The A's are not built to win in the playoffs. Beane has crafted a new image for what a baseball team is and how a team can win. At it's best, it can lead to a lot of wins over a long regular season. But it's proven time and time again that it fails in the playoffs.

You need stars to lead in the playoffs. The only reason the A's finally one a playoff series in 06 was because they lucked into Frank Thomas having a monster season for cheap, and they lucked into riding the Milton Bradley waive for a little while. Without those two, they lose to the Twins.

Until the A's get a power hitter in his prime, they won't ever really be a factor, which is a shame, and a depressing truth for A's fans.

The Giants, while they are rebuilding now, always have their goals set for a world series, and if they don't make serious strides towards that goal in the next two years, everyone in that front office will be gone.

Beane, on the other hand, has ulimate job security no matter what. That's what happens when winning a world series is not the goal. A's fans are happy with being competitive. It's a shame. Oakland fans get screwed by all their teams. So sad.