It probably was mostly fun for them because they knew they could swindle guys in the end 9 times out of 10 but at the same time they probably hated it because it was probably always a moving target and wildly ranging valuations for transactions that they had to be driven crazy. i think it was mostly the former though must've felt like candy from a baby Am I imagining things are wasn't there a part in Moneyball where Beane said he liked working with Hendry for these reasons, or now that I'm thinking more about it was it something about him being surprised the Cubs took Brownlie because it was a surprisingly good pick. If that's the case Beane got the last laugh on that one... however they picked Blanton 3 picks later who 14 years later served up one of the most glorious dongs in Cubs history so we win.