My jaw just dropped after reading this article and I had to post it for my first diary on AN. I don't know if this article has been posted before but wow it sure is very indicative of who was in charge.

http://mercextra.com/blogs/kawakami/2006/10/18/a-great-beane-macha-moment-i-just-remembered/#more-12 7

This pretty sums up what Billy thinks of his managers.  What big name managers would ever think about coming to Oakland and experiencing that kind of treatment.  I would assume that is why most predictions keep pointing to in house.