Phils Acquire Joe Blanton
By Jock | July 18, 2008
Category: Local News
Trivia (yes, I did research): Joe Blanton was selected 24th overall by the A’s in the 2002 MLB draft. He’s one of only two UK pitchers currently in the majors - the other was taken two years prior at 249 overall. Who is he?
So no doubt you’ve heard by now that the Phils have a new hurler (love that word) in the rotation. But is he any good? Here’s the spin from Penurious Inc:
“We feel his makeup is going to allow him to fit very well in a pennant race,” Phillies assistant general manager Mike Arbuckle said last night after the Phils acquired Blanton in a trade with the Oakland Athletics for prospects Adrian Cardenas, Josh Outman and Matt Spencer. “He was attractive for a lot of reasons.”
Blanton, 27, is 5-12 with a 4.96 ERA, but the Phillies and the pitcher think those numbers are deceiving and will improve in the second half.
“I feel like one of my bigger strengths is that I’m a guy who goes out and grabs the ball every start,” said Blanton, who had the seventh-lowest run support in the American League. “I’m a guy that wants to stay out there as long as they’ll let me go. I definitely like to feel that I build as the season goes.”
Via Inq.
My thoughts? Obviously, it’ll be nice to not have to see this every fifth fucking day. The Phils need to dig a hole in the downstairs bullpen and bury his sorry ass.
I did raise an eyebrow at this headline this morning: J.A. Happ Strikes Out 12 in 2-0 Iron Pigs Win. And so with Myers scheduled for a return trip through the Lehigh Tunnel, it will be interesting to see how the rotation shapes up for the final 41% of the season.
As for our new 6′3″ 260 lb Wildcat, I defer to Baseball Writer Emeritus Bill Conlin:
I’m not a big fan of the enormous former A’s righthander. Nothing personal. But I think he uses his brute strength to overpower the baseball to the detriment of his poor mechanics. But if Joe can do a reasonable Kyle Lohse impersonation during this lopsided second half, then hats off to GM Pat Gillick. They got Blanton for nothing they will ever miss. Adrian Cardenas was blocked at second, his only certifiable position. Josh Outman is a Double A setup man and Matt Spencer is a throw-in outfielder.
If Blanton bombs, it was at the expense of very little. If he helps the Phils to the East title, Gillick is a genius.
What do YOU think?
Trivia Answer: The other UK pitcher, Blanton’s college teammate…Brandon Webb.
July 18th, 2008 at 10:14 am
Oh, Joe Blanton has me shaking in my boots.
Just want to say to all you loser Phildos fans, enjoy your last few days in first place. We’ll be passing you bitches this weekend and that’ll be all she wrote.
Can’t wait til Utley comes to Shea, too - we’ll give him something to curse about.
July 18th, 2008 at 5:27 pm
I don’t even know who this character is who posted that, but you’re god damn right. It’s been an awfully quiet last couple of weeks for the Sillies.
Just remember… you guys have Pat Burrell. Do you reeeeeeeeeeally think he is going to come through for you, contract year or not.
P.S.
1. Who the hell is Joe Blanton?
2. What the hell is an Iron Pig?
3. Where the hell is Jimmy Rollins?
4. Have you seen my baseball?
July 18th, 2008 at 6:10 pm
I dunno i like our chances if howard continues to come around and utley is utley but Pat is a met killer which will come in handy
July 19th, 2008 at 1:12 am
ok heres the deal.
johan santana for craig biggio and jeff bagwell.
i know i know they are retired but you can’t deny the talent!
i’m afraid of shawn chacon.
July 21st, 2008 at 9:55 pm
Okay Mets fans get the Muck outta here. You guys really have no lives, but to check a philly sport website and rip us. You guys are just reguarly annoying Mets fans. John Rocker was right about New Yorkers. We will still be in first place and MUCK THE FREAKING FETS. PHILLY WILL KICK YOUR BASS ANY DAY.
July 22nd, 2008 at 2:47 pm
Who are you to pretend to be a Philly fan if you won’t even grow the balls to actually use curse words. What, are you afraid your bastard children will be reading this? Which I’d be surprised if they could read, but not surprised that you had them.
And its not even like you were posting that while you were at work, 9:55 pm, unless of course you work at a dead end job, probably something like cleaning the toilets at Citizen’s Bank… not even the stadium, just the bank.
Fucking Phillies fans. O’Doyle Rules!
I’ll wager a Smithwick’s and a burger from Dark Horse Pub that the Mets win this upcoming series. Who wants some?
July 22nd, 2008 at 5:13 pm
i’ll wager you twenty million dollars and a no trade agreement that carlos beltran is a one year wonder.
also my head is shaped like a lightbulb.
July 23rd, 2008 at 2:10 pm
Happy Dennis. I do have a job that probably makes a lot more money than yours. You are probably in the slammer having access to a computer for good behavior. Wanna bet a nickel on your great mets that they will the division fucker? Am I using enough curse words for you. I will bet against it. And I will take your dirty nickel and give it to charity. You do have a nickel right?
July 23rd, 2008 at 2:22 pm
So now go bang your roomate in your cell. My job requires me to be busy all day, so I dont get why it is bad to relax and look at things at night on a week day. So lucky for you I got a day off today.
July 23rd, 2008 at 2:34 pm
If it’s not too late, ill take some of that action, you faulty tower.
July 23rd, 2008 at 4:12 pm
It is too late for you Smurph, but I will take that nickel bet. If you want some of that action, I’d be more than happy to take a nickel from you as well.
If I lose you can just take the one I left on your mothers nightstand.
July 23rd, 2008 at 8:31 pm
the mets are second class, they play in queens. i would bet there are more red sox fans in new york.
July 24th, 2008 at 8:28 am
Faulty,
you’re a satellite fan with no roots in the big city. I know the G-I-Am-Gay Giants Giants Giants play in north jerz but theyre still the New York Giants. Here’s a thought, give up on professional sports altogether and get real into Brick High School- quality hockey team, football team, and friendly people. Leave the major league stuff to people who can walk down the street and only worry about getting killed, not molested by some tranny with syphillus wearing mets paraphenalia and then killed by shim’s midget guito jager-bomb blow-out annoying ass long islander. Philly at least does it right…
July 24th, 2008 at 5:54 pm
Murph,
So what are you suggesting, now that I live up here in north jersey to start cheering for Philadelphia? I did live in Philly for 3 years and spent 4 years of high school there, but would that make me a satellite fan too, since im from new jersey?
i cant win this argument, but at least my teams can win championships.
i also love how it magically works both ways, “you cant cheer for the giants, they dont even play in ny, they play in new jersey” and in your case, “Giants play in north jerz but theyre still the New York Giants”
i do like the sixers and flyers, which i think is more important to you.
July 25th, 2008 at 10:38 am
That is true… you have no chance of winning this argument. And i like to think contradicting yourself makes you look better when it comes to talkin sports- shows you know two sides of the argument. I dont know who you should cheer for, but I do know I hate New York teams just a little bit less than the Cowboys and anything from the Boston area. SO at least you’re not a papelboner or dallas fan. One pounder of Schmidts Gay for you. Two trips to Bob and Barbara’s for me.