Gavin Floyd

Good morning -- Gavin Floyd -- Welcome to the Phillies' starting rotation. Another Mount St. Joe alum makes good, along with Mark Teixeira and Will Thomas.

WASHINGTON - What happened to Philadelphia Phillies right-hander Gavin Floyd in yesterday's start against the Washington Nationals was a microcosm of the former Mount St. Joseph star's season. Floyd gave up three runs on six hits in six innings as Washington handed the Phillies a 6-1 loss before 32,251 at RFK Stadium. He struck out six and walked one but couldn't find his curveball in the first few innings, hit two batters and nearly beaned a few others. The 22-year old gave up a three-run homer to Brian Schneider in the second inning but soon found his curve and buckled several batters' knees with it while blanking the Nationals after that.

Moves Baseball ANGELS: Purchased contract of IF Zach Sorensen from Triple-A Salt Lake. Released P Tim Bittner. DIAMONDBACKS: Reinstated P Oscar Villarreal from 60-day DL. Recalled P Brian Bruney, C Koyie Hill and IF Andy Green from Triple-A Tucson. CARDINALS: Purchased contract of P Tyler Johnson from Triple-A Memphis. DODGERS: Recalled C Mike Rose from Triple-A Las Vegas. Purchased contract of P Hong-Chih Kuo from Double-A Jacksonville. Transferred OF Milton Bradley from 15-day DL to 60-day DL. GIANTS: Activated P Scott Munter from 15-day DL. Recalled C Justin Knoedler from Triple-A Fresno.

In September 2003, a reluctant Jerry Narron talked a bit about his interest in becoming a major league manager again. It looked like the Orioles were about to fire Mike Hargrove, and Narron, then bench coach for Boston Red Sox manager Grady Little, was rumored to be a candidate. An Orioles coach under Johnny Oates and a minor league manager in the Orioles' organization, Narron took the professional approach, saying he didn't want to speculate about a job that wasn't vacant. But he acknowledged that he loved Baltimore and would be honored to try to steer the Orioles back to respectability.

St. Paul's pitcher Steve Johnson tied Gavin Floyd, now with the Philadelphia Phillies, for most career wins by a Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association A Conference pitcher when he earned his 30th victory Monday in a 16-0 rout at John Carroll. Johnson (6-1) gave up three hits in six innings for the second-ranked Crusaders. Johnson matched Floyd, who was a two-time Sun Player of the Year at Mount St. Joseph, where he compiled a 30-5 career mark. Ken Loudermilk of North East in Cecil County holds the state record at 39-3 (1985-1988)

MOOSIC, Pa. - He is envisioned as the probable Next Big Thing by the Philadelphia Phillies, for whom he will make his major league debut tonight at home against the New York Mets. But one week ago, in the cramped, musty quarters that pass for a locker room at a minor league ballpark tucked in the foothills of the Pocono Mountains, starting pitcher Gavin Floyd was not contemplating his first taste of the big leagues. He was too busy digesting a bruising night in the life of his baseball education.

LAKEWOOD, N.J. - Don't turn lunch on days you're scheduled to pitch into a high school reunion. Be a tad wiser about the ribbing you get from teammates. The education of Gavin Floyd is progressing nicely, as the biggest bonus baby in the history of the Philadelphia Phillies adjusts to pitching to men instead of boys. Floyd's potential netted a club-record signing bonus of $4.2 million last summer, but his craft requires a wealth of knowledge bought on time. "So many of the guys just know more than I do," Floyd said.

CLEARWATER, Fla. - Each practice field at the Philadelphia Phillies' minor-league training complex is graced with the name of some legendary Phillies player from yesteryear, which is a subtle way to instill an appreciation of the past in the young players who form the organization's future. So subtle that the club's top 2001 draft choice, Severna Park's Gavin Floyd, probably didn't notice he was sitting under a sign that read "Steve Carlton Field" as he watched a group of fellow prospects play a camp game against a team of Canadian high school all-stars this month.

PHILADELPHIA - Handling themselves like pros, the Floyd brothers, Gavin and Michael, met the media in Philadelphia yesterday. The Mount St. Joseph graduates from Severna Park were formally introduced as the newest Phillies. It was a relaxed atmosphere mainly because of the exuberance displayed by the Floyds, especially Gavin's wit and "their genuineness," according to Philadelphia scouting director Mike Arbuckle. "We use to fight a lot, like all brothers," Gavin said jokingly. "But we never had any serious problems.