Billy Beane
Billy Beane
William Lamar "Billy" Beane IIIis an American former professional baseball player and current front office executive. He is the Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and minority owner of the Oakland Athletics of Major League Baseball. Prior to his front office career, he played in MLB as an outfielder between 1984 and 1989 for the New York Mets, Minnesota Twins, Detroit Tigers, and Oakland Athletics. He joined the Athletics front office as a scout in 1990. He was named general...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionBaseball Player
Date of Birth29 March 1962
CityOrlando, FL
CountryUnited States of America
This is a guy whose skill level and his presence in a lineup is undeniable. Even last year, if you look at the impact he had in the brief time he played, his skills are still there. Frank Thomas is a presence.
The details really weren't that big of a deal from a contractual standpoint. Just a couple of minor details. ... This is ultimately what we wanted to accomplish at the end of the season.
The goal, ... is competitive balance. If there is more competitive balance over the course of this year, I think that will signal that it's a step in the right direction. I'm confident that it will be.
If you bring in a lefty to face Eric (a left-handed hitter), and then he has to face Frank Thomas right behind him. It's certainly going to lend itself to a lot of thinking in the other dugout.
It's not always possible in our situation to get your perfect guy. As always we're going to make any improvements we can, whatever it is. If Sandy Koufax wanted to come to pitch for us, I don't think I'd say, 'No Sandy, we need a right-handed bat, you'll have to come back later.' It's just the nature of our situation.
It's a necessity. We've got to get it done. It's not something that's going to solve itself.
It's best to part ways at this point, ... We were never going to be able to bridge the gap.
That'll be a real shot in the arm for us.
It's like having calculus first period. You are not real happy when the alarm goes off, but by second period it's already over and you are running off to wood shop.
It's something you have to consider, no question. And that's out of respect for the guys already here.
It's something we didn't know about, but he came forward with the information, so I commend him for that.