PHOENIX -- As lefty Brett Anderson burst onto the big-league scene last year, he had all the looks of a No. 1 pitcher in the making, which is why the A's are so excited this year to have him as their No. 3.
The A's were thrilled to see righties Trevor Cahill and Vin Mazzaro and lefty Gio Gonzalez show flashes of brilliance last year, which makes them feel even better about their plan to leave two of them out of this year's rotation.
Is Moneyball dead? If you looked at the A's on-field results over the last few years, it would be easy to get that impression. Oakland has floundered at or near the bottom of the AL West for the last three seasons, a precipitous fall from where they were at the start of the 2006 ALCS -- four wins away from the World Series and in the midst of one of the most successful runs in franchise history.
From 1999-2006, the A's had a winning record every season, twice won more than 100 games, won the AL West four times and made five playoff appearances. Billy Beane detractors love to point out that, despite his apparent genius in Michael Lewis' memorable tome, his teams have won only one playoff series. They have even more fodder for criticism after the last couple of seasons.
Of course, the legacy of Moneyball is merely a side story in the Bay Area. The A's still have a young roster, but there is actual experience up and down it. They are also-rans in the deep AL West, but also capable of throwing a wrench into the plans of their divisional rivals. Who knows? Maybe Beane's dormant club can rise again.
The Academy Awards were last night, and it was a good night for the movie The Blind Side as Sandra Bullock won the Best Actress award for her portrayal of Leigh Anne Tuohy. Of course, the movie was based on the Michael Lewis book of the same name, and now we have some news on the latest Michael Lewis book that will soon be appearing on the big screen.
The Moneyball movie has gone through quite a number of changes since the decision to turn the crazy computer and math adventures of Billy Beane and the Oakland Athletics front office into a movie, and though Brad Pitt is still playing the role of Beane and Aaron Sorkin is still writing the movie, there's been another change made. Paul DePodesta will no longer be played by Demetri Martin, but rather Jonah Hill.
PHOENIX -- For all the brave talk about how good Ben Sheets felt and how he looked in January, there was still some anxiety over what might happen on Friday.
Sheets pitched competitively for the first time since 2008. Coincidentally, the new A's right-hander did so against the only team he had ever known in his big-league career -- the Brewers.
"I was a little nervous," Sheets said after his outing. "Seventeen months since I last faced a batter. I ain't gonna lie. I was nervous out there. Once I got in I felt pretty good. The batter kind of eases your mind and makes you realize you've got to go after it."
PHOENIX -- If it's possible to have a successful rehab story before the first live batting practice session of the spring, Ben Sheets is it. The former Brewers ace is now with the A's, feeling as good as ever and penciled in to start Opening Day.
Sheets, who has thrown two bullpen sessions in camp with his new team, said everything is feeling "great" now.
Truth to be told, he wasn't sure that he'd ever feel this way again, or that he'd ever have a chance to throw another major league pitch.
PHOENIX -- As lefty 
Is Moneyball dead? If you looked at the A's on-field results over the last few years, it would be easy to get that impression. Oakland has floundered at or near the bottom of the AL West for the last three seasons, a precipitous fall from where they were at the start of the 2006 ALCS -- four wins away from the World Series and in the midst of one of the most successful runs in franchise history.
The Academy Awards were last night, and it was a good night for the movie The Blind Side as 
PHOENIX -- For all the brave talk about how good 
PHOENIX -- If it's possible to have a successful rehab story before the first live batting practice session of the spring, 
