$5 Million into the Ben Sheets Experiment

The Oakland Athletics have played 79 games, and while they have not quite reached the midway point of their season, Ben Sheets has. The Athletics' right-hander has made 17 starts and has accumulated a 3-7 record with a 5.05 ERA.

Most A's fans ignored his early struggles and cited the fact that he did not pitch at all in 2009. Fans expected Sheets to struggle early, but to regain his form as the season progressed.

Unfortunately for A's fans this is not what happened.

Sheets went eight starts between his second and third wins and posted an ERA of 3.94.

Billy Beane and the Oakland Athletics made a big investment in Sheets this off-season and he has not lived up to his contract.

The A's were hoping to get a number one starter and a veteran leader to help mentor the younger pitchers. Instead, they got neither.

Trevor Cahill has emerged as the ace of the staff, and although he is a veteran, I do not know how much the young starting pitchers will want to listen to a struggling pitcher who is constantly frustrated and trying to control his pitches.

A quick look at Ben Sheets numbers thus far show that he has "earned" $1.67 million for each win, $714,285 for each loss, $83,333 for each run, and $50,454 for each inning pitched.