Why I Love Billy Beane

Billy Beane needed outfield help and being the genius he truly is, he basically turned cash into Chris Snelling. The same Snelling who, at just 25, still has a chance to touch his minor league potential (.084 IsoOBP, .164 IsoSLG). And in doing so, he used one of my favorite ballplayers (and irrational man-crush) in Ryan Langerhans.

Last Sunday, the Oakland Athletics traded cash or a player to be named later for Langerhans, allowing the Braves to close the book on the guy they never seemed to truly want to give a real chance to in the first place. In 2005, rather than recognize Langer as the younger and better option, Bobby Cox started Brian Jordan and Raul Mondesi around Andruw Jones. If the outfield is a burger, the prime meat was surrounded by soggy buns.

Langerhans would eventually get Cox's trust, or so we thought, but then for no reason, he started Jordan in Game One of the 2005 NLDS against the Astros. Sure, Andy Pettitte was on the mound for the Astros, but if you are going to play that L/R game on me (and don't make me slap you), Langerhans's line against lefthanded pitchers was .293/.369/.431. Jordan's? .263/.329/.408. Langerhans did everything short of fluff Bobby's pillows (take that in anyway you feel necessary).

The next season, more of the same. Langerhans, who played his best after Jordan's injury in 2005 forced Bobby to play him regularly, was put back into a platoon situation and he struggled.

And then, this year. Okay, he sucked. But his value was higher than the Braves got for him. The A's took advantage of the situation and grabbed a slumping outfielder whose value was lower than his production. Billy Beane does that better than anyone. He then turned Langerhans into a better option in Chris Snelling, a former fast-riser in the Seattle organization that was a key part of the Jose Vidro trade to the Mariners. Snelling was hitting .204/.361/.327 for the Nationals in part-time action (47 AB).

Once again, Billy Beane invested $200K-$300K or a fledgling minor leaguer into a former star prospect who has suffered some injuries and put up a 109 OPS+ in limited action last season in his own division.

He's brilliant.

He also got Jack Cust, the perfect DH, to replace Mike Piazza in the lineup after Piazza was hurt. Cust is the classic example of a player in need of an organization and manager perfect for his capabilities to showcase himself. Despite a minor league career in which he has posted an .144 IsoOBP and .229 IsoSLG coming into this year, Cust has a grand total of 144 AB in 70 G to show for his career. He was killing the ball this year for San Diego's AAA club and finally will be given a chance to start at the major league level.

To many who follow the game, the twin Langer deals and trading for Cust mean so little. But look at the moves. Billy Beane made out like a bandit and may have added the offense that his A's club needs so badly. In the meanwhile, just making the deals is not akin to them actually working and proving productive.

Nevertheless, every GM could learn a bit about using market value to their advantage instead of working with market value.