2012 Phungo Cards #23 Freddy Garcia

Over the weekend news came down that Freddy Garcia was released from the San Diego Padres, for whom he was trying to get a 5th starter spot.  

2012 Topps #23 Freddy Garcia

The bullpens at Camden Yards are beyond center field and afford fans a great opportunity to see pitchers up close. If you get there early enough to see batting practice, you will also likely be able to catch the warm ups of the starting pitchers.

This pix was taken prior to a game on April 24 2011. Garcia threw six innings of shutout ball that day and would have won the game had it not been for a blown save by Mariano Rivera. In 2011 Freddy Garcia was a pleasant surprise for the Yankees much of the year, but he was unable to repeat that performance in 2012. As spring training winds down teams will be finalizing their opening day rosters and Garcia may find a spot to continue is career. Based off his poor spring I would think it is unlikely that he gets picked up right now, but he will be out there when a starter somewhere goes down.

Garcia has had a solid career, 152 Wins, 1 World Series Championship with the 2005 White Sox.  The big exception is his 2007 stint with the Phillies (1-5, 5.90 ERA).  Even worse the Phillies traded two prospects for Freddy Garcia - Gavin Floyd AND Gio Gonzalez.  Floyd has had mixed success since 2007. Gio Gonzalez is now one of the top opposing pitchers in the Phillies own division with the Stinking Washington Nationals. 

That's right - for the first time I referred to the Nats as the Stinking Washington Nationals - I have finally admiited the Nats are a major threat for 2013 and forward.