News items?

Now that the Nats and Orioles have wrapped up their annual exercise...with the O's pulling it out yesterday on Brian Roberts' 2-run homer...I guess I can talk about some other things in the baseball world.
If they had told me when the season started Kevin Youkilis would become expendable in late June, I would've told you that you were a candidate for Bellevue. But that's what happened yesterday, as Youk goes to the White Sox for Brent Lillibridge.
I had this feeling when I started reading about Will Middlebrooks, that Youk's days were numbered in Boston. So I can say I got to see him play in person when I was there 2 weeks ago. Anyway...
So happy to see Derek Norris make it to Oakland...and just as overjoyed when he hit a 3-run walkoff jack yesterday to win it for the A's. (To refresh your memory, he went over--along w/Tom Milone, AJ Cole and Brad Peacock--in the Gio Gonzalez deal in the winter.)
They have a new hero in Oakland now, and his name is Derek Norris.
Lastly, Livan Hernandez is in Milwaukee now. Can't fault Livo for wanting to extend his career, but I still wish he were here w/the Nats (even if it meant coming out of the bullpen like he said he wanted to do). Oh well, we can't have everything go our way...lol
At any rate, we're still in first. Now on to Colorado for three...

A matter of "Gio"-physics, I guess...lol

     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