Joe Blanton- Reds and A's in talks

[recte44]

http://www.rotoworld.com/content/playerpages/player_main.aspx?sport=Mlb&id=3991

 

I've heard it on three different places now. Rotoworld suggests the Reds want Baly or Cueto and Votto, and there's no chance of that happening. Which is good for us, because don't look now but the Reds have assembled a decent pitching staff. Add Blanton and its obviously better.

[sbrylski]

Reds with Blanton makes them a very legit darkhorse to take the division from the two frontrunners. He does a good job of keeping the ball out of the air and in the park too, so he would fit well in their stadium.

[TheBrewer]

at the expense of Bailey/Cueto / Votto it'd be stupid for them IMO. Im hoping they do it. All the hype about the Reds last year was attributed to the young guys like Bruce, Bailey, Votto, Cueto - keep in mind how many games they won last year -

[hauser42]

That is a ton to give up for Joe Blanton, and I dont think it will happen for that cost.

 

Blanton will see a spike in his numbers since he is going to an extreme hitters park after playin in Oak for his whole career. He is not a strikeout guy so he could struggle very easily in Cincy.

[DrWood]

cueto and votto might not be overpaying. I'm not sure how cueto projects.

[JohnBriggs12]

That is a ton to give up for Joe Blanton, and I dont think it will happen for that cost.

 

Blanton will see a spike in his numbers since he is going to an extreme hitters park after playin in Oak for his whole career. He is not a strikeout guy so he could struggle very easily in Cincy.

 

Some validity to those points, except in the NL he gets to face pitchers so I'd say the two wash each other. He'd be a huge boost to that staff.

[Brian the Automator]

I don't get what the big deal about Blanton is. Sure, I'd take him over any of our 5th starters in an instant, but he had a road ERA of 5.11 last year and 4.70 over the past 3 years. I'd love to see the Reds overpay for him.

[jhpc12]

I have followed Joey Blanton since he was 14 years old. He and Corey Hart played against each other and on the same summer teams for several years.

 

When Joey went to the University of Kentucky he was a starter you could send out every 4 or 5 days. The only problem was you never knew which Joey would show up. One day he would give up 3 hits, strike out 10, give 5 + runs and win. The next time out he would give 10+ hits, strike out 2, and when in 3-2 game. Now don't get me wrong he was a total work horse for UK.

 

Nothing changed when he went to Oakland. He pitches great gives up 1 or 2 runs and gets a no decession. Next time out he gives up 5 + runs, doesn't make it out of the 6th inning and gets a win.

 

My point is that if you are looking for a work horse and don't mind rolling the dice, then Joey Blanton is your guy.

[Milltownhooker]

Don't give up top 100 talent for an inng eater. Blanton is a slightly better pitcher than Dave Bush talent wise. Of course this is the same GM who traded Kearns & Lopez for some middle relievers.

[hauser42]

Don't give up top 100 talent for an inng eater. Blanton is a slightly better pitcher than Dave Bush talent wise. Of course this is the same GM who traded Kearns & Lopez for some middle relievers.

Blanton is more than slightly better than Bush. He has more of a proven track record than one David Bush. Sometims I think there is so much "Homerism" on this site that people need to stop drinking the Brew Crew kool aid.

[Boy Jeenius]

Don't know much about the kool-aid thing. During last Saturday's Talking Brewers, Doug Melvin compares Blanton's stats to Dave Bush. He said they're remarkably similar, up until this past season. To date, DM has given me little reason not to believe him.

[TooLiveBrew]

He does a good job of keeping the ball out of the air and in the park too, so he would fit well in their stadium.

 

How much of that has to do with playing in an extreme pitcher's park?

[sbrylski]

He does a good job of keeping the ball out of the air and in the park too, so he would fit well in their stadium.

 

How much of that has to do with playing in an extreme pitcher's park?

He has a high GB rate. But yes, his HR/FB rate was also below average, likely due largely to the park.

[ILuvDaBush]

Joe Blanton is a glorified Doug Davis, except Davis is left-handed and has a slightly higher propensity for the walk. Imagine The Sharpie at Great American... I'm lovin' it.

[JohnBriggs12]

Joe Blanton is a glorified Doug Davis, except Davis is left-handed and has a slightly higher propensity for the walk. Imagine The Sharpie at Great American... I'm lovin' it.

 

Davis throws a lot more pitches, roughly 2 more per inning while getting to face the opposing pitcher twice which helps account in the huge edge Blanton has in innings pitched.

 

I would not call Blanton a right handed Doug Davis.

[dadofandrew]

Compare Blanton's away numbers to Bush's total numbers, and they are very similar. He's a nice pitcher, but nothing like Haren, Johan, and so on.

[recte44]

This has been an interesting discussion thus far. One person hit on the point I was looking for someone to say- I hope the Reds make this deal because it's a horrific deal for them if there's any truth to this rumor.

[Fatter than Joey]

I hope the Reds make this deal because it's a horrific deal for them if there's any truth to this rumor.

 

I don't think it is a horrific deal if it moves Matt Belisle out of their rotation, that said, I think the A's are insane to ask for the players that they did. Even if they traded Cueto for Blanton, that'd make the Reds rotation a lot deeper all of a sudden.

[reillymcshane]

Let the Reds deal away their top young guys for good - not great - players. It will keep them mired in mediocrity. Blanton is a good player, but he's not a difference maker. I guess it depends on what they have to give up - but it would likely be a lot.

[Milltownhooker]

Ok maybe I'm being a homer Blanton is moderately better than Dave Bush. Blanton's ERA numbers are mainly a product of pitching in Oakland. If the Reds added him it might net them a couple wins. If they give up even Votto it hurts them currently & especially in the future.

[Klements Bratwurst]

Ok maybe I'm being a homer Blanton is moderately better than Dave Bush. Blanton's ERA numbers are mainly a product of pitching in Oakland. If the Reds added him it might net them a couple wins. If they give up even Votto it hurts them currently & especially in the future.

Milltown,

 

Doug Melvin said exactly what you just said too last week in one of his interviews on WTMJ- when you compare Bush's stats to Blanton's. I think that is why I think Bush is a shoe-in for the rotation if you can read between the lines of what Melvin is saying. I agree Blanton is a nice pitcher, but giving up a Votto would be overpaying.

[brewerfan82]

Ok maybe I'm being a homer Blanton is moderately better than Dave Bush. Blanton's ERA numbers are mainly a product of pitching in Oakland. If the Reds added him it might net them a couple wins. If they give up even Votto it hurts them currently & especially in the future.

Milltown,

 

Doug Melvin said exactly what you just said too last week in one of his interviews on WTMJ- when you compare Bush's stats to Blanton's. I think that is why I think Bush is a shoe-in for the rotation if you can read between the lines of what Melvin is saying. I agree Blanton is a nice pitcher, but giving up a Votto would be overpaying.

So I guess the next question is, what about a Bush for Votto swap? Would Cincinnati trade within the division? Are they actually willing to give up Votto for some solid, yet mediocre, pitching?

It would make for a pretty crowded outfield, but it would add another left-handed bat and allow for a Braun - Hart - Votto outfield until Cameron gets back. Deepens the bench afterwards, giving Fielder a legit backup at first, and makes for some nice trade pieces in the middle of the season.

Just a thought.

[TooLiveBrew]

I just don't think Blanton would fare well at Great American Ballpark. His GB rate (career 45%) is not extreme, and he's been much more successful at home in Oakland on his career.

 

 

Home: .251/.297/.377/.674

 

Road: .290/.338/.433/.771

 

 

Yes, he's given up 29 road HR to 28 at home, but that ratio would certainly skew towards a greater home total if 'home' becomes Cincy. His HR/FB rates from the past two seasons ('06: 6.8; '07: 6.5) simply have to be products of playing at Oak. Unfortunately, I couldn't find his Home/Road splits on HR/FB. Bear in mind that SafeCo Park (another big-time pitcher's park) is one at which the A's spend much of their time on the road, too. Imo Blanton outside of Oak. & the AL West would not look nearly as enticing.

[Fatter than Joey]

I don't think I would want to trade Bush for a Cameron stand-in and Prince backup.

[hauser42]

Votto is not a very good OFer so I would not want to move a SP for him. He will be a backup like Joey said.