MLB GM's: Billy Beane

Hello!    

          I'm introducing a brand new series! Every week, I will be drawing out a random team name from a hat. The team selected will have their General Manager evaluated and reviewed. This year is a special week, as I am evaluating and reviewing the Oakland Athletics General Manager, Billy Beane. However, here is some information to familiarize yourself with Billy.

        William Lamar "Billy" Beane III, was born on March 29th, 1962. Thought of as the best possible option of the 1980 Major League Baseball draft, many had expectations that he was the next " Yaz" or potentially a Lou Gehrig type of player. Scouts from around the country, from colleges and MLB clubs would visit Mt. Carmel High School in San Diego, California to have an advanced look at the young, yet talented outfield prospect. Despite being offered a scholarship to Stanford University, Billy Beane decided to officially enter the 1980 Major League Baseball draft, as he was projected to be a top five draft pick. However, fearful of Billy Beane potentially deciding to attend Stanford University instead of sign momentarily after he was drafted, Billy Beane's stock dropped until he was selected by the New York Mets with the 23rd overall pick of the 1980 Major League Baseball draft. Billy chose to sign with the New York Mets and planned to not attend Stanford University, where he would have replaced then starting quarterback of the Stanford Cardinals, sophomore John Elway.

         Billy Beane was told to report to the Little Falls Mets, the Class A New York Mets team of the New-York Penn League. Although, Billy Beane struggled in his first season of professional baseball, hitting only .210, the New York Mets decided to promote Billy to the Lynchburg Mets, the Class A- Advanced Carolina League squad then for the Mets. After a bounce back season, he was promoted to the  Double- A affiliate of the NY Mets, the Jackson Mets. Soon after, he earned a promotion to the MLB level.

          A career .219 batter in the Major League Baseball levels, Billy was angered after he was assigned back to minor league camp. Therefore, he marched straight to then General Manager of the Oakland Athletics and asked for a position of an " Advanced scout." Since being promoted to General Manager on October 17th, 1997, Billy Beane was the mastermind of the era of " Moneyball," of which he used sabermetrics to evaluate underrated and undervalued players.

         As the 2014 Major League Baseball trade deadline was approaching, Billy Beane made an extraordinary move, of which he traded star outfielder and two-time reigning Home Run Derby champion Yoenis Cespedes to the Boston Red Sox in exchange for ace Jon Lester and solid outfielder Johnny Gomes. The Oakland Athletics now arguably have the best starting rotation because of how Billy Beane bolstered the pitching staff. With aces Sonny Gray, Scott Kazmir, Jon Lester and Jeff Samardzija, the American League West is in for trouble. Overall, out of a scale of one hundred, I would rate Billy Beane as a 98.3, he is energetic, enthusiastic and enjoys the sound and the bragging rights of winning.