(since Joe Balnton is kinda boring to look at, here’s Austin beautiful Blanton Museum instead)
Earlier today, Philadelphia traded Josh Outman, Adrian Cardenas and Matt Spencer to Oakland in exchange for A’s S Joe Blanton. The 700 Level takes a somewhat sanguine view of the Phillies acquiring a guy who isn’t exactly A.J. Burnett when it comes to changing the balance of the NL East race (or Toronto’s cash flow).
Despite not being anywhere near a top-tier starter, Blanton brings a healthy appetite for innings to the Phillies rotation, though it will likely be as a 4th or even 5th man. His split stats show that he hurls better away from Oakland, but Citizens Bank Park isn’t exactly pitcher-friendly, so we’ll have to wait and see how those stats are affected by the new surroundings.
As of this writing, the Mets are 9 outs away from pulling even with the Phillies for first place in the NL East ; New York leads Cincinatti, 6-5, in the last of the 7th, thanks in large part to a pair of two-run homers by Carlos Delgado (his 18th) and Fernando Tatis (his 5th). Phillies and Marlins fans will have to take some solace in knowing Billy Wagner’s very available after his blown save in the Bronx Tuesday evening, and could well be on the mound in the 9th inning tonight.
Viva El Birdos pays homage to Florida’s Dan Uggla today, the man behind what they’re calling “The Worst All-Star Performance Ever”. Yes, even worse than Eric Young’s analysis.
I think you’re slogging on the wrong Young.
Eric Young is the most deadly dreadful commentator and an unfortunate Kingfish impersonator.
not only that but I jinxed the Mets!
I was gonna say, GC — were you posting that during Heilman’s walkapalooza, or when SS reverted to form and got torched by a middling righty?
Ha — I think, when I typed “reverted to form,” I meant to type “kept on keeping on”:
vs LHP: 20.2 IP, 11 H, 4 BB, 0.73 WHIP, .162 BAA
vs RHP: 16.2 IP, 19 H, 11 BB, 1.80 WHIP, .292 BAA
I think even Matt Millen knows you want a righty up against SS.
The 700 Level is in error as Blanton has a significantly worse record on the road. Regardless, he is going to be replacing Adam Eaton rather than Myers and that right there is an upgrade. Adrian Cardenas was blocked by Chase Utley so this deal isnt too bad. The Phillies came up pretty good with seemingly underwhelming mid-season pitching acquistions of Cory Lidle and Kyle Lohgse so Phans can just hope that Blanton can do as well.
they also didn’t overpay for A.J. Burnett, keeping his pipe-dream of pitching for Cubs on dreamy life support for at least a few more weeks