-ESPN's Buster Olney. For three minor leaguers... I like Blanton, he's a solid pitcher, should be a good move. His ERA is high, but he is simply a solid pitcher and might even be their 2nd best pitcher behind Hamels. I wonder if Duschersher will be put on the block...Heh.
I hope that, being a contact pitcher moving from a terrible HR park to a grain silo, he gets pounded in Philly.
They just fleeced the Phillies of two of their top four prospects, not mention an additional prospect.
Billy Beane is a genius, we must trust his judgement. All those WS trophies he has helped Oakland win should remind us just how great he is.
I think he's very overrated, but he has done a decent job with a limited budget. He did luck out big time with Mulder, Hudson, and Zito all being reasonably good at the same time though.
Harden made 13 consecutive starts for the first time since 2005. He was pitching well during the time and his value was as high as it would ever be. Not to mention, he was going into an option year in 2009 at a $7 million team option, so, trading him now and getting prospects to replenish the farm system made all the sense in the world. If anything, getting rid of Blanton makes them a better team. At 5-12 with a 4.96 ERA, I'd rather take my chances with someone else.
Blanton has good stuff but just doesn't ever put together a complete performance. They have obviously had enough, maybe the NL will treat him better.
because WS titles are the only way to judge success. a WS is the ultimate goal, but there are plenty of teams that are successful despite not winning a WS. if Tampa Bay does not win the WS this year, is the season not a success for them? your criteria for success would say no. considering he has been able consistently put together a competitive team year after year with no budget, when economically comparable teams have not been able to, I think that exemplifies his success.
It's not just WS titles but could he at least get to a few ALCS'? Can he put together a team that can make a WS? Oak has made the postseason 1 of the last 4 years and last I checked some economically comparable teams have done better in postseason even betaing the A's. -2000 lost in 5 to the Yankees -2001 blew 2-0 lead to the Yanks. Payroll blew that lead? -2002 they lost to Minnesoate, a team w/ virtually the same payroll. -2003 blew 2-00 lead to Boston. Payroll blew that lead? -missed playoffs, '04, '05, '07 -2006, finally broke through and won a series over the similar payroll Twins. Got swept by Detroit who had a higher payroll but not incredibly higher. Let's look at some other lower payroll teams: -2002: The Angels won a WS when they were middle of the pack. Beat the Yanks who won 5 of 6 AL pennants and had a $64 mil payroll advantage. Did the Angels use payroll as an excuse? No. -2003: Marlins win the WS. The Marlins had a $49 mil payroll which was LESS than Oakland. The Marlins beat the Giants w/ a $33 mil disadvantage and the Cubs w/ a $31 mil disadvantage then beat Yankees w/ a payroll disadvantage of $104 mil. -2007: The Rockies made the WS w/ a payroll that was $25 mil LESS than Oakland. The A's had an $18 mil higher payroll than Cleveland who was a game away from the WS. Please stop w/ what a great job he's done keeping them competitive. Other smaller marker teams have actually had success in the postseason and some have reached and won the WS.
By the way, if tampa is even close to the playoffs their season would be a success but if they made it this year and the next 3 then losing in the ALDS wouldn't become a success it would be a failure. At some point you actually have to win a series or 2.
i have blanton on my fantasy team do i trade him now,keep him for a couple of starts for value or ride him to victory?
He's already given up 13 HRs this year in a fair Oakland park. How the hell is he gonna fare in that bandbox in Philly? His ERA+ is 77 I believe, the same as Eaton. This really isn't much of an upgrade at all for Philly, they got fleeced. I'm glad this means that we won't be going after him anytime soon as well. The only thing that should fear this aquisition is the entire population of jelly donuts in Philly.
it wouldn't be a failure if they simply don't have the best team. having one of the top teams in baseball over a period of years with a miniscule budget that doesn't compare to the teams that simply happen to be better than you can never be considered a failure. ask Pittsburgh or Kansas City whether they think Billy Bean is a genius.
