Billy Beane Fails

Just a few days after I sounded off on Billy Beane calling him "A Puppet", new developments in the Free Agency process have increased my frustration with "Mr. MoneyBall".

These developments include the news that the Minnesota Twins have signed Josh Willingham to a multi-year deal. Now I didn't think the A's were gonna be able to bring back the Alabama native but the fact that the Twins (A fellow small market team) were able to sign him proves that if we made an offer to Josh we might've had a shot to re-sign him.

I would've cut Billy some slack if it was the Red Sox or Yankees (or any other big market team) who ended up reeling in Willingham but the fact that the Twinkies signed him suggests that Billy Beane and the A's Front Office simply sat on their hands and watched their best hitter from 2011 walk away from our proud franchise.

THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE! Offering arbitration for a guy like J Willi is simply not a good enough way of attempting to sign a man who actually figured out a way to consistently hit home runs in the Coliseum.

The other follies I didn't take to kindly to was the re-signing of Daric Barton who was simply awful last season with a terrible Mendoza line average and poor defense which was supposed to be a strength of his. I do realize that Barton was injured during much of last season but we've given him plenty of time to develop and he has simply turned into a clone of Dan Johnson. It's time to move on Billy, you were wrong on Barton so why bring him back?

Lastly, I would like to touch on the rumors that the A's will not bring back Hideki Matsui marking the end of Matsuiland out in the Right Field Bleachers. Now I agree that Matsui was no better than average last season but with the A's opening 2012 at the Tokyo Dome it could've been a wonderful marketing re-signing if Matsui was willing to come back for a smaller salary. Not to mention that manager Bob Melvin was adamant about wanting Matsui back for 2012. It is Billy Beane's job to provide Melvin with what he needs and he simply hasn't done that.