I figure celebration fatigue has to be setting in.

was trying to tease me to death. I was in section 107, and he came by 108 3 times without making it to 107 (those guys in 108 were buying all the hot chocolate). I hope they send out more vendors on nights like this in the future, though, it was a great idea.

I said soon after the Harden trade, in the midst of all the caterwalling that Beane had gotten pwned by Hendry — fueled in equal parts by wildly optimistic estimations by AN members of Harden’s trade value prior to the trade and speculative assumptions that Beane could have had Rasmus or Vitters or some other elite hitting prospect — that Gallagher was far more valuable than he was being characterized by the majority of AN.

Gallagher was labeled as nothing more than a #3 starter on AN despite the fact that scouting reports labeling him as a #3 starter failed to reflect his increase in velocity and improved command after his weight loss and refinement as a pitcher. This was likely caused by the fact that AN members instantly go out after a trade and review publicly available scouting reports that are often out of date, and then take those scouting reports as gospel instead of the snap shots that scouting reports can be when a prospect improves his abilities through development.

Some people on AN even said really stupid things like, “We already have Simmons, who is the same thing as Gallagher, so why do we want him?” These types of comments ignored the fact that Simmons was pitching in AA, had less velocity, less movement on his fastball, and lacked a plus offspeed pitch, although Simmons did have better command. Gallagher was already pitching like a #3 starter in MLB at the age of 22 with projectable potential to get better, while Simmons was a guy who someday might be a #3 starter. Equating Gallagher to Simmons and dismissing his value was wrong.

Gallagher may not ever be an ace, but it is worth noting that he compares favorably stuff-wise at his age to a young man that was considered to be a 3/4 starter when acquired, who took advantage of good coaching and his own effort and talent to continue to improve every year and become one of the best pitchers in baseball over the last two years. We traded that guy last offseason for six legitimate prospects, four of which have already played in Oakland this year, and the other two just happens to be one of the best pitching prospects in baseball and a guy that hit over 40 homers in the minors this year.

Gallagher has the talent to be that kind of pitcher, who can improve every year and either be a significant contributor to the next contending team or a highly valuable trade asset to acquire a missing piece needed to become that contending team. Even if he never gets any better than he has been this year, one need look no further than the package acquired for Blanton to see how much teams will pay for pitcher who can eat innings and not embarrass himself.

Beane knew what he was doing when he demanded Gallagher, and barring injury, his decision to trade Harden to the Cubs when Gallagher was made available will be vindicated. It’s nice to see one of the guys who dismissed him as nothing more than a #3 starter now recognize his potential. Eventually the rest of AN will catch up, and probably convince themselves that they knew all along.