He’s been strictly a reliever in the majors and minors since 2005, but he was a starter before that. Didn’t last particularly long in his starts on average, though – 26 starts in 2004 and only 122 innings pitched. That’s not even 5 a game.

We already have a lot of starting pitching prospects in the Minors-we don’t really need anymore. In AAA next year we’ll already have Mazzaro, Outman, Cahill, Anderson and Simmons starting, who could all make it to the majors mid season if things break right for them. At the Major League level, we already have Gonzalez, Eveland, Smith and Gallagher in the rotation.

Gio is not going to be a starter come the beginning of the season unless his spring is phenomenal. Clearly, with braden’s recent success he has set himself up to at least compete not just for the no. 5 spot, but possibly the 3 or 4 spot. This is not me saying Braden is going to be amazing or anything, I just believe that’s the position he has put himself in. Duchsherer (barring trades) is the clear cut no. 1, and then from there it’s maybe Eveland? I believe with his success since coming back he has shown that he has made the necessary changes. Smith probably is pegged at 3, then Braden or Gallagher? I don’t know, the thing is that Gonzalez is clearly not ready yet, there is no way around that. Give him a real half season or so in Sacto and then bring him up.
Anyone know how the coaches like to line up the staff? If there are 3 lefties, do they like to go L-R-L-R-L or could we go with a righty, three lefties, and then a righty. In reality, it really doesn’t matter if done this way, other than the fear of having all three lefties in a three game series against a team that is stronger against them.

better than everyone but Duke. I know it’s a small sample size but he has also pitched 7+ in 3 of those, and if not for leaving early on Friday because of whatever it was, he most likely would have gotten in at least 7. I think he has shown that he is at least as valuable right now as Smith or Eveland…

well first of all, i was just saying that Braden has pitched himself into a position to have a good chance at a spot in the rotation come next year. and i’m not throwing era around like it’s a golden number, but i’m simply making a point that it is down, in fact about half of what it was last year as a starter. i would find it amusing if you think that means nothing. I also find it amusing if you think era means nothing, because there is a difference between a pitcher with an era of 6 and one of 3.5, quite a difference.
and i think that it’s quite an assumption to say the guy has “essentially doing the exact same thing”, when how could you possibly know that unless you have watched his every start and analyze where he’s pitching what and in what counts, etc. Just because a guy has the same pitches at the same velocity one year to the next can really mean nothing.
take a closer look at where he’s locating pitches, how he handles certain hitters.
i’m in no way saying braden is the a’s white light or anything, but don’t pawn me off as some idiot because i cite a stat that you think is useless especially in young pitchers.
all i’m saying is that braden has significantly outpitched gio and gallagher, and has maintained good stats (not great) over a few starts.

but isn’t there a glut of pitchers waiting in the wings now?

A pen of Ziegler, Devine, Outman, Blevins, Brown, and Casilla with Embree and Foulke gone. Brown stays in the pen, he’s coming from an injury and the last place the A’s need to put him is in the rotation.