Moneyball Players: Moneyballs players Where are now?- The central premise of Moneyball is that the collected wisdom of baseball insiders over the past century is subjective and often flawed. Statistics such as stolen bases, runs batted in, and batting average, typically used to gauge players, are relics of a 19th century view of the game and the statistics that were available at the time. The book argues that the Oakland A's' front office took advantage of more empirical gauges of player performance to field a team that could compete successfully against richer competitors in Major League Baseball.
Billy Beane : Billy Beane vice president oakland athletics
According to the team, Mariners vice president of communications spoke with the team before Wednesday's game about the possibility of opening 2012 in Japan. While it's only in the discussion phase right now, it would make sense if Seattle has one of the most popular Japanese baseball players in Ichiro Suzuki to do something like this. It would also be the first time that the Mariners have opened a season outside of North America, and, on the surface, it is a worrisome way to start a new campaign.
Adamack stated, "We have been approached by MLB about participating in a season-opening trip to Japan in 2012. We have been advised that if this all comes together, we would play two regular-season games and a couple of exhibition games in Japan. Any other updates and information will come from MLB."
Nothing is definite at this point, because the players have to be on board with doing something like this, and discussions will take place now and during the offseason. This also wouldn't be the first time that a series in Japan was planned, as the Mariners tried to do one in 2003, but it was canceled due to fears of player safety during the U.S. invasion of Iraq.
Starting off a season like this would be a really tough road trip, especially if the schedule wasn't adjusted to give Seattle a few extra off-days in the first month of the season. Right now, the 2012 schedule has Seattle and Oakland opening on Friday, April 6 with a three-game series. Then Seattle heads to Texas for a four-game road trip from April 9-12. If Seattle has to go from Japan to Texas with no days off, that would certainly be an extreme competitive disadvantage for the Mariners.
While this may seem like an interesting idea on the surface, more details are needed before I am sold. One detail is what time the games will be broadcast back here in the States. It needs to be at a time where fans can actually watch the games.
Paul DePodesta : Paul DePodesta Vice President of player development and scouting for the New York Mets
Paul DePodesta, having spent 14 years in Major League Baseball, joined the Padres in July of 2006 as Special Assistant for Baseball Operations and was promoted to Executive Vice President on November 10, 2008.
DePodesta previously served as the Los Angeles Dodgers Executive Vice President and General Manager for the 2004-05 seasons. He was named to that position at 31 years of age, becoming the third-youngest person to be named general manager in Major League history. In 2004, he helped guide Los Angeles to the National league West Division crown, its first postseason berth since 1996 and its first postseason victory since 1988. Before Los Angeles he spent five seasons as the Assistant General Manager of the Oakland Athletics with responsibilities that included assisting General Manager Billy Beane in all player acquisitions and contract negotiations.
DePodesta began his baseball career as an intern with the Cleveland Indians in 1996, and served as the Major League Advance Scout for the Indians during the 1997 and 1998 seasons. He was promoted to Special Assistant to the General Manager in October of 1998.
A native of Alexandria, Va., DePodesta graduated cum laude from Harvard in 1995 with a degree in economics. He also played baseball and football for the Crimson.
DePodesta has volunteered for Habitat for Humanity, is an advisory board member for his alma mater Episcopal High School, serves as a strategic advisor for Mushroom Networks, a privately-held San Diego-based company, and is a member of The Motley Fool’s CAPS program.
Barry Zito : Barry Zito back on the mound
Zito never missed a scheduled start in his career until 2008, and led the American League in starts four times. After the 2006 season, Zito signed the most expensive contract in history for a pitcher at the time. Zito is well known for the drastic difference between his pre- and post- All Star Game pitching performance, and has been one of the greatest second half pitchers in MLB history throughout his career. He has also proven to be one of the greatest front running pitchers in recent memory, holding a record of 111-6 when getting at least 4 runs of support.
Zito played collegiately at UC Santa Barbara, Los Angeles Pierce College, and the University of Southern California. In the 1999 draft, he was drafted by the Oakland Athletics with the ninth pick of the first round. Zito is known for his idiosyncrasies, and his offbeat personality. He created the charity Strikeouts for Troops which provides money to hospitals for soldiers wounded in military operations.
Mark Mulder : Mark Mulder analyst on ESPN baseball tonight
“I’m excited to join Baseball Tonight’s All-Star pitching rotation,” said Mulder. “I’m looking forward to working with my new team and lending some of the insight and perspective I gathered during my career.”
Mulder debuted in the Major Leagues at age 22 in 2000 and became a core member of the Oakland Athletics’ “big three” with Barry Zito and Tim Hudson. He led the American League with 21 wins in 2001, and won 19 games while amassing a career-high 159 strikeouts in 2002. After two All-Star seasons in ’03 and ’04, Mulder was traded to St. Louis in 2005 and became a World Champion as a member of the ’06 Cardinals team.
In nine seasons with Oakland and St. Louis, Mulder went 103-60 with a 4.18 earned run average. His career was cut short due to repeated rotator cuff and shoulder injuries. Mulder officially retired last June.
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Miguel Tejada : Miguel Tejada released by giants
In the report: Tejada's former Oakland teammate Adam Piatt said Tejada asked specifically if he had any steroids. Piatt admitted he had access to steroids and human growth hormone and agreed to obtain them for Tejada. Piatt recalled that he provided Tejada with testosterone or Deca-Durabolin, as well as human growth hormone. Piatt emphasized that he did not know whether Tejada actually used the substances.
Chad Bradford
Nick Swisher
Bobby Crosby
Mark Teahan
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