I’m still trying to figure out what Billy Beane is trying to accomplish with the A’s (not, as a Pirates/ Rangers fan, that I care).  He’s dumped the heart of his 2013 – 14 order – Cespedes, Donaldson, and Moss (nearly 90 HR/300 RBI) and gotten little in return – a 2 month pitcher rental, a weak-hitting third baseman, and some minor league trash.

Somehow, I don’t think there’s going to be a sequel to “Moneyball” – either the book or the movie.  The way I look at it, there’s one less team for the Resurgent Rangers to worry about in the AL West.

Of course I worry about Jon Daniels’ sanity, too – signing Choo for seven years on the basis of one good OBP year and not keeping the Boom Stick in Texas when ‘just’ 3/45 or 4/48 would have done it.  There’s a lot of tread still left on Cruz, especially as a RH DH.  Evidently, Seattle thinks so!  (And, he’s a helluva lot better in the clubhouse than Rios – a decent player, but Daniels can’t give him away).