2014 Playoff Cards: Nationals Gio Gonzalez 2006 Bowman Prospects Chrome #FG7 Gio Gonzalez

Tonight the Nationals face elimination for a second consecutive game versus the Giants. The Scheduled starters for the contest are two hurlers who passed through the Phillies minor league system Ryan Vogelsong and Gio Gonzalez.

2006 Bowman Prospects Chrome #FG7 Gio Gonzalez

Giants starter Vogelsong (of Nearby Octorara HS and Kutztown U) spent part of the 2010 season with the Iron Pigs, while Nats lefty Gio Gonzalez spent the 2006 season with Reading between stints with the Chicago Whilte Sox organization.

I have always been a fans of Gio's, while I barely recollect Vogelsong's stint in the Phillies organization. Coincidentally, I will be pulling for Gonzalez in this game despite that fact that Vogelsong has all his local connections.

Bowman Futures Game Prospects
In a previous 2014 Playoff Cards post dedicated to the Pirates Neil Walker we included a short write up on the 2006 Bowman Futures Cards. To read that posting click here and scroll down. The above Gio Gonzalez card is a Chorme Parallel of the base card.

Sources & Links
2014 Playoff Cards 
Baseball Cardpedia
baseball-ref

Snapshots 2013 07 09 Nationals 2 @ Phillies 4

Team Phungo finally got too see a Phillies W on Tuesday night. Phils won the game 4-2 behind the strong pitching of Cole Hamels 

Taylor Jordan v Darin Ruf

It has been warm and muggy here for about a week.  Tuesday was more of the same, but we did get occasional breezes and dodged the rain.  It is to small to make out the players here, but that is Darin Ruf batting, getting a start while Ryan Howard is on the DL.  
 

Cole Hamels v Bryce Harper

These two have a bit of a history,  Hamels came out on top last night as Harper went 0-3.

 Ben Revere

After a slow start to his Phillies career Ben Revere has been much improved recently. On Tuesday he went 2-4 raising his BA to .302.

Gio Gonzalez

Gio (shutting out the Phillies as I am writing this post) showing his support of Ian Desmond who is one of the finalists for the All-Star Game Final Vote

Previous 2013 Snapshot Postings
June 12 - Angels 9 @ Orioles 5
May 18 - Reds 10 @ Phillies 0
May 15 - Indians 10 @ Phillies 4
May 5 - Marlins 14 @ Phillies 2
April 20 - Cardinals 5 @ Phillies 0


Sources
baseball-ref.com
mlb.com

CC, Harden, Blanton? The Gio Effect

The top teams in the NL Central get CC Sabathia and Rich Harden. The Phillies Get Joe Blanton?

I can't get excited about this deal. In general Pitchers from the AL can expect to do better in the NL because of the no-DH, however Oakland is a huge park which benefits pitchers. I have grave concerns about Blanton's transfer to Citizen's Bank.

And what does this have to do with Gio Gonzalez. It seems like the Phils can't get away from this guy. First It comes over to the Phils in a deal that leaves the Phillies paying 7M dollars a year to hit home runs for the Chicago White Sox. Then he ends up being half of a deal back to the Chisox so the Phils can pay Freddy Garcia 10M to mend a busted arm - How much better would the Phils look right now with Floyd and Gonzalez in-house? Now the A's have to make room for Gio to start so they somehow get 2 prospects out of the Phils for a #3 or #4 starter.