Baseball

Let’s be honest; Moneyball hasn’t quite worked out over the last few years.

The Oakland Athletics had gone 457-353 under Billy Beane’s leadership when Moneyball was published after the 2002 season. They continued their success for the next four years, going 368-280, but have gone just 226-260 since 2007.

The World Series has wrapped up, and it has gotten chilly in the Midwest.

While some of the Tigers are home in the tropics or enjoying 18 holes in Florida, The Hammer Toss will keep you warm with the hot stove.   

Is it just me, or is the Tigers' front office being remarkably short-sighted about who will be playing second base in 2010?

This Article Originally Appeared on Friar Forecast

• Year: 1974
• Record: 72-90
• Win Percentage: .444
• Win Percentage Change: minus-81
• Run Differential: minus-148
• Pythagorean Record: 65-97
• AL Finish: 11th of 12
• Manager: Ralph Houk
• Best Transaction: Drafting Mark Fidrych and Lance Parrish. Fidrych is good because of his amazing rookie season, but his performance doesn’t exactly stand the test of time as he he was hurt for the rest of his career. The Tigers hit a home run with Parrish, though.
  

The following story has been written by former Major League baseball player, Buddy Biancalana, who is co-founder of PMPM Sports. As a 1st round draft pick by the Kansas City Royals, Buddy played Major League Baseball with the Royals and Houston Astros. As the starting shortstop for the 1985 World Champion Royals, he received the highest number of MVP votes of any position player.

Later today the Baseball Writers Association of America will announce who they’ve voted as this year’s American League Cy Young Award winner.

Although some believe there’s an obvious front-runner for the award, the field is still “technically” wide-open after a number of memorable performances last season.

A compelling argument could be made for a number of different AL hurlers, but in the end only one will walk away with the hardware.

Here’s a quick look at the top candidates for the Cy Young and why each of them does, or does not, deserve to take home the coveted award.

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