Phils Get Blanton

The Phillies did get a starting pitcher, like I thought they should.  The landed Joe Blanton from the A's for three prospects.  Blanton 5-12 record and 4.96 ERA don't look very impressive, but he got little run support.  In 2007, Blanton went 14-10 with a 3.95 ERA.  He also had 16 wins in '06.  Blanton is a innings-eater.  He averages 6 1/3 innings per start this season.  If he can do that for the Phillies, that would bring more stability to the rotation.

I like this move for the Phillies.  They did trade away three good prospects, but they need this boost in the rotation to win the division this year.  Blanton is not pitching well this year, but with the Phillies' run support, he should do much better.

Another reason this is a good move is because Blanton can't become a free agent till 2010.  This is not just a rent-a-player deal, Blanton should be a staple in the rotation for a while.  Not like C.C. Sababthia and the Brewers.  The Brewers gave up a wealth of talented prospects for a guy who will only pitch for them for a few months.  Sabathia will be getting the big money this offseason from another team.

The Phillies will start the second half in about an hour tied for first in the National League East with the Mets.  The Mets have ripped off ten straight wins, and have gone from a disaster to a contender.  The Marlins are not far back either, so the Phillies will need to kick it up to high gear the rest of the season.  Hopefully, Blanton will help them with that.