2010 Look Back: Joe Blanton

My Fellow Phans,

Here is the 3rd starting pitcher Look Back today: Joe Blanton. There will be one more to come, Kyle Kendrick, whose recap will come later today.  

So here is the 2010 Look Back: Joe Blanton.

Joe Blanton: 2010 Stats: 9-6 4.82 ERA (Postseason: 0-0 5.79 ERA)

Recap:

This is a good example of how a pitchers’ win-loss record shouldn’t be used to judge how successful of a season he has had. Technically, Joe Blanton has a better winning percentage than fellow starters Cole Hamels and Roy Oswalt, although I don’t think anybody would disagree with the notion that Hamels and Oswalt both had tremendously better seasons than Blanton did.

Despite those rough stats, Blanton had a terrific second half of the season. His first half ERA was over 6.40; while his ERA after the break dropped to a very solid 3.48. This shows that Blanton still has it.  Overall, he has been a career second half pitcher and the trend followed in 2010. I only hope that he can keep us this good streak going in the first half of this upcoming season.

Looking Ahead:

Last offseason, the Phillies signed Blanton to a 3-year contract. There have been some rumblings that teams are asking about the trade value of Joe Blanton this offseason, but I don’t see the Phillies trading him anytime soon. Next year, I expect that same from Joe Blanton, a below average 1^st half while having an above average second half.  He will be the Phillies’ 4^th starter next season behind the trio of aces.

Grade:  C

Joe did not have the greatest of years and needed a good 2^nd half to make his numbers somewhat respectable. If I grading his halves: I’d give him a D for his first half and B for his second. Combine those and you get that C he has earned.

Until we meet again Phillies fans; Happy Readings and Go Phillies