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25 Responses to “Year in Review: Joe Blanton”

1. Matt Says:
   November 9th, 2009 at 4:23 pm

   I think 5.8 is a little bit low to be honest. I think he performed closer to the 7 plateau due to the fact that when he had to, he stepped up and really kept the team afloat. i mean on a 100 point scale you gave him a 58 and that’s failing man! He gets a C at least from me

2. Don M Says:
   November 9th, 2009 at 4:29 pm

   I just don’t understand how the grading system works I guess..

   a “5.8″ is random.. but say its out of 100 instead of 10 ..

   and that grade means a 58 out of 100, which is a FAILING GRADE

   …
   So im not sure what they are being graded against.. Howard got a 9.0.. or 90 of 100 .

   Was Blanton great, NO .. but of a 1-to-10 scale, he gets at least 6.5

   of a 1-to-100 scale.. you would have to give him at least a passing grade.. right?

   maybe im reading too much into the grading system

3. Manny Says:
   November 9th, 2009 at 4:36 pm

   I’d say he was a STRONG (not “adequate”) middle of the rotation starter, but that’s just me. I’d also give him a 7 or something along those lines.

4. mw_rickert Says:
   November 9th, 2009 at 4:37 pm

   I would give Blanton a 7 because of what he did as a middle rotation guy. Also to go back on Howard, I would give him a 10 for another 40+hr 130+rbi. Howard is not Pujols no matter how much we want him to be. If Howard batterd .300 his numbers would be so inflated he’d win MVP award every year.

5. Pat Gallen Says:
   November 9th, 2009 at 4:40 pm

   I figured I’d hear about that rating at some point. I just went with 5 as an average major league starter, and he fits in as just above average in my mind. Could have been a tick higher I suppose.

6. Don M Says:
   November 9th, 2009 at 4:47 pm

   ok.. that makes more sense

   average MLB starter.. would have the 4.50 ERA, 10 wins, etc..

   So it would be a stretch to give Blanton a 7, when Cliff Lee would only merit an 8.5 or so

   Blanton, on that scale, would still be around a 6.0 – 6.5 in my mind.. he had a nice season.. a couple No Decision that easily could have made him a 15-game winner … Was GREAT in stretches, and then got POUNDED in stretches..

   but overall a nice season from our #3- #4 pitcher

7. Pat Gallen Says:
   November 9th, 2009 at 4:52 pm

   The grading system is very elementary. It’s basically me throwing a number up there. So don’t look too much into it.

8. The Dipsy Says:
   November 9th, 2009 at 5:13 pm

   Pat, why don’t you just work it like in school. Blanton should be a 7.8 or 78 or a C+, which is basically what he is. Or are we grading these guys “relative to expectations”? Just a thought.

   The Dipsy

9. joedad Says:
   November 9th, 2009 at 5:18 pm

   I agree with the 7 rating assuming Lincicum was 10 and Lidge was 1.

10. Pat Gallen Says:
    November 9th, 2009 at 5:38 pm

    yeah, but then everyone is too lumped together in that area. I’ll just keep it at 1-bad, 5-average, 10-the best. And work around it.

11. dudley monk Says:
    November 9th, 2009 at 7:04 pm

    I like the grading system and the analysis. Right on with Blanton and I agree he deserves a few extra ticks — perhaps up to 6.5 because of the streak and the 12 victories being above average. It is a different grading system, but a good one.

12. Manny Says:
    November 9th, 2009 at 7:29 pm

    That makes more sense, thanks Pat for the clarification.

13. Dan S Says:
    November 9th, 2009 at 9:39 pm

    definately higher than 5.8 I’d say 6 or 7. He was the most consistent phillies pitcher all year

14. Jeff K Says:
    November 9th, 2009 at 10:59 pm

    5.8?? I’m all about the random, but if you can honestly say why he wasn’t a 5.5 or a 6.0… more power to you. Second, is this a 10 point scale based on the individual player? Or is it scaled against the team? I mean, a 9/10 for Ryan Howard and what we expect of him means he’s pretty damn close to living up to HIS potential … so a 5.8 out of 10 for Blanton means he’s … failing? …almost failing? against HIS potential? I don’t think so… Joe’s at least a 7.25.

15. Brendan Says:
    November 9th, 2009 at 11:22 pm

    Kentucky Joe was dominant all summer. At least a 7. Couldnt get into a rhythm in the playoffs because we had no pen. Free agent year coming up, I expect big things, say 200 ip. 16-8 3.80 ERA. He gonna want that 200 ip. on his resume going into free agency…

16. Pat Gallen Says:
    November 9th, 2009 at 11:48 pm

    Jeff K. if you read above, its going by 1-bad, 5-average, 10-the best.

    His numbers show him to be a bit above average. He had a ugly streak, a hot streak, another ugly streak. Who knew the number 5.8 would cause such a ruckus.

17. Keith Says:
    November 9th, 2009 at 11:55 pm

    I wonder what Lidge will get . . .

18. Keith E Says:
    November 10th, 2009 at 8:49 am

    I like ‘Big Joe’ and it seems the team plays well behind him. I liken him to Werth in that he will improve each year. His best years are ahead of him and hopefully he spends them here.
    @Pat Gallen: imho giving 1/10 points is splitting hairs. Full or 1/2 points are easier to digest. Either way it provides all of us with a means to stay in touch.
    GO PHILS!!!

19. Brooks Says:
    November 10th, 2009 at 8:57 am

    Why weren’t the Phillies starters prepared for the season to open? All of them had awful stats during the month of April. We know that April was an abomination – analyze his stats since April and I think the ratings will display a different light.
    All these statistics are worthless and more speculation than anything but, its our team so:

    GS 27 IP 175 H 165 ER 69 ERA 3.55 W-L 12-6

    Based on those numbers, JB’s rating would definitely be higher than “Just above average” at 5.8

    What was the problem in April?

20. Geoff Says:
    November 10th, 2009 at 9:09 am

    Hell be back as the 4th starter. He logs the innings at just above average.

    I dont know why this staff was unprepared to start the season, but since they brought back Rich Dubee I guess it wasnt his fault, couldnt be right? I dont know anyone could have reached Cole Hamels this year to help him, but Dubee didnt do anything. Dubee gets a semi-pass on Lidge because we found out that Lidge was injured all season.

    If I were the Phillies, I would file for a restraining order on behalf of Cliff Lee, and keep Rich Dubbe as far away from him as humanly possible. Just do not let them come close at all because Dubeee might say something or look at him wierd and it will mess up Lee’s mojo.

21. Bonezy Says:
    November 10th, 2009 at 9:40 am

    I think we need to hook Hamels up with Dr. Phil. He knows how to fix him.

22. Brooks Says:
    November 10th, 2009 at 9:41 am

    The thing that made me believe this season was going to be special was the collapse of the starters in April. I say that because the Phils wound up winning 13 and losing 12 despite having the worst ERA among starters in the ML.
    Rauuul!!!!!!

23. Bob Kahn Says:
    November 10th, 2009 at 11:10 am

    Pat, if you don’t have a serious methodology for ratings then I would recommend you drop it. I would stick with verbal descriptions. If a rating has to be explained it is not an effective tool.

24. Pat Gallen Says:
    November 10th, 2009 at 11:22 am

    Bob, I just dont see why it’s that big a deal. It’s fine, I’ll work out the kinks.

25. Greg V. Says:
    November 17th, 2009 at 7:37 pm

    Blanton is an easy 7.

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