Continued from part 1

In the movie “Moneyball,” we first see that the downfall of the 2001 Oakland Athletics came ultimately due to costly errors and miscues in the field—culminating with a home run to seal New York’s ALDS victory in Game 5. Alone, that displays the great need for apt defensive skill on a diamond. Further, Oakland allowed Johnny Damon to depart for Boston, insinuating his “game” didn’t fit in with the Athletics newly-driven mathematical approach to success. Well, Damon won his World Series with the Red Sox two years later in 2004—and a second with the Yankees five years after that (2009). Meanwhile the A’s are in search for any playoff series win since Moneyball was implemented in the Bay Area—virtually having success or failure of the team depending on the quality of their starting pitching each season.{jcomments on}

Oh—and on a side note… Paul DePodesta (portrayed as “Peter Brand” in the film) failed miserably with the Dodgers as GM—and was replaced—as was the often incompetent J.P. Riccardi who ran the Toronto Blue Jays for a lengthy recent spell. Both were Billy Beane disciples, and both no longer direct their respective clubs with the failing Moneyball concept.

True Moneyball does have some nominal value, and shows that we need to take into account new ways to view and interpret not only the game of baseball, as well as the evolution of society in the world—for backward thinking brings us nowhere in improving towards the future. That said, teams who solely place import on the Moneyball concept are doomed to nothing but failure in the long run—as great talent, and stud-like pitching will always rule who winds up calling themselves World Series champion. Whether its stealing a base, bunting to put pressure on an opponent—or that ace on the mound, it’s fundamentals, ability, and people who win and lose games on the field—not robots or a calculator.

The recently released film “Moneyball” is certainly well-made and acted, especially by lead actor Brad Pitt, who plays A’s GM Billy Beane—perhaps even worthy of an Oscar nomination come next year. So take a watch, though do so with a grain of salt when interpreting the message this movie conveys.

And by the way, near the film’s end where the Twins knock off Oakland in the 2002 ALDS… that’s a Minnesota team which had a payroll in the same vicinity of the Athletics—and doing things the exact opposite in approach: with fundamentals, athleticism, and of course—quality pitching.

Phil Meyers is Assistant Sports Director at SRN Broadcasting, a Political Science Professor at DePaul University, and a licensed attorney.

CHICAGO – Left-handed pitcher Mark Buehrle of the Chicago White Sox has won his second career American League Rawlings Gold Glove Award®.

Buehrle, 31, becomes the first pitcher in major-league history with multiple Gold Glove Awards and no-hitters to his credit.  He and left-hander Jim Kaat, who also won in consecutive seasons (1974-75), are the only White Sox pitchers to receive baseball’s most prestigious fielding award.

The 6-foot-2, 230-pound Buehrle led all major-league pitchers in 2010 with a career-high 11 pickoffs, the second-highest total by a Sox pitcher since at least 1952, and tied for the lead with a 1.000 fielding percentage (50 total chances).  He also tied for second among American League pitchers by assisting on four double plays and ranked third with 46 assists.  His 50 total chances were the most among AL pitchers who did not commit an error.

Since the beginning of the 2001 season, Buehrle leads all major-league pitchers with 74 pickoffs (29 more than Andy Pettitte) and ranks third with 551 total chances and 419 assists.  Over his 11-year career with the White Sox, opponents have been successful on just 43.0 percent (46-107) of their stolen-base attempts, the second-lowest rate among active pitchers.

Buehrle also won the 2010 Fielding Bible Award for the second straight season, given to just one player at each position in either league.  The award is voted on by a panel of 10 experts, including Peter Gammons and Bill James, and takes into account a pitcher’s ability to field his position as well as hold base runners.