It's been a couple days since we wrote in the By The Numbers section - so we apologize for that.  We were just waiting for a high quality piece breaking down the Joe Blanton trade. One that attempts to explain why the Phillies gave up so much for a seemingly average pitcher, when they gave up what appears to be so little for Rich Harden (who has been subpurb so far with the Cubs).  And guess what? 

We found it.

Our friends at Beyond the Box Score analyzed the season. and career, of Joe Blanton, and have come to the conclusion that the A's took advantage of the Phillies because Blanton is actually worse than the average major league pitcher (and the pitcher the Phillies are expecting him to be).  Even though he eats a lot of innings, which for a team that also had Rich Harden shouldn't be dismissed, the hefty right hander had the huge benefit for half of his starts in pitching in a pitching friendly park.  Pitching in McAfee Coliseum surpressed Blanton's home runs allowed, therefore his runs allowed and ERA.  For more of a breakdown of Blanton's "stuff" compared to the rest of the league's, head over to BtBS's article.  But in the mean time, realize that with Blanton pitching half of his games in Citizen's Bank Park, he will not be provided the same luxuries as he was in Oakland. Meaning he will allow more runs, and be less effective.

There's not better indicator of this statement than looking at Blanton's home ERA versus his road ERA: 3.79 in Oakland vs. 4.78 away. 

Average user rating

   (0 vote)