What have you done for me lately?

I like Billy Beane and his moneyball system in terms of the underdogs having a slight advantage that enables them to take on the big dogs.

Problem: His system doesn't emphasize on the importance of speed and defense. . . . Getting on base is one thing. . . . But if they don't get past 1st base. ... The moneyball team is in trouble.

Prefer a balance of each attributes. And that is hard to come by. ...

Getting home run hitters are difficult and expensive. Getting hitters who can hit the singles and doubles cost less. A rally of singles and doubles create positive momentum and that means runs.

Triples are double hitters who have good foot speed and takes advantage of outfielders who makes errors. ...

... Will touch more on Billy Beane's system in later entries.

In Sunzi writings, when one lacks in resources, he or they makes it up w/ speed, efficiency and proper preparation.

His modus operandi is a extension of what our current state of global capitalism is about. ... "We are all free agents. Loyalty is only worth a cup of starbuck coffee. ..."

We live in a "what have you done for me lately" world. ... Where every relationship is a deal and a transaction. ... And we are looked upon as an asset and/or a commodity for "our clients" . ...

Bottom line: Everyday, our performance is evaluated quite extensively.
Do we get pay for performance or do we perform for pay? Food for thought!

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http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/n/a/2005/10/05/sports/s131838D26.DTL
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Wednesday, October 5, 2005 (AP)
Macha Out As Manager of Oakland Athletics
By JANIE McCAULEY, AP Sports Writer
(10-05) 13:54 PDT (AP) --

Oakland Athletics manager Ken Macha was out of a job Wednesday after
failing to reach an agreement on a new contract.

"We decided it's best to part ways at this point," general manager Billy
Beane said on a conference call.

"We offered a three-year deal with a club option and they countered with a
three-year deal without a club option," Beane said. "I don't think we were
ever going to be able to bridge the gap. It was a significant gap."

The option would have allowed the A's to decide whether to keep Macha
after three seasons.

"It was a compensation issue," Beane said.

Macha led the A's to the AL West title in his first year as manager in
2003, the club's fourth straight playoff berth. But Oakland failed to
reach the postseason the past two years despite a 91-win season in 2004
and 88 victories this year.

Macha had said he hoped to return to the A's, and said late in the season
he thought the team would make a quick decision.

"There are no hard feelings whatsoever," Beane said. "This is part of the
business."

The A's went 88-74 this season, but seemed out of it in May when they had
two eight-game losing streaks and finished the month with a 7-20 record.
But Oakland rebounded with another strong second half, overcoming injuries
to key players such as shortstop Bobby Crosby and No. 2 starter Rich
Harden.

Beane met Monday with the 55-year-old Macha, who was still in the Bay Area
as of Wednesday and had yet to return home to Pittsburgh for the
offseason.

Macha was 275-211 in three seasons with the A's. He came to the Oakland
organization in 1999 following four seasons as a manager in Boston's farm
system. He was promoted from bench coach when Art Howe left for the New
York Mets following the 2002 season.

A message left on Macha's cell phone Wednesday wasn't immediately
returned. A call to his agent, Alan Nero, also wasn't immediately
returned.

Beane said the sides exchanged proposals this past weekend because both
parties wanted to come to a resolution quickly, leaving Macha time to
explore other managerial openings.

"It's part of the process. Kenny was a free agent," Beane said. "Ken's
contract was an outstanding issue. ... This whole issue didn't sneak up on
us. It's disappointing we couldn't come to a conclusion that was
satisfactory."

Beane hadn't had a chance to speak to Macha about the decision, but left a
message for him. Beane said he would work to form a list of candidates to
replace Macha, and didn't say whether members of the existing A's coaching
staff would be considered.

On Monday, the A's announced hitting coach Dave Hudgens' contract would
not be renewed.
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Copyright 2005 AP