Jason Kubel's bloop single in the 8th broke a 4-4 tie, as the Twins won a see-saw battle over Joe Blanton and the A's. Final Score: Twins 5, A's 4.
In a game like tonight's, the temptation is to focus on the last run, the one which broke a 4-4 tie. That run, driven home on an 0-2 pitch by Alan Embree, came on a Jason Kubel bloop single that hung in the air forever before landing between Ryan Sweeney and Bobby Crosby.
The reality, though, is that everything leading up to the bloop hit that scored Joe Mauer - who had reached on a bloop hit - mattered more. Jack Hannahan may not be hitting, but he needs to be fielding, and his error opened the door for a two-run top of the 5th inning. The A's defense has been very poor in April and given the number of tight games they figure to play, this team cannot afford to give away so many routine outs. And before we feel too sorry for ourselves for the bloopapalooza that produced run #5, let's remember that Blanton had a chance to hold a 4-3 lead when Craig Monroe blasted an anything-but-a-bloop over the left-field wall to tie the game.
So the A's had chances to avoid being the victims of bad luck - and then got a bit unlucky, to say the least, in the 8th. Or was it another defensive lapse? I don't know because THE GAME WASN'T ON TV!" Sorry. It sure seemed like the ball was up there an awful long time. Did Ryan Sweeney get a poor jump on it? Was he playing too deep? Or was it just a classic case of "hit 'em where they ain't"? I'll leave it to people who have eyes to sort that one out.
0 recs | 93 comments
Summation pretty much on the mark
Trainman - April 22, 2008
I have eyes, but I didn't see it.
Because Comcast absolutely sucks ass and didn’t turn the game on after the Giants finished losing.
But hey, I’m sure it was AWESOME to see Zito give up 5 runs in 3 innings or whatever the hell it was that he did.
mikev - April 22, 2008
Bottom line is this is on Blanton
Blanton is not an ace. He’s not even a good #2 guy. He is going deep into ballgames, but at what cost? By the time he hits the 6th and 7th innings, he’s not effective, even with a low pitch count. He’s been lucky so far to only give up as many runs as he has; his hits given up have far exceeded his innings pitched, which is never a good sign. I would hope Billy decides to deal him at some point this year; he will be way overpriced as a 3rd starter at best when he hits the FA market. I think we will see him go close to the trade deadline to a team in desperate need of pitching, or at least that is my hope.
baseb3383 - April 22, 2008
On Blanton and Geren
for leaving him in there
He does this every time with him
Trainman - April 22, 2008
I agree
100%, I cannot stand Blanton anymore, he is way to hittable. We have lost nine game, he lost 4 of them, and would’ve been 5 if we didn’t score 9 runs against the Indians. I wish we would’ve traded him when he was worth more than he’ll ever be again (we were possibly getting Homer Bailey for him!!!). It’s time to move him on. Once Gio is ready, he is gone.
stephanc101 - April 23, 2008
So, if Embree had gotten Kubel out
would you be saying that Blanton really stepped up and battled in the 8th inning?
mikev - April 23, 2008
Let's keep in mind...
... it wasn’t Blanton’s decision to be left in the game (as Trainman points out above), and it wasn’t his decision to be the #1 guy this season. Blanton is doing again this season what he’s always done: pitch consistently. That doesn’t mean consistent complete game shutouts, that means consistent 3-4 run quality starts, with the occasional gem. That holds value. But he’s not a stopper. He’s not a shutdown type of pitcher. He’s a finesse guy who pounds the strike zone.
He makes for a competent #2 and an excellent #3. To expect him to pitch differently just because the A’s slapped the #1 label on him out of lack of options is pretty unfair. Not to mention it would help if his defense started, y’know, playing.
Joey C. - April 23, 2008
Run support would be nice too
Last night wasn’t bad , but so far this year, he really hasn’t been given much help at all.
OrlandoAsFan - April 23, 2008
Just bad luck there
on the bloop. I screamed “IN IN IN… ” from section 220 but either Sweeney didn’t hear me, or he just thought “that fan don’t know shit” or it was just destined to fall in… damn
Brian in 317 - April 22, 2008
In Sacramento...
...Comcast isn’t available in all parts of town.
The only way to get any A’s information is from the internet. I Can’t watch, or hear, anything A’s related.
This sucks.
ZachF - April 22, 2008
That's on MLB, for the crappy blackout restriction shit.
The Comcast nonsense is, IMO, equally Comcast AND the A’s problem.
Comcast’s for not treating the A’s equally.
The A’s for not getting themselves a better TV deal.
mikev - April 22, 2008
I am just dying to get out of my lease, which is up in July. Had I known signing the lease meant a year of crappy standard definition tv, and no bay area sports coverage available…I would have never moved in.
ZachF - April 22, 2008
I just purchased the MLB Package
for 159 bones
I have Time Warner here in Southern Cal.
Trainman - April 22, 2008
I honestly think it should've been caught
The outfielder needs to take charge in that instance because he was coming in and he needed to call off Crosby. Crosby had waaaay too far to go to get it.
Tyler Bleszinski - April 22, 2008
Cannot believe Geren said Blanton pitched well
tonight
“Apart from a few mistakes” he said
LOL. You left him in there too long you moron like you do everytime!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Trainman - April 22, 2008
I cannot listen to Extra Innings.
it’s excruciating.
pam5981 - April 22, 2008
I was watching the game on TV
but I had the computer going and also have the MLB radio which is $14.95 I think.
Some clown just called up wanting Barton to DH as he drops too many fly balls.
Did he not see LOSAHANNNNNN make his 234,123,345th error on the month?
Trainman - April 22, 2008
Is there some particular reason
why you’re so persistently and unfailingly negative?
Is this just some kind of persona, or are you really like this in real life?
It’s not funny. It’s not endearing. It is, in fact, very irritating. Not to mention boring. I could skip every comment you’ve posted here and miss nothing at all, because they carry no useful information. They don’t even tell me which particular A’s players you dislike, because as far as I can tell, you dislike all of them. And to make matters worse, you don’t actually engage in discussion—it’s pretty much all rants, all the time.
Most of AN is probably too polite to point this out in so many words, and bless them for it. I am, for better or for worse, not. It’s bugging me.
Believe me when I say this: looking for positives as well as negatives will not only make others feel better, it will make you feel better as well.
PaulThomas - April 23, 2008
this is why the killfile script needs to be AN compatible
xbhaskarx - April 23, 2008
Paul Thomas
If you don’t like it then don’t read it
I watch or listen to every A’s game and have been doing so for 20 years.
I want them to win every game so when I see players continuing to make blunders or a manager who leaves someone in too long (IMO), I vent. I don’t get on other people who make negative comments. I am not interested in bashing other people because of the style of their posts. I WANT THE TEAM TO WIN!!!
Is there a law about saying something negative about a player who stinks?
God Bless people who are highly positive. I, like a lot of people happen to vent when I see something I don’t like.
And for the record:
I like this team and the direction it is going in except for;
1) Hannahan is not up to standard so the sooner Chavy is back the better
2) Jack Cust needs to be replaced by Frank Thomas or someone who can hit the ball and make contact. He cannot hit the off speed pitches as has been pointed out a thousand times before. I am sure if he hits a few home runs, you will be here to point that out as will others (God Bless him if he does)
3) Huston Street is to shaky as the closer. Hopefully he gets it right but has not been the same since his ulnar nerve problem in his elbow
4) Geren leaves Blanton in too long
These are the only gripes I have
I love the young players. Barton is a stud, the pitching is fine for the most part and we could hit a few more home runs but apart from that, I have no complaints.
I am very happy that we are 3 games above .500.
Did I expect that?..... YES
I have high expectations for this team, higher than most people. That is why I get a little more negative because I know they can be better in some areas.
Trainman - April 23, 2008
Blanton's last inning
He got a grounder to second, a single, a strikeout, and another single.
Then he was pulled for Embree to face the lefty Kubel.
If the 0-2 bloop had been caught, would you be saying that Blanton toughed it out and battled and Geren made a good move by going with the hard throwing lefty in Embree to get Kubel and preserve the win?
mikev - April 23, 2008
Hard throwing lefty?
I’m beginning to think Embree is the next Rincon.
steeraw - April 23, 2008
Well, righties *are* about 100 OPS poitns better against him
I just think that with Devine, Brown, Casilla, Foulke, and Street there should really be no reason that Embree ever faces a right handed hitter ever again.
mikev - April 23, 2008
If you don't like it then don't read it?
That would be lovely. Unfortunately, in spite of the fact that I’ve requested it on multiple occasions, the powers that be have not seen fit to grant us an ignore user function.
AN is not a hole down which you shout your frustrations with impunity. There are other people reading the site too. The purpose of it is to foster discussion about the team. Hysterical overreactions to things you dislike don’t foster discussion, they stifle it.
You know when you’re trying to have a conversation in the stands, but can’t because you keep getting interrupted by that jackass 3 rows behind you who won’t stop yelling at the players on the field?
That’s you.
PaulThomas - April 23, 2008
Keep up the personal attacks
And congratulations on being an authority on how people should express themselves and fan etiquette
Trainman - April 23, 2008
What personal attacks?
I’m, quite politely IMO, asking you to please change your posting style, because it’s bothering me. And others, it would seem, given the recommendations to my original comment above.
PaulThomas - April 23, 2008
this I would think is a personal attack
You know when you’re trying to have a conversation in the stands, but can’t because you keep getting interrupted by that jackass 3 rows behind you who won’t stop yelling at the players on the field?
That’s you.
If that’s not a personal attack, then what is it?
Trainman - April 23, 2008
It's an opinion
My opinion, right now, is that your recent posts have been asinine, disruptive and extremely negative.
I couldn’t care less, if you paid me, whether you are in some way “personally bound” to act this way or whether it’s just something that you’re doing right now on this site for whatever reason. The effect is exactly the same. I’m not going after you because you’re “you.” I don’t know who “you” is.
PaulThomas - April 23, 2008
Here's my opinion on you
Your opinion was a personal attack
My opinion is you enjoy getting on people who don’t comply with the way you think AN should be run.
People who root for a team should be able to state how they feel and if it’s negative, so be it. We all want the team to win.
You act like the board police or something. It appears that people on here who don’t comply with your higher standards should kiss ass or be banned from the site.
Me saying Hannahan should not be on the team is asinine or that geren should have pulled Blanton is asinine?
I don’t think I have disrupted anyone else. They are all adults and chose to either ignore or not comment on what I have posted.
I am not going to comment on this anymore. It is not worth my time.
I may word things differently and try to be more positive. I have a suggestion for you…. Ignore my posts, they are not worth getting an ulcer over
Trainman - April 23, 2008
+1
xbhaskarx - April 23, 2008
Extra Innings
Completely agree with you about Extra Innings. Everybody seems to agree that Buan is a nice guy. But to listen to him for more than five minutes is just impossible.
solotar - April 23, 2008
Mike Sweeney
Is this guy even on the team anymore? I mean really there have been arguments about Frank Thomas v. Mike Sweeney, but Sweeney hasn’t played in over a week and nothing has been reported injury wise. What is the deal??
marco magic - April 23, 2008
He was limping pretty badly last night on his single. Said to be the knee.
WaddellCanseco - April 23, 2008
yo, that limp looked painful. how long on the shelf to
fix that thing I wonder?
ak_A - April 23, 2008
Long enough to end his career.
mikev - April 23, 2008
...and to sign Big Frank
or your preference, Barry.
Colorado Fan - April 23, 2008
Both.
mikev - April 23, 2008
That would be awful
I still think Barry would only be marginally useful at this point, especially if you’re playing him in the outfield every night (which you would with Thomas, because a platoon would not work). Signing Frank is going to cost the A’s less than $400K. Barry won’t come at that price. When all is said and done, I still think Cust will put up similar numbers to last year. Last year, Cust was only a few runs worse than Bonds.
Plus, I’d rather see Bonds behind bars than ever, ever playing for the A’s. I’d have a very hard time rooting for a team that employed one of the biggest assclowns on the planet.
thejd44 - April 23, 2008
Bonds was better than Cust last year by pretty much every metric there is.
I guess he’s an asshole, sure, but he’s really, really good at baseball.
mikev - April 23, 2008
Bonds was better than Cust last year by pretty much every metric there is.
I guess he’s an asshole, sure, but he’s really, really good at baseball.
mikev - April 23, 2008
The announcers
were saying last night that he had a knee injury and would most likely end up on the DL. I don’t think any of us will be too surprised about this.
OrlandoAsFan - April 23, 2008
After a week playing with a man less than the opposition. Sounds right.
OldhamA - April 23, 2008
2 men less
don’t forget Foulke was gone for 10 days before his trip to the DL.
We had a 23 man roster for a week and a half.
mikev - April 23, 2008
interestingly, the SF Chron is reporting
that MSweeney could start in the lineup tonight against lefty Liriano, because he has been hitting much better against lefties than against righty pitching so far this season.
His limp was very noticeable last night, not only running to first but jogging off the field.
The linked article also mentions that Braden is nursing a swollen right ankle from getting hit by a batted ball. Unless it’s lots better I have to believe it could affect his pitching.
OaklandSi - April 23, 2008
There were about three bloops that fell in front of OFs last night.
All looked to be up there a long time, and I thought all would be caught when they were hit. I do think the OF’s were playing too deep, and that maybe they weren’t able to cover as much ground as they might otherwise do due to the wet grounds. The Twins had no such problem however.
WaddellCanseco - April 23, 2008
Yep
When the air is thick like it was last night, especially at the Coliseum (Elevation: -2 ft), the Outfielders have to be playing a little bit more shallow. They are all new guys – Denorfia, Sweeney, E. Brown – so I’m sure they’ll figure it out sooner or later.
Colorado Fan - April 23, 2008
I realize I didn't have TV to see the pitches
but it is too much to ask Daric Barton to swing the bat when there are two outs in the bottom of the ninth? How do you strike out looking in that situation? Six pitches, and he watched five of them. Ugh.
jeepers - April 23, 2008
Agreed
It’s not just Barton though. Cust has been swinging at and missing a lot of breaking pitches, while watching the fastballs go by. Atleast Hannahan swings at the fastballs, even if he doesn’t hit them. It almost seems like he is having trouble recognizing the fastball out of the pitcher’s hand. I understand that this team likes to work the count and take a lot of pitches, but there comes a point in time when you need to take the bat off your shoulder and swing.
OrlandoAsFan - April 23, 2008
This team absolutely cannot have any errors!
They have been swinging more and are doing much better than last year with RISP, but the errors are unexcusable. We just need Chavy back to shore up the D.
A'sfansince1970 - April 23, 2008
I think the error streak is hilarious
when we win despite of it ;)
pam5981 - April 23, 2008
Hannahan certainly isn't living up to his "gold glove caliber" billing from last year when we aquired him, huh?
mikev - April 23, 2008
5 errors in 21 games
Not to mention he is hitting under .200 along with those 5 errors.
asfaninpismobeach - April 23, 2008
Amen to both of you
Hurry back Chavy.
If his back holds up then we will get the GG fielding we are used to and the occasional home run and extra base hit from him. Hannahan for the most part does not come thru
in the meantime it is hard seeing Murphy as being any worse than Hannahan.
Trainman - April 23, 2008
Double entendre.
pam5981 - April 23, 2008
there was a positive...
the Angels lost. We’re still in 1st place!!!
FoolshGame22 - April 23, 2008
Just as I posted last night after returning
from the game, AN went offline for maintenance. (Really, SB folks, do you have to do that after an A’s game?) Anyway, here’s my post from last night:
Just got back from the game
along with 10,000 others, mostly hanging out below the overhang (although all you can eat looked full).
There were several outfield misplays by the A’s, a couple which led to Twins runs. I’m not sure if that ball should/could have been caught by Sweeney or Crosby…but Hannahan botched a grounder that did lead to a run as well.
Casilla looked great. Livan Hernandez threw a pitch that registered 58 mph on the radar gun.
A Guest Services lady was coming up to everyone in 224 and 225, demanding to see their tickets and sending them back to their seats…meanwhile there was hardly anybody out there.
1550 AM has a bad buzz in my apt, though it was fine on the portable radio before I got home.
OaklandSi - April 23, 2008
The Guest Services nazis are starting to get on my nerves.
If you’re one of the well over 50 people who actually make it out to a damn “70% Chance Of Rain Tuesday Night Game” they should leave you the hell alone
mikev - April 23, 2008
Word!
UncleLeo - April 23, 2008
Agreed...
That’s ridiculous.
OaktownPower - April 23, 2008
Last week, I had one direct me to walk in the crowded, dank, but ...
... commercial tunnel instead of going in and down and using the lower aisle, where, I would note, commerce was also being conducted. When I asked him why it mattered to him, he said “that’s what he was told.”
Now, if that means they’re cracking down on ball-in-play promenaders in the aisles/stairs, then Hallelujah! But an hour before game time we’re talking about “practice.” I think he was unclear on the concept.
The Dogfather - April 23, 2008
I lost my post from last night too
It sure didn’t look like even 10,000 people from the LF bleachers, but many patrons may have spent the game in the more pleasant confines of the West Side Club, watching the Sharks. All You Can Eat was not full but was definitely the most populated area of the park except for the best field level seats. That’s really stupid about Guest Services hassling people, it’s one more reason to sit in the bleachers. There were a fair number of Twins fans with us, who were all very nice, of course—that’s how we Minnesotans are. The teenage girls who were desperately trying to get circled by Bert were all by themselves in the plaza bleachers.
I actually thought Blanton looked decent. Denorfia was somewhat impressive in left field in the early innings, then he had a few unsuccessful slides on wet grass as the evening went on. But he tried.
Jack Cust has lost the mandate of the left field bleachers, who want Frank back. They run a pool before each of his at-bats to guess how many pitches it will take to get Cust out.
Englishmajor - April 23, 2008
I would guess
that the actual fannies-in-the-seats count was less than 5,000. Smallest crowd at an A’s game that I’ve attended in probably 10 years.
I took a seat in the 2nd deck on the third base side and as game time approach I noticed Mildred the Shushing Librarian Type checking the tickets of all 40 people who were seated in her area. Eh, I just got up and moved out of her district, a few sections closer to home plate. Nobody bothered me. She must have gotten pretty upset when everybody left their designated seats and moved up under the overhangs when it started to rain.
Soaker - April 23, 2008
forgot another tidbit from last night
I was in the westside club before the game, watching the Angels-Sux game and Rangers-Tigers game, eating taquitos and drinking a bloody mary made by the bloody mary queen (totally worth it, it was excellent!).
The A’s fans next to me were asking for one tv to be turned to the Giants game. they were taking bets on when Zito would give it up. I asked “what is this, a Zito death watch?” to which they replied, “yeah, kinda sorta.”
OaklandSi - April 23, 2008
A couple of fans next to me
had their sodas (in cans) confiscated, even after my niece went up and brought them cups. She even told the Guest Service guy that she was going to do that and not to take them away. OK, so shame on the guys for sneaking canned sodas into the game, and then for not hiding them very well, but they didn’t seem like troublemakers, and they were sodas, not beers.
Like idiots, or just two people who were on a good buzz, my niece and I stayed in our seats and got wet.
67MARQUEZ - April 23, 2008
all i have is Gamecast, so I had no idea this happened
but did Livan plunk Dale (while he was on 2nd base) in the 1st inning on purpose?
http://insider.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?name=olney_buster
what did it look like to y’all?
oakinboston - April 23, 2008
I saw that, but don't think it was on purpose
OaklandSi - April 23, 2008
I think it was Ellis he hit
OaklandSi - April 23, 2008
re: Blanton
The tripe that he’s not a good starter is just that… tripe. But… is it me or is Geren a little too enamored with Blanton’s ‘workhorse’ label? Unless my memory is failing, I believe this is at least the second time this year that Blanton has been allowed to go into the 8th inning then started to give up hits/runs, and eventually the game is lost. Seems to me that it’s entirely possible that at least 2 of his losses would be wins if he had been relieved after the 7th (or, at least a batter or two sooner)... which is still a good outing by today’s standards.
UncleLeo - April 23, 2008
I watched the game...
Sweeney has to get to that ball. It was not a bloop that doesnt go that high and drops in, but more of a pop up that was up there forever. It looked on TV like he got a horrible jump and didn’t go fullboard at the end because Crosby was close. Plain and simple, to play CF in the Bigs, Sweeney has to get there and catch that.
Our OF looked disgusting last night in the field….Not one to show to the Little Leaguers.
OaktownPower - April 23, 2008
If only the Reds pulled the trigger...
We could have Cueto and Votto! Dusty, why did you not push mgmt. more! It would’ve made BB look like the swindling genius we all know and love.
gdub171 - April 23, 2008
Last night, the Twins announcers
said that the Twins were “doinking the A’s to death.” Doesn’t sound like a very pleasant way to go…
whiteshoes40 - April 23, 2008
Like being pecked to-death by angry ducks.
The Dogfather - April 23, 2008
I didn't mention it in my own "recap"
But yeah, that was a heartbreaking way to lose. There was a collective groan from the “crowd” as the ball fell to the turf.
67MARQUEZ - April 23, 2008
I realize not many of you got to see the game
(including myself) ... but has anyone else seen the photo of Suzuki catching the ball with Kubel just beginning his slide in the Chronicle on-line edition? (I also apologize for being so computer illiterate so as not to be able to paste the picture here myself.)
How did Suzuki not tag the runner here? Looking at the photo, it almost seems impossible that Kubel could have been safe … check it out and let me know … thanks!
Vacafan - April 23, 2008
This one?
mikev - April 23, 2008
ugh
xbhaskarx - April 23, 2008
From MLB.com...
In the fifth, Monroe doubled to right field, scoring Kubel from first base. It was a close play at the plate, with A’s catcher Kurt Suzuki trying to block the plate. But while Kubel collided with Suzuki, causing both players to fall down in front of the plate, the catcher never tagged Kubel and he got a foot on home plate.
OaktownPower - April 23, 2008
Did the collision occur while Suzuki was holding the ball?
Isn’t that generally considered a tag?
mikev - April 23, 2008
I was watching and dont totally remember...
But I remember thinking he was safe and thought it was a correct call.
OaktownPower - April 23, 2008
I agree, I thought he was safe
and that Suzuki botched the tag
OaklandSi - April 23, 2008
Replays
Replays all seemed to confirm that the ball beat the runner but the tag was never applied. The ump appeared to be right on it, and the play was properly not ruled out or safe until Kubel finally touched home.
Diggity Dino - April 23, 2008
yeah....
what diggity said.
OrlandoAsFan - April 23, 2008
Kurt seems to need some work on plays at the plate
There’s been one or two other close ones (phantom sweep tag on [?]) already this year.
Still, he at least hangs in there, and just needs to work on execution. Not like a certain former A’s C who suffered from pentakrotophobia.
monkeyball - April 23, 2008
I had a pretty good view
The right call was made. But yeah, it seemed that there was no way he could have been safe watching it unfold the way it did.
67MARQUEZ - April 23, 2008
I saw that play on tv last night
I was pretty pissed initially, but after seeing the replay about a hundred times, he was safe. Kubel missed the plate when he slid in, but was never tagged by Suzuki. Had Suzuki reached behind him and tagged him, he would have been out. Unfortunately, it didn’t appear that Kurt even noticed that Kubel didn’t touch the plate. In the end, Kubel was able to get back to the plate and tag it before Kurt realized what was going on. It sucks, but in Kurt’s defense, there was no way he could have seen or known that the runner didn’t touch home.
OrlandoAsFan - April 23, 2008
so tagging anyway would be a good practice
OaklandSi - April 23, 2008
most likely
OrlandoAsFan - April 23, 2008
Thank you mikev!!!
I still can’t figure out how Suzuki could possible not tag Kubel there … seems like if he just allowed his momentum to continue, his entire body and glove would be directly in Kubel’s path!!! Weird ….
Vacafan - April 23, 2008
Blanton
I’m surprised to see so many criticize Blanton. He’s really pitched quite well this year. The given with Blanton is that if you leave him in the game beyond about 80 pitches you’re really asking for trouble, and Geren seems to want to wish his way to believing otherwise. You can’t have too many guys who can only throw 80 pitches, and these guys aren’t opening day starters in a perfect world. But it is what it is, and with the A’s strong, deep pen they might as well play the game knowing what they know instead of pretending otherwise. I say Blanton gives you a very good chance of being ahead after 6 innings, at which point it’s time to get him out of there.
solotar - April 23, 2008
I don't understand
From where I was listening, the 8th inning seemed benign. A ground out, seeing eye single, a bloop, a stike out. I seemed like although in trouble because of 2 soft singles, blanton was doing OK. Those four outcomes don’t point to “tired” nor “strong.”
Take him out for the lefty? Sure
Bloop sinlge on an 0-2 pitch? Bummer. thems the breaks.
THere may be reasonable complaints about the game, but The 8th inning ain’t it.
Future Ed - April 23, 2008
More on Blanton
In Blanton’s 6 starts this year, he has actually performed decent. I’m not taking into consideration all of the peripheral stats because, at the end of the game, all that really matters is how many runs were given up versus how many were scored. See below for a dumbed-down recap of his first six starts.
Start 1 against Boston he gave up 3 earned runs in 5.2 IP.
Start 2 against Boston he gave up 2 earned runs in 6.0 IP.
Start 3 against Cleveland he gave up 2 earned runs in 6.2 IP.
Start 4 against Cleveland he gave up 5 earned runs in 7.2 IP. 4 of these runs were given up in the 8th inning.
Start 5 against Seattle he gave up 4 earned runs in 8.0 IP.
Start 6 against Minnesota he gave up 4 earned runs in 7.2 IP.
In my opinion, Blanton has actually pitched pretty well. These are, for the most part, good teams that he has pitched against so far. He could easily have a much better W-L record than the 1-4 he currently owns. In start number 4 against Cleveland, he pitched very well with the exception of the 8th inning. Personally, I think Geren is responsible for that. Blanton just isn’t dominant enough to pitch that far into a ballgame against a team like Cleveland. Ironically, this is the game in which he actually did get a win thanks to some run support. I would expect another team’s fans to undervalue Blanton, but for those of us who actually watch and/or listen to the games, we should look a little deeper than just ERA and W-L record. He needs a little help from his offense and his manager.
OrlandoAsFan - April 23, 2008
That is very well stated
A little help from the manager and his ERA would be a run lower assuming those runs did not score that would have been inherited
Trainman - April 23, 2008
But how about Casilla!
baseballgirl - April 23, 2008
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