I think I've gotten over my initial shock over yesterday's Christmas surprise from the Nats by now. To refresh your memory:
Gio Gonzalez (assuming the "t's" are crossed and the "i's" dotted)
should be the #2 starter for the Nats when Opening Day rolls around. To get him, though, it meant sending 4 prospects over to Oakland. Tom Milone, Brad Peacock, AJ Cole...
...and,
Derek Norris?? Unfortunately, true. (This is where the shock came in, gang.)
But then I realized it made sense--Derek thrown into the deal, I mean. I'll explain:
Had he still been with the Nats, he'd be starting 2012 @ Syracuse backing up Carlos Maldanado (who the Nats re-signed the other day). Which meant it would've been 2013 or '14 before Derek would see time in Washington. As it stands now, he'll probably start the year @ the A's Triple-A...and
maybe get to Oakland before the year is out (or '13).
Now. as to Tom Milone and Brad Peacock...and again, I'm only
speculating here...there's a possibility one or both of them could see the bigs this year. After all, Brad only gave up 1 ER in 12 IP in September. And who can forget Tom Milone hitting the
very first pitch he saw in the bigs for a HR?
So now (for the moment) Gio Gonzalez is penciled in as the #2 starter behind Stephen Strasburg--and ahead of Jordan Zimmermann.
This'll work...lol
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Speaking of early X-mas presents...nice to see my favorite
Trolley Blogger decided to follow this little ol' blog of mine. Took your sweet time to do it, didn't you Mike? LMMFAO
So to the rest of you...follow his lead,
will you?? Oh, and Merry Christmas too!!
Gary
