For many sabermetric types, the A’s of recent seasons have represented the ideal offense: a slugging (and sluggish) line-up that understands the importance of drawing walks and swinging for the fences. Little ball is not in vogue at the Coliseum. Oakland’s popularity among the stat-geek crowd also derives in no small part from the fact that A’s General Manager Billy Beane knows what on-base percentage and slugging percentage are without having to consult the glossary of Total Baseball.

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