When the A's traded Gio Gonzalez to the Nationals for four prospects, Oakland fans everywhere groaned, intoxicated by the notion that Billy Beane was scrapping the upcoming season.
After one start from Tommy Milone, the 25-year old lefty lumped into the Gio deal, A's fans might have a different take on the trade.
Milone stood taller than his six-foot stature Monday, tossing eight innings of three-hit, three-walk baseball against the Royals. In doing so he dove headlong into the ranks of young pitchers turned loose on MLB by Oakland.
With our All Access Daily newsletter, stay in the game with the latest updates on your beloved Bay Area and California sports teams!
SIGN UP HERE RECAP: A's beat Royals 1-0 behind Milone
There is a unique mentality Milone possesses when standing on the mound. "I'm not going up there to strike guys out," he said Tuesday. While it may not be conducive for individual stardom, turning contact into outs will be paramount for the success of Milone's career.
And it could help him pitch deeper into ballgames. Milone threw 93 pitches in his debut with Oakland. His goal, he says, is to throw just three pitches to every batter.
"The way I pitch, I have to throw strikes," Milone said.
Athletics
Find the latest Athletics news, highlights, analysis and more with NBC Sports Bay Area and California.
Armed with a fastball, change-up and curveball, Milone did so Monday, and made instant Bay Area fans. Meanwhile, Gonzalez struggled with Washington. His debut lasted just 3 2-3 innings and resulted in four earned runs.
Is this a new era in Oakland pitching? "I hope so," Milone said. "I've heard a lot of good things about the A's developing young pitchers."
"It's too bad for Gio," he added as an afterthought.
Then Milone shed some light on how the A's are able to develop so many young arms.
It starts with Suzuki.
Milone was just one of many new young arms to come to A's spring camp, and he watched Suzuki treat every newcomer with the same authentic respect he received from the six-year veteran.
"It's not just the pitcher-catcher relationship, but being a friend," Milone said.
After working with Suzuki for less than two months, Milone feels comfortable taking the field with him, comfortable that his catcher knows his stuff, and comfortable his battery-mate knows what he wants to throw in certain situations.
Before the season began, Milone was asked to qualify his spring. "In one word?" he asked. "Successful," he answered.
It's been just one regular season start in Green and Gold, but already A's fans are ready for his successful spring to continue.
Asked about his goals for the season, the selfless Milone said he doesn't have any particular milestones he wants to achieve. He just wants to go deep in every game he pitches, and keep the A's competitive.
From a team that's seen studly pitchers like Tim Hudson, Mark Mulder, Barry Zito, Gio Gonzalez and Trevor Cahill move on for individual development, Milone's mentality is a breath of fresh air in the A's clubhouse.
It's a team-first mentality that, if deployed effectively, will make him a fan-favorite quickly in Oakland.