This is unbelieveable, even for Billy Beane. It's as if trading were a reflex, and, punched out cold, the first thing he does upon awakening is to flip open a cellphone and get Ned Colletti or Kevin Towers on speed dial.

But maybe they just see that his only value is as a DH, and now is the first time that they have actually had a DH slot to use him in.

I guess he'll hit better than Danny Putnam at this stage, so I guess that's something. What would be really interesting is if he ends up hitting better than Mike Piazza.

I've seen that sentence construction and content before in other places, but never has its intent been so blindingly obvious. Kudos and well done.

Or does that fall under some other literary term that I'm not familiar with?

I would say it is ironic if it weren't for the serious injury Piazza suffered to his groin back in 02 or 03. Think, Bob, think.

C'mon, that's not fair at all. I have a real hard time believing that Beane is unaware of that ARod and Pujols are better than Jack Cust and Chris Snelling. Besides, what universe are you living in where either of them (or any other star-calibre player) are available for trade right now? Or that Oakland can afford. These are short term, emergency, injury replacement trades - not guys that Beane's been pining for and finally got. If he has to get a AAAA player, he'll get guys that get on base and have power over chemistry, versatility, and experience.

I think the interesting thing about what the A's are going through right now is that it is very reminiscent of what the Dodgers went through in 2005 under Beane protoge Paul DePodesta. Do 'sabermetric' GM's have a blindspot over durability in their quest for efficiency and cost-effectiveness?

Btw, the Dodgers have an experienced outfielder in Larry Bigbie currently playing in AAA Las Vegas and tearing it up. (Again, for what that's worth.) They have to make a decision about him within the month, I believe. I wonder why Beane wasn't interested in him (or maybe he was?) He's doing a combo of OF and DH there at Vegas.

Paragraph two: Often-injured players (like Snelling) are undervalued.