Oakland A's Win A.L. West: "It Ain't Magic!"

The Oakland Athletics have just won the American League West division.  The A's payroll is $55,372,500, which puts them only ahead of the San Diego Padres and behind every other team in the Majors.  For the sake of perspective I must speak of the polarizing New York Yankees, who maintain a payroll of $197,962,289.  The A's knocked off their division rivals, the Texas Rangers, who enjoy a payroll of $120,510,974.  The Phillies and Red Sox are 20 million behind the Yankees, while the Angels are 40 million poorer than those Yanks.  But back to the A's, they are $142,589,789 less than New York on their payroll!  

So, all of this being said, what can really be said?  In light of Hollywood's production of Billy Beane and the Oakland A's in Moneyball, popular culture has a general sense of how the A's operate.  What I find so fascinating is that we learn from the movie that the rest of general managers in the game have imitated Beane's statistical approach, and yet, it is these same A's who time and time again are right in the playoff mix.  People let's remember, they are the 2nd poorest team in the game!!

There is almost nothing that gets me so fired up in the sports world then when small market teams challenge the larger ones.  My team is the Red Sox, I will make no excuses for that.  I have always been intrigued however by the Minnesota Twins under manager Ron Gardenhire.  In terms of payroll, the Twins are about middle of the pack at $94,085,000.  These Athletics are even way behind Minnesota.  I hope it doesn't seem as though I am beating a dead horse, but this payroll thing is truly worthy of emphasis.  

The A.L. west was won... "how was it won?"... by the Oakland Athletics!  Beane and others have assembled some gritty talent on the diamond again this year.  With the likes of Grant Balfour and Brandon McCarthy hurling away, while Brandon Moss, Josh Donaldson, Stephen Drew hold down the infield, and Seth Smith, Josh Reddick, Coco Crisp, and Jonny Gomes patrol the outfield (while they also can swing hot bats), it is clear that this bunch of ballplayers can really play!

I will be tickled pink if the A's can find any sort of momentum this postseason.  One thing is clear: this ain't magic!  Billy Beane and Oakland fit together like peanut butter and jam.  This is not chance, rather is it luck.  Oakland is back and ready for fall baseball.  Go A's Go!  Go and make some noise!