Lebowitz: The final act of Moneyball is upon us

But the foundation is crumbling beneath Moneyball.

Reporters are still afraid to look at the Athletics of 2010——seven years after the book was published——for what they are.

They’re in a bastard of a division. They’re relying on a bunch of players who can field and not hit; hit and not field; a load of young (and talented) pitching; an oft-injured ace who’s being anointed as a guru; and a figurehead of a manager who’s going to be sent flying off the hot air balloon of Beane’s ego as ballast in a last-ditch effort for the “genius” to survive.

It’s coming down.

There’s no “wait and see”. No “give it a chance”. The chances are up. Beane’s out of options; out of money; out of capital. Lewis’s book——his caveats and the relentless defenders and final holdouts still defending Beane——are finished. Still crediting the book as truth; still saying Paul DePodesta, Sandy Alderson actually knew what they were doing as they took Moneyball and stat-based theories to its logical and ravaged conclusion; and attacking those that disagree with them isn’t working anymore.

... The story to watch isn’t whether or not it’s going to happen; the story is how quickly it spirals; and how Beane’s exit from Oakland will be orchestrated for him to save face. A face that is no longer salvageable to those that understand the truth. The truth that the book was a hackneyed lie whose fate is at hand. It won’t be a pretty sight. Nor should it be.

I can watch without flinching.

Can you?

Can they?

Thanks (?) to Cubano Carlos.