Moneyball Page #4

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is all we're looking at now.

And Jeremy gets on base

an awful lot for a guy

who only costs 285,000.

PITTARO:
Jeez, Billy--

BILLY:
Number two:

David Justice.

Oh, no.

ARTIE:
His legs are gone.

Not a good idea.

PITTARO:
Old Man Justice?

BILLY:
Why is that?

Steinbrenner's so pissed at

his decline, he's willing to eat

his contract to get rid of him.

Exactly.

Ten years ago, Justice, big name.

Been in big games.

He's gonna really help

our season tickets

early in the year,

but in the dog days in July,

August, we're lucky if he's

gonna hit his weight.

Billy, his legs are gone,

and he's a defensive liability.

I question whether

the bat speed's there.

His legs are gone.

BILLY:
Grady.

We'll be lucky to get 60 games

out of him. Why do you like him?

Because he gets on base.

HOPKINS:
What is this?

BARRY:
What are we doing?

BILLY:

Okay, number three:

[MARKER SQUEAKING]

Scott Hatteberg.

MAN 1:
Who?

MAN 2:
Hatteberg?

Exactly.

He sounds like an Oakland A

already.

Yes, he's had a little problem with--

Little problem? He can't throw.

He's a career .260 hitter.

The best part of his career is over.

It's just getting started.

Boston wants to cut him.

No one wants to pick him up.

Good. He's cheap.

GRADY:

Let me get this straight.

You're gonna get a guy

that's been released by

half the organizations

in baseball

because he's got

nonrepairable nerve damage

in his elbow and can't throw.

He can't throw

and he can't field.

But what can he do?

MAN 3:

Oh, boy.

Check your reports

or I'm gonna point at Pete.

ALL:
He gets on base.

He can get on base.

So he walks a lot.

He gets on base a lot, Rocco.

Do I care

if it's a walk or a hit?

Pete?

You do not.

BILLY:
I do not.

BARRY:
I got 37 free agents

that are better than those three guys.

Wait a minute,

let me get this straight.

So you're not gonna bring in one

but three defective players

to replace Giambi?

You're not buying into

this Bill James bullshit?

BILLY:
This is the new

direction of the A's.

We are card counters

at the blackjack table

and we're gonna turn the odds

on the casino.

I don't see it.

POTE:
Seriously, guys.

I think we have to remember

this is the man.

He answers to no one

except ownership and God.

And he doesn't

have to answer to us.

We make suggestions,

he makes decisions.

That's all fine and well,

but we've been working

our asses off

for weeks to make this club better,

and you're shitting all over it.

This is not a discussion.

BARRY:

What are we discussing?

Barry, not a discussion.

WASHINGTON:

Billy, man, um,

there's one thing

you're forgetting.

None of those three guys

knows how to play first base.

Well, you're gonna have

to teach one of them.

WASHINGTON:

Teach?

Which one?

[]

WOMAN [ON TV]:
This is really

the kickoff to the holiday season

here in downtown Seattle.

It took weeks of planning

to lead up to the big event,

but it was well worth it.

The weather was ideal.

People are still having a great time.

Thousands of people

were out earlier.

MAN:

We have a nice recap for you

of all the great events taking place

downtown in Seattle--

[PHONE RINGING]

Hello?

BILLY:
Scott?

Yes.

It's Billy Beane of the Oakland A's.

Yes.

Can we talk?

Uh, yeah.

Do you wanna let us in?

Pardon me?

We're out front.

What?

On the curb.

Uh, yeah, yeah.

Honey?

Oh, thank you.

Thank you, ma'am.

Very kind.

How's the elbow, Scott?

You know, it's good.

It's really good. It's great. Uh...

I can't throw the ball at all.

BILLY:
Yeah.

You've thrown your last ball

from behind home plate.

That's what I'd say.

Well...

Good news is,

we want you at first.

We want you to play

first base for the Oakland A's.

Okay, well,

I've only ever played catcher.

Scott, you're not

a catcher anymore.

If you were, our call wouldn't

have been the only one you got.

Yeah. Hey, listen, no, I appreciate it.

You're welcome.

But the thing is, is...

You don't know how to play first base.

Scott.

That's right.

It's not that hard, Scott.

Tell him, Wash.

It's incredibly hard.

Hey, anything worth doing is.

And we're gonna teach you.

Wait a minute here.

I mean, but what about--?

Jason's gone, Scott.

You want me to take

Giambi's spot at first base?

Yeah.

What about the fans?

Maybe I can teach one of them.

The fans don't-- Good one.

Fans don't run

my ball club.

SCOTT:

Honey, what are you doing awake?

Sweetheart, can you...?

That's my daughter.

You got kids?

Uh, yeah, a daughter.

Scott, this is a contract to play ball

for the Oakland A's.

A copy's been sent over

to your agent.

Discuss with your wife,

let us know.

Thank you.

Bye-bye.

Bye.

Oh, and, Scott.

SCOTT:
Yeah?

Don't tell anyone

about the first-base thing.

Yes, sir.

Okay.

Happy holidays.

All right.

[]

[DOORBELL RINGS]

Hey, Sharon.

Hi, Billy.

Is she ready?

She's out with friends.

But she'll be back. Come in.

Okay.

MAN:
Yeah, she's right here. Hold on.

Here you go.

Here, wanna have a seat?

Yeah.

You good, Billy?

Yeah. How are you, Alan?

Good. Really good.

Things are peaceful

around here.

It's good to see you.

Thanks, Alan.

I haven't got to see you

since play-offs.

I wanted to say that New York

was heartbreaking.

I'm sure for you too.

Not many teams make it that far,

and to watch you go that far was--

It was really an accomplishment.

Well, that's nice.

How is the team shaping up?

Team's good. Rebuilding.

SHARON:
Good.

I read you lost

Giambonni and Damon.

Giambi.

Giambi.

Yeah.

Damon, Isringhausen.

They're really--? They're gone?

Gone. Yesterday's news.

ALAN:
That's terrible.

No, but that is a tough situation.

That's...

You're gonna be fine, though.

You always figure something out.

Where is she?

Where was she?

Down the street or...?

Oh, sorry, yeah. I just

talked to her on her cell.

She's coming up the hill.

Okay.

She's got a cell phone?

SHARON:
Yeah.

A 12-year-old?

Yeah.

Huh.

For emergencies.

Big parenting decision.

But it's something that,

you know, we, you know,

all should discuss,

because if you have

any objections, of course...

Her mother and I

will discuss it.

But thank you.

Any of these?

Um...

I don't know.

Do you--?

This one's cool.

BILLY:

Is that good or bad?

Butterflies.

CASEY:
They're okay.

Look, that one's pretty.

I like the red.

Should we try?

No?

Oh, I like this one.

Yeah?

Dad, look at this one.

Look how it's red.

It's beautiful.

This one's pretty.

Let's try it out.

Just right here?

Why don't we go over there?

Can we go over there?

[CASEY HUMMING "THE SHOW"]

Oh, honey, you need to sing.

That's so good.

That's beautiful.

Sometimes I sing.

It's fun to sing with

your song, but I don't

want people to listen to me.

Well, honey, I think people

would love to listen to you.

That's beautiful.

Would you sing a little

for your dad?

Right here

in the middle of the store?

Little bit.

Little bit.

You ready?

I'm ready.

Okay.

I'm just a little bit

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