Shortly after the release of the movie, a video was released on YouTube that spoofed Pitt’s film version of Moneyball. The spoof, appropriately titled “Too Much Moneyball,” is a highly enjoyable parody of Moneyball. Instead of following the cash-strapped A’s, “Too Much Moneyball” tells the tale of the New York Yankees and all their spending ways.

It’s a very funny and creative video that I’ve viewed at least a dozen times today. Check it by clicking here! (more…)

And Harden, 29, would’ve been a nice pick up for Boston, a team in search for much needed pitching help. Unfortunately, the talks ultimately fell through, as the Red Sox did not like the reports on Harden’s medical history. Harden has always battled injuries throughout his entire career, but when he’s healthy, many consider him a very solid right-hander.

If the deal had gone through, the Red Sox would’ve received Harden and the A’s would’ve gotten Anderson. With Daric Barton out for the season, and Chris Carter trying to break through on the big-league level, Oakland currently has a few question marks surrounding first base. (more…)

The A’s were shut out for the 10th time on Thursday night, the first of a crucial four-game series with the AL West leading Rangers.  They followed that up with being shut out for the 11th time on Sunday, and the A’s fell to 39-53 and are now 12 games back of first place.

Under normal circumstance the opportunity to face the division leader with a chance to end up four or six games back at the All-Star break is more than enough to get excited.

But it’s not. Not even close.

These A’s provide a different set of circumstances, making the talk of “contending,” or buying as opposed to selling, during this series somewhat laughable, leaving me either feeling intellectually perplexed or fighting off salty discharge from my eyes, depending on what kind of mood I’m in.

The A’s—and their dwindling fan base—are made to believe they are still contenders by way of their relatively close proximity to first place, a complete and utter farce directly attributable to MLBs absurd division alignment that has left one division with four teams (the AL West), while all other divisions have either five or six teams.

This commitment to mediocrity by all four teams in the AL West obscures the monumental shortcomings of this year’s A’s team, and thus the front office’s shortcomings for years.

Indeed, winning 7 out of 9 games will get the A’s right back in the thick of things, but the A’s team—evident to anyone who has a pulse and is breathing—has shown nothing that offers a scintilla of evidence to presume such a streak is on the horizon.

Though A’s fans—including myself—would have preferred taking three out of four, or goodness gracious a sweep, of the Rangers so that we could enter the All-Star break feeling good about the team and the rest of the season, it perhaps only would have prolonged the inevitable (that the A’s are not good enough to stick around and contend, even in the AL West), prolonged the agony for fans, and been detrimental to next year’s team.

After the team’s struggles in April, Beane told Joe Stiglich of the Mercury News that there was no need to be concerned—unless it continued all year.

“These guys have a track record,” Beane said  “I don’t think you press any panic button in April.  If you were asking me this question in June, I might have a different answer.”

It’s July, Billy.  And your team has not gotten better.  It’s gotten worse.

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