Drama after drama on baseball field

Billy Beane fired back recently after Art Howe intimated that the unflattering portrayal of the former Athletics’ manager in the movie “Moneyball” was the general manager’s doing. “I was wondering who was going to be the first guy to think I produced, wrote or directed this movie,” Beane said. “Now I have my answer. (Howe’s) comments are completely misguided.” Howe described the move as “character assassination” and vented his hostility at how he was portrayed by actor Philip Seymour Hoffman. “Moneyball,” based on Michael Lewis’ book, stars Brad Pitt as Beane, bringing to life the GM’s unique front-office methods and how they played a role in the 2002 season, when Howe was Oakland’s skipper. – Contra Costa (Calif.) Times