Moneyball/YMMV

• Downer Ending: A real-life example - the system espoused by Beane hasn't really been all that successful for the A's. They've won their division only a handful of times in the 13 years since Beane took over, and of the times where they managed to make the playoffs, they only won the divisional series once and then lost in the league championship series, which was in 2006, the last year they made the playoffs. Plus there's the Harsher in Hindsight-ness as well.
• Harsher in Hindsight: Several of the A's Beane was praised for signing in the book were later implicated in the Mitchell Report. Most notably, Jason Giambi. Several other players were poached by big money teams. Most notably, Nick Swisher to the Yankees.
• Hey, It's That Guy!:
  • Benjamin Button is the General Manager, with a Rock and Roll assistant.
  • Truman Capote is the Field Manager.
  • Andy is a catcher who has to switch to first-baseman to keep his career going.
  • Buttercup is Beane's ex-wife.
• Tear Jerker: It's very hard not to get misty-eyed while listening to Beane's daughter sing for him, especially if you're a father.
• The Woobie: Beane trying so hard to put together to win the World Series with so little money and currently (October 2011) he still hasn't yet.
• Crowning Music of Awesome: The combination of music and clips for "The Streak".
  • Also Kerris Dorsey's cover of The Show.