Oakland A's general manager Billy Beane's approach, documented in the best-selling book Moneyball, turned "a walk is as good as a hit" from an often-ignored aphorism into gospel. One of its most faithful proponents at any level of baseball is T-Bones centerfielder Rick Prieto, who boosted his on-base percentage to Barry Bonds proportions last year while setting a league record for walks. Though he swung selectively, Prieto managed a team-record 17-game hitting streak and led the league in triples. He put more pitches in play, bolstering his power numbers. The speedy switch-hitter and flashy fielder did minor-league time with the White Sox, the Padres, the Indians and the Dodgers before becoming the T-Bones' table-setter. In July, the team immortalized him with a Bobblehead likeness. Mike Sweeney
