Billy Beane

From left, Billy Beane, the new executive vice president of baseball operations for the Oakland A's, and San Francisco Giants CEO Larry Baer exemplify the have-and-have-not disparity in Major League Baseball. (Associated Press)

Baer wants more, Beane eyes door

It was a day that reminded us who plays baseball on a…

From left, Billy Beane, the new executive vice president of baseball operations for the Oakland A's, and San Francisco Giants CEO Larry Baer exemplify the have-and-have-not disparity in Major League Baseball. (Associated Press)
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady has given presidential hopeful Donald Trump his endorsement. (Steven Senne/AP)

Brady supports Trump — what a country

Honest, forthright, selfless guy that he is, Tom Brady stands behind a…

New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady has given presidential hopeful Donald Trump his endorsement. (Steven Senne/AP)
Oakland Athletics manager Bob Melvin, left, speaks beside general manager Billy Beane during a media conference Wednesday after receiving a two-year contract extension that takes him through the 2018 season. (Ben Margot/AP)

Last-place A’s reward Melvin

Not only do some nice guys finish last, they also get two-year…

Oakland Athletics manager Bob Melvin, left, speaks beside general manager Billy Beane during a media conference Wednesday after receiving a two-year contract extension that takes him through the 2018 season. (Ben Margot/AP)
Oakland A's manager Bob Melvin signed a two-year extension with the ball club on Wednesday. (Eric Risberg/AP)

Love that Bob, but Melvin should want more

Balls likes Bob Melvin. Has for a while. Good guy. Knows baseball.…

Oakland A's manager Bob Melvin signed a two-year extension with the ball club on Wednesday. (Eric Risberg/AP)
Athletics third base coach Mike Gallego, right, was fired under some curious circumstances Monday. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)

In Gallego, A’s find their scapegoat

Oh, so he was the problem all this time. You know, Athletics…

Athletics third base coach Mike Gallego, right, was fired under some curious circumstances Monday. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
Sonny side down

Sonny side down

In this empty A’s season where the fans clearly don’t matter, where…

Sonny side down
Oakland Athletics' Ben Zobrist, left, is congratulated by Billy Butler after scoring against the San Francisco Giants during the fourth inning of a baseball game in San Francisco. (Jeff Chiu/AP Photo)

A’s send Zobrist to Royals

OAKLAND — The Kansas City Royals have made another big addition for…

Oakland Athletics' Ben Zobrist, left, is congratulated by Billy Butler after scoring against the San Francisco Giants during the fourth inning of a baseball game in San Francisco. (Jeff Chiu/AP Photo)
A's fans will have to find new players to root for after the recent trades of Scott Kazmir, Tyler Clippard and Ben Zobrist. (Ben Margot/AP)

Say it ain’t ‘Zo: Hard to be A’s fan these days

Cheer up, A’s fans! There’s only 67 days left in this train…

A's fans will have to find new players to root for after the recent trades of Scott Kazmir, Tyler Clippard and Ben Zobrist. (Ben Margot/AP)
The Athletics' Ben Zobrist, right, has become a hot name in the trade market, and the rival Giants are among the teams interested in him. (Ben Margot/AP)

Zobrist stands as symbol of Giants-A’s feud

Other than holding a sign that says “Will Hit For Playoff Share,”…

The Athletics' Ben Zobrist, right, has become a hot name in the trade market, and the rival Giants are among the teams interested in him. (Ben Margot/AP)
A’s general manager Billy Beane waved a white flag on the season when he traded pitcher Scott Kazmir, above, to Houston, leading to public discussion on the way owner Lew Wolff does business. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Time for Wolff to sell A’s

They still came to the ballpit, a few thousand folks on a…

A’s general manager Billy Beane waved a white flag on the season when he traded pitcher Scott Kazmir, above, to Houston, leading to public discussion on the way owner Lew Wolff does business. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
The Los Angeles Dodgers were among the teams on Sunday that scouted left-handed trade bait Cole Hamels of the Philadelphia Phillies. (Matt Slocum/AP)

Hamels or not, Dodgers have lots to prove

Only 12 days remain before the non-waiver trade deadline, and you know…

The Los Angeles Dodgers were among the teams on Sunday that scouted left-handed trade bait Cole Hamels of the Philadelphia Phillies. (Matt Slocum/AP)
Oakland A's general manager Billy Beane and his fourth-place team have had a season full of disappointments. (Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP)

The tortured year of Billy Beane

So this is what’s left of the fallen baseball savant: an occasional…

Oakland A's general manager Billy Beane and his fourth-place team have had a season full of disappointments. (Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP)
A’s general manager Billy Beane needs to be patient before tearing down the 2015 ballclub because the playoffs are still a possibility but, more importantly, the team’s future in Oakland is at risk. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg)

This time, no Beane-counting

If we may enter the brainstream of the never-mainstream Billy Beane, he…

A’s general manager Billy Beane needs to be patient before tearing down the 2015 ballclub because the playoffs are still a possibility but, more importantly, the team’s future in Oakland is at risk. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg)
A's starter Scott Kazmir could be headed to the Chicago Cubs — along with the versatile Ben Zobrist — before the trade deadline. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)

A’s lose again, trade rumors mount

As the sun continues to fade on the Athletics in the West,…

A's starter Scott Kazmir could be headed to the Chicago Cubs — along with the versatile Ben Zobrist — before the trade deadline. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)
Jae C. Hong/AP PhotoFormer Oakland Athletics superstars Yoenis Cespedes

Dickey: Ownership, not Beane, always deserves blame for A's demise

Most of the A's problems this season have come because it's difficult…

Jae C. Hong/AP PhotoFormer Oakland Athletics superstars Yoenis Cespedes
Reinhold Matay/AP File PhotoOakland Athletics general manager Billy Beane talks with the media at the annual baseball general managers meeting in Orlando

A’s stick to their unusual plan

The rest of the baseball world doesn’t quite know what’s happening with…

Reinhold Matay/AP File PhotoOakland Athletics general manager Billy Beane talks with the media at the annual baseball general managers meeting in Orlando
Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP File PhotoA's pitcher Scott Kazmir was lights out in his season debut Wednesday

Balls: Would be nice for Kazmir to stay a while

Brace yourselves, A’s fans. You’ve see this tear-jerker before. The other team…

Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP File PhotoA's pitcher Scott Kazmir was lights out in his season debut Wednesday
Ben Margot/AP file photoA's owner Lew Wolff needs a viable option for a stadium

Mariotti: Save the A's, Oakland

You keep staring at the flaws and kinks and oddities until your…

Ben Margot/AP file photoA's owner Lew Wolff needs a viable option for a stadium
Eric Risberg/APthletics' Stephen Vogt

Opening victory shows A’s system is intact

OAKLAND — This is how the A’s survive. You learn to love…

Eric Risberg/APthletics' Stephen Vogt
Eric Risberg/AP PhotoWill general manager Billy Beane get hungry for a championship ring if the A’s don’t produce a World Series winner soon? His pedigree will easily land him a spot with a big-market club.

Balls: Is it time for comfy Beane to get a move on?

Happy 53rd, Billy Beane. Now tell us, Mr. Moneyball, how much longer…

Eric Risberg/AP PhotoWill general manager Billy Beane get hungry for a championship ring if the A’s don’t produce a World Series winner soon? His pedigree will easily land him a spot with a big-market club.