Washington Nationals Reaction: Joe Ross is the Real Deal
Jun 19, 2015; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals starting pitcher Joe Ross (41) throws to the Pitsburgh Pirates during the fourth inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
Joe Ross: The Real Deal
If any of the Nationals young pitchers were expected to come up and contribute from the farm system in 2015, the most likely candidate would have been A.J. Cole, who’s long been touted as one of the best young arms in all of the minors. But Joe Ross is quickly doing everything he can to make Nats fans push their desire to see Cole in the big leagues back another year.
While the trade of Steven Souza has been called, at times, a bad idea, particularly given the Nats injury troubles in the outfield and Souza’s home run numbers, it appears the decision to acquire Ross was worth the sacrifice. After all, with the injuries to Doug Fister and Stephen Strasburg, Nats fans must ask themselves where the team would be if Ross was still out in San Diego. Add in the fact that Washington also netted Ian Desmond‘s eventual replacement in the deal, and Rizzo looks once again like he’s fleecing other GMs.
Ross has been everything the Nationals have needed him to be, and at this point, it’s fair to wonder if Tanner Roark, once he returns from paternity leave, will be forced back into the bullpen. After all, Ross has pitched over seven innings in two of his three outings, while Roark has topped out at seven in the games he’s started. Given the subpar performances from the bullpen so far this season, it just makes more sense to move Roark back.
The Nationals have to like what they’ve seen from Ross so far. The team just has to hope that there’s more to come from him, while fans hope that there’s more of the same to come from the offense.