Zachary Levine looks at the A's propensity under Billy Beane to sign (or, in the case of Adam Dunn, acquire) aging sluggers to play designated hitter. Sometimes it works (Frank Thomas, David Justice), sometimes it doesn't (Eric Karros, Nomar Garciaparra), sometimes it's whatever (Frank Thomas the second time, Mike Piazza, Jason Giambi, Mike Sweeney, Hideki Matsui).