Why is Billy Beane thought of to be a great GM?

Question

His teams have only won 1 playoff series since he's been there!

Answer 1

Because he's a shameless self-promoter. He is also a control freak, and manages the team from the front office, and wants a puppet for a manager. He relies too much on his moneyball theories, which is stupid. Yeah, a hitter can have a high on base percentage, but what does he do once he gets on base? What about the guy hitting behind him? What if the guy walks 100 times a year, but is a base clogger? He needs to look at other ways to build his team besides his sabermetrics crap.

I get sick of hearing how he "wins" on a low budget. His teams are competitive because they have drafted good pitchers, which is due to good scouting, not Beane's ability to judge talent. Their offense struggles every year to score runs, because of his bonehead ideas. He needs to let the manager manage, get some athletic guys who can run, and get away from his high on-base junk.

BaseballGrrl--Wrong Billy Beane. You are thinking of Billy Bean (no "e") the former Tiger and Padre outfielder.

Answer 2

It has alot to do with the fact that Oakland is a very small baseball market, with a relatively weak economic base and a crappy stadium. As a result of this the Oakland A's have to operate with a payroll significantly below league average. Despite this Billy Beane has been able to field a competitive team every year, and only rarely fail to make the playoffs.

Also, bear this in mind, baseball is designed to be like a marathon, the top teams are determined following a gruelling 162 games played over approximately 189 days. The playoffs are like a sprint, at most 19 games played over 30 days.

The best teams make the playoffs, however the hottest and/or luckiest teams win playoff series. Because of this one should judge GM's by their teams winning percentage, or success in reaching the postseason, not the team's performance once they get their.

To the person above who said that Billy Bean wrote the book Moneyball:

He didn't write it. an author and sports journalist by the name of David Lewis wrote the book Moneyball. Moneyball just happens to be about Billy Beane.

Answer 3

Why is he such a great GM? Because he wins no matter what.

Although it indeed is true that they have only won one playoff series, Beane wins in many other ways.

People always credit his genius because the A's always reach or come close to winning the playoffs with such a small payroll and lack of offense. But the true key is getting bargains and drafting excellent young pitchers.

From the A's system young pitchers such as Barry Zito, Mark Mulder, Tim Hudson, Joe Blanton, and Rich Harden have become winners. These young pitchers have contributed immensely the past few years (although they were not all teammates).

Beane also helps resurrect or start young careers. Danny Haren came from the Cardinals and he has been brilliant for them. And Joe Kennedy was struggling as a starter before he came, and now he is a left handed specialist out of the bullpen.

These are a few cases of great decisions made by the Oakland GM, and they have paid off.

Oh by the way, Moneyball helped as well.

Answer 4

Just because you don't win a World Series does'nt mean you were unsuccessful. You have to consider there resources and the fact that they've lost so many good ballplayers to free agency and are still able to compete with only a 60 million dollar payroll which is lower than the league average. Consider these facts:Jason Giambi, Miguel Tejada, Isringhausen, Mulder, Hudson, Ramon Hernandez, now Zito, and also remember they traded for Carlos Beltran but traded him for Octavio Dotel because they knew they would'nt be able to afford him. I'm sure I am forgetting some to. Don't be a close minded retard and judge things on face value, you have to see the whole big picture to see whats' really going on. In this era where the big market teams are spending over 100 million on payrolls like the New Yorks, LA's, Chicago, Bostons you have to give teams like the A's, Twins, Indians, Marlins for putting a good watchable baseball product on the field for much less.

Answer 5

He may not win a lot of playoff series, but the fact that he runs a small market team with a payroll of about $50-60 million and gets them to the playoffs almost every year is a testement to his acumen as a front office guy.

Answer 6

He works puzzling at progression team, yet i imagine the e book's declare that he's a "baseball genius" is fairly overstated. The Win Loss record isn't the in trouble-free words element you should seem at even as comparing a moneyball team like the A's. that they had alot of significant expectancies getting into the season and intensely right now, maximum of their large beginning pitching went on the D.L. and their offense is a mess. some hitting possibilities he's obtained, like first basemen Chris Carter, have also struggled to locate fulfillment on the substantial league factor. With the possibilities and gamers lower than their administration over the subsequent 3 years, like first round %. Michael decision, i does no longer discard the A's and make contact with Beane a failure. The possession has alot of believe in him as he has had fulfillment earlier. P.S. I truly have good expectancies for the action picture Moneyball. It sounds like its gonna be smart and humorous, and actually likely, Brad Pitt could get an oscar nomination for the function.

Answer 7

His tema is consistently competitive on a small budget. He has been very creative in finding value in players that others overlook.

Imagine if he had Cashman's or Theo Einstein's payroll to play with?

Answer 8

ill be honest with you, i can see reasons why he could be and why he couldnt be. read moneyball, i plan to as well, and that should answer the question for both of us. just out of curiosity, who do you think is a great gm in baseball? or in any sport?

Answer 9

They may have only won 1 series; he gets them there every year on a shoestring budget.

Answer 10

Agree with baseball girl.