Could we pursue Joe Blanton?

[Terpfan76]

     

I would recommend the use of either a "-" or parentheses in denoting negative numbers, else mass confusion ensues.

The use of a bold red color seems intended to provide the location of focus for the reader, as opposed to a negative number.

What he said.

[RyanTheRiot]

Blanton would be so much better than Pavano. PLEASE NO to Pavano

[MarquisDeSade]

Blanton would be so much better than Pavano. PLEASE NO to Pavano

Pavano = total disaster waiting to happen.  Blanton = mediocre, possibly Marquis without the injuries or meltdowns.

[RD]

With Lannan, Livan, Marquis, and Zimmermann basically in the rotation we only have one spot open. Id let Maya, Detwiler, and Wang compete for that spot rather than give up something for Blanton.

The point of addressing pitching this off season is to get a front of the rotation guy. Not fill up the back end. Blanton is nothing more than a 4 on a good team. Something like Marquis and Lannan. Since we already have two of those, along with Livan, there is no point in adding another. Allowing one of the unknowns to prove themselves is better for the long haul, and provides much more upside for this season as well.

[PANatsFan]

Put Livan in the pen as a swing man. What were they going to do if they had Strasburg?

[HalfSmokes]

If Marquis can find his form, he's trade deadline fodder. Next year, I think the cruial thing is getting a solidified four man rotation by the end of the year - hopefully some combination of Zimmermann, Detwiler, and Wang along Maya/Lannan/Livan/whatever they dredge up filling out the back end. 

[hammondsnats]

i think i've mentioned this before, but i would probably rather have pavano/garza/shields.

[RyanTheRiot]

With Lannan, Livan, Marquis, and Zimmermann basically in the rotation we only have one spot open. Id let Maya, Detwiler, and Wang compete for that spot rather than give up something for Blanton.

The point of addressing pitching this off season is to get a front of the rotation guy. Not fill up the back end. Blanton is nothing more than a 4 on a good team. Something like Marquis and Lannan. Since we already have two of those, along with Livan, there is no point in adding another. Allowing one of the unknowns to prove themselves is better for the long haul, and provides much more upside for this season as well.

I understand your argument, and I wouldn't be terribly upset if that happened.  The thing is, that rotation would probably be the worst starting five in the league. 

Michael Rizzo knows he needs to send a better starting rotation to the mound or no one will show up to games this year.  Watching the "kids play" doesn't have the same attraction to fans as winning games.  He as an obligation to improve the rotation because it straight up sucks baseballs right now.

Blanton would be under our control for 2 seasons, meaning he would be back next year with Strasburg in the mix. All of a sudden, our rotation could turn into a strength.

[Vega]

Blanton doesn't wear his hat on his head; he wears it on top of his head.



And it's square too.

[RyanTheRiot]

Lannan is one of our front-line starters.

Out of necessity

[PC]

When the Phillies get rid of Blanton, will the national media, describe it, accurately, as a "salary dump"?

[Kevrock]

With Lannan, Livan, Marquis, and Zimmermann basically in the rotation we only have one spot open. Id let Maya, Detwiler, and Wang compete for that spot rather than give up something for Blanton.

The point of addressing pitching this off season is to get a front of the rotation guy. Not fill up the back end. Blanton is nothing more than a 4 on a good team. Something like Marquis and Lannan. Since we already have two of those, along with Livan, there is no point in adding another. Allowing one of the unknowns to prove themselves is better for the long haul, and provides much more upside for this season as well.

Excellent post. Shields or Garza please.

[hammondsnats]

Excellent post. Shields or Garza please.

This

[Tyler Durden]

I'm not feeling Joe Blanton.  Looks like a #4 starter to me.  At least Pavano can pitch for us this year and then slot in nicely next year behind Strasburg and Zimmermann.  Pavano takes Marquis' place in 2012.

Blanton strikes me as no better than options already on the roster.

[RyanTheRiot]

I'm not feeling Joe Blanton.  Looks like a #4 starter to me.  At least Pavano can pitch for us this year and then slot in nicely next year behind Strasburg and Zimmermann.  Pavano takes Marquis' place in 2012.

Blanton strikes me as no better than options already on the roster.

Blanton = Pavano in terms of "stuff" and what he brings to the mound.

Where he separates himself is his age (5 years younger), and his tendency to stay healthy over the years.  If Pavano can "slot in" behind Zimmermann and Stras, Blanton certainly can too.

[Tyler Durden]

Call it a 'gut' feeling I have against Blanton (another Blanton is fat joke!).  Maybe this is just my selective memory and hate for Philly, but I just have this image of Blanton being a soft tossing fatty that Philly threw out there to 'eat' innings (woo another fat joke!).  We have enough inning eaters. 

Also, he's not the ground ball inducing type that Pavano is.  I still think Rizzo is looking for these types when he can't get the Cliff Lee strikeout artists of the world.

You may be right that Blanton is just as effective as Pavno over the next 2/3 years, but my guess is that we'd bring in Pavano before Blanton.  I have a higher opinion of Pavano the pitcher than I do of Blanton.  I very well may be wrong, but that's where I'm at.

[NatsDad14]

Also, he's not the ground ball inducing type that Pavano is.  I still think Rizzo is looking for these types when he can't get the Cliff Lee strikeout artists of the world.

Lee is not a strikeout artist. He is a control artist.

[Tyler Durden]

Well, he's used his excellent control to strike out a bunch of guys over the years.

[NatsDad14]

Well, he's used his excellent control to strike out a bunch of guys over the years.

He never really struck out a bunch of guys. His K/9 has hovered around league for the past 3 years (his prime). His success is more due to having a 0.50 BB/9. If you aren't walking anybody you can make up for the lack of K's. I don't really consider Greg Maddux as a strikeout artist despite having above average K rates occasionally. I looked at him more as a guy who succeeded because he never walked anyone and didn't allow many HR.

[PANatsFan]

Cliff Lee is like the skinny guy inside the David Wells fat suit; he pitchers better when it isn't holding him back.

[Lintyfresh85]

PA, weren't you one of the biggest complainers about Joe Blanton when it first came out that he might get traded?

[HalfSmokes]

Maybe it's just my perception, but I've always seen Joe Blanton as synonymous with random back of the rotation starter who gets bumped to make way for call ups

[RyanTheRiot]

Maybe it's just my perception, but I've always seen Joe Blanton as synonymous with random back of the rotation starter who gets bumped to make way for call ups

He is a reliable, effective #3 starter in a playoff-contending rotation.

...and he would be the Ace of the 2011 Nationals

[Nathan]

He is a reliable, effective #3 starter in a playoff-contending rotation.

...and he would be the Ace of the 2011 Nationals

And that is the problem with the rotation.  #3 and #4 starters would be the ace in our rotation.

[HalfSmokes]

He is a reliable, effective #3 starter in a playoff-contending rotation.

...and he would be the Ace of the 2011 Nationals

you do realize he had an era approaching 5 last year?