Bret Bielema is channeling his inner Billy Beane

Michael Lewis’ classic book Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game tells the story of the 2002 Oakland Athletics. The film version was written by known creative liberties-taker (and my personal writing hero) Aaron Sorkin and stars perpetually-eating-onscreen Brad Pitt as Oakland General Manager Billy Beane. In the film/book, Beane and his newly minted sidekick Paul DePodesta (called “Peter Brand” and portrayed by Mr. Homie Superpowers himself Jonah Hill) tried to find a way to overcome their moribund situation.

The 2002 Oakland A’s were saddled with baseball’s lowest payroll by ownership. Beane, who had achieved some success (including a 100+ win season in 2001), thought it was time…