Washington Praises Beane, Daniels & "Moneyball"
ST. LOUIS (AP) - Ron Washington was on the coaching staff in Oakland when general manager Billy Beane was pioneering the Moneyball concept of building a major league team.
Beane relied heavily on advanced statistics rather than old-school scouting, a process Michael Lewis chronicled in the bestselling book, "Moneyball." The book has been turned into a major motion picture starring Brad Pitt as the A's general manager.
Given the success Washington has had with the Rangers, who can win their first World Series by beating St. Louis in Game 6 on Thursday night, perhaps they made the movie about the wrong person.
"No," Washington said flatly.
"You know," he continued, "I was in Oakland when all of that happened, and to me it was a great movie about a general manager that was hamstrung as far as dollars go, and he had to find players and put them together under a formula that he thought would work."
Washington said he's a "big fan" of Beane, who gave him a chance to be a major league coach, and later a glowing review to Rangers general manager Jon Daniels. That allowed Washington to land his first job as a big league manager.
"As I always say, the things that you accomplish in life, it always comes from other people extending themselves to help you," Washington said, "and he's certainly been a big part in my career since I finished playing baseball."
