR, AND THEY DELETED THE MESSAGE AND LEFT MY ARTICLE AS-IS ON THIS SITE. IT HAPPENED NOT ONCE, BUT TWICE. I DELVED INTO MY THOUGHTS ON FRIEDMAN AND BEANE. I WAS GOING TO REDO THE ARTICLE FOR A THIRD TIME TONIGHT, BUT AFTER THE EXTENSION FOR ONERI FLEITA TODAY, I DON’T THINK IT MAKES SENSE ANY LONGER, BECAUSE I THINK BIG-NAME GM’S ARE NOW OUT OF THE MIX. IF I CHANGE MY MIND AND HAVE SOME TIME, I’LL FINISH IT, OTHERWISE, SORRY FOR THE INCONVENIENCE, BUT IT WASN’T MY FAULT, IT WAS BLEACHER REPORTS.

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Don’t get me wrong—I am no movie critic and haven’t yet been given the keys to run a major-league franchise, but I can say that I am really looking forward to Moneyball. 

By now, almost everyone close to the game knows that the Oakland Athletics were featured in the book Moneyball, by Michael Lewis. Moneyball shows readers how the cash-strapped A’s used advanced statistics in new ways to build a successful team comprised of unwanted or forgotten players. 

For someone like me—ignorant of this world and its data before I read the book—the idea of creating a team with what a computer tells you is, of course, very intriguing. 

It has been said many times that this movie is very reminiscent of The Social Network, but of course, the question remains: Can the movie-makers take what was written and make it a story that people truly care for? 

The book describes the emergence of two castoffs—Chad Bradford and Scott Hatteberg.  Those familiar with their careers know the struggles they went through and the determination they needed to truly find success.

A successful translation of these stories to the big screen remains to be seen. 

Though hardcore baseball fans will likely flock to the theatres when the movie is released, we don’t know yet if mainstream America is interested in sabermetrics. 

Heck, how many years did it take for baseball insiders to finally accept more sophisticated statistical analyses? 

The evolution of sabermetrics isn’t like the story Facebook.

Yet, with a cast that features Brad Pitt, Robin Wright, Phillip Seymour Hoffman and Jonah Hill, and with Aaron Sorkin writing the script, Moneyball does have all the ingredients to make a dramatic impact on those unfamiliar with this side of the baseball world. 

Devon is the founder of The GM’s Perspective.

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