Billy Beane, the General Manager of the Oakland Athletics, revolutionized how baseball organizations evaluate talent. He and his assistant, Paul DePodesta, realized that a higher team on-base percentage would lead to more run production, so, with a blind eye to batting average, they signed players with high on-base percentages.
Unfortunately for Beane, his formula for winning games proved to be so effectiveùhe totaled 102 W's in 2001 and 103 in 2002 with payrolls just over $40 millionùthat other, richer teams adopted his strategy and were able to lure players who were once affordable to the A's by offering lucrative, unmatchable deals.
Inside this slideshow, you will find the All-Billy Bean Team, comprised of players with high on-base percentages and low salaries.Begin Sli ...
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Article written by Ari Kramer
The All-Billy Beane Team: Undervalued Players Who Have a Knack for Reaching Base
Posted: 3rd October 2009 by Ari Kramer in MLBComments Off on The All-Billy Beane Team: Undervalued Players Who Have a Knack for Reaching Base