Joe Blanton pitches like Josh Towers away from Oakland.

[badnews]

Not exactly, but... Joe Blanton is not an innings eater away from Oakland. He's not any good away from Oakland not just in 2007 but in 2006 either. This guy isn't coming cheap. So why all the fluttery stomachs about Joe Blanton? In 2005 his G/F ratio was 1.15, in 2006 it was 1.16, in 2007 it was 1.58 and all of a sudden he's Brandon Webb? Since when does a 1.58 G/F ratio amaze? Marquis, Kip Wells, Millwood, and Maholm had higher G/F ratios, and Matt Morris was pretty close, you can't just say "groundballer" and everything's fine for guys in this middling area.

 

I don't see a huge spike in K/9 either... 5.19, 4.96, 5.48.

 

Why is it when we see Khalil Greene's away stats, we oooh and aaaah over the majesty, but information about Blanton's away numbers gets buried? Rich Hill averaged more innings per start on the road than Blanton did. The A's are after a pretty hefty package for Blanton and the Mets look desperate enough to cough it up.

 

I don't think going all out to add a pitcher like Blanton is going to be worth the difference to this team.

 

Let this be the Joe Blanton topic!

[JeffH]

Yeah, let's not bother with Blanton.

 

I'm more interested in Burnett, if he's available.

[YearofDaCubs]

Wow, you're right. He is terrible away. Marquis-like. He is absolutely dominant at home though but unfortunately our park won't be as kind to him.

[wrigley23]

burnett is hurt all of the time & costs too much. no thanks

[Mephistopheles]

these splits are fairly irrelevant

[badnews]

But they're not for Khalil Greene?

 

My memory isn't so hot but Oakland A's starters seem to be on the same level as Padres' relievers - they go elsewhere and they're not as good. Oakland is a nice place to pitch... if Blanton went to regular, I don't think that HR-to-fly ratio is staying that low.

 

I'm curious, are the home/road splits for San Diego pitchers irrelevant too? Like the groundball monster Cla Meredith, or the flyball monster Chris Young?

[CubsInNC]

these splits are fairly irrelevant

 

Not trying to be argumentative, but why are Blanton's home/road splits irrelevant (or I'd guess any pitchers) but Greene's (or any hitter, I'd guess) home/roads aren't?

[badnews]

Blanton had the lowest home ERA in the AL, interestingly enough.

 

Do the splits of Mike Lowell, Kaz Matsui, Josh Beckett, Carlos Zambrano, or Garrett Atkins mean anything?

[Mephistopheles]

But they're not for Khalil Greene?

 

My memory isn't so hot but Oakland A's starters seem to be on the same level as Padres' relievers - they go elsewhere and they're not as good. Oakland is a nice place to pitch... if Blanton went to regular, I don't think that HR-to-fly ratio is staying that low.

 

I'm curious, are the home/road splits for San Diego pitchers irrelevant too? Like the groundball monster Cla Meredith, or the flyball monster Chris Young?

 

you can find random splits in everything.

[Cubbies622]

Those aren't random and I'd have to say he changed my opinion on Blanton completely.

[badnews]

You didn't answer the question. Are all splits of the players I listed irrelevant splits? This split from Blanton was totally random, and the fact that he was 1st in AL ERA and in bad company on the road ERA, shouldn't cast any aspersions on how good he is?

 

Well let's narrow it down - are the Beckett/Chris Young splits meaningless, and why aren't Greene's splits meaningless?

[CubsInNC]

But they're not for Khalil Greene?

 

My memory isn't so hot but Oakland A's starters seem to be on the same level as Padres' relievers - they go elsewhere and they're not as good. Oakland is a nice place to pitch... if Blanton went to regular, I don't think that HR-to-fly ratio is staying that low.

 

I'm curious, are the home/road splits for San Diego pitchers irrelevant too? Like the groundball monster Cla Meredith, or the flyball monster Chris Young?

 

you can find random splits in everything.

 

 

But why are Blanton's home/road splits random, and Greene's are not?

[Mephistopheles]

Those aren't random and I'd have to say he changed my opinion on Blanton completely.

 

 

you bet your ass they are.

 

You didn't answer the question. Are all splits of the players I listed irrelevant splits? This split from Blanton was totally random, and the fact that he was 1st in AL ERA and in bad company on the road ERA, shouldn't cast any aspersions on how good he is?

 

Well let's narrow it down - are the Beckett/Chris Young splits meaningless, and why aren't Greene's splits meaningless?

 

1. You're looking at ERA (AKA you're wasting your time)

2. I don't look at ERA and I had no idea that he led the league in ERA (and I don't care)

3. His splits are fine. Forget about them.

4. He's a good number 3, poor number 2. That's exactly what everyone thinks he is.

5. b/c of 1-4 your Blanton "analysis" -- if it can be called that -- is meaningless.

[CubsInNC]

 

1. You're looking at ERA (AKA you're wasting your time)

2. I don't look at ERA and I had no idea that he led the league in ERA (and I don't care)

3. His splits are fine. Forget about them.

4. He's a good number 3, poor number 2. That's exactly what everyone thinks he is.

5. b/c of 1-4 your Blanton "analysis" -- if it can be called that -- is meaningless.

 

 

So, in your opinion, Home/Road splits are worthless for pitchers in general? (Just asking, sorry if it comes across as an attack). If so, I would assume that you only factor the adjusted stats then?

[badnews]

Why can't you just answer the questions about the other guys? Maybe it would give the plebeians a leg up on what is relevant and what isn't. Or maybe you could say what is relevant to look for in splits.

 

Blanton had an 0.99 WHIP at home and a 1.43 WHIP on the road. Is that meaningless? All that foul ground in Oakland can't affect opponent batting average or anything, an increasing home run rate on the road, does that mean anything?

 

4. He's a good number 3, poor number 2. That's exactly what everyone thinks he is.

5. b/c of 1-4 your Blanton "analysis" -- if it can be called that -- is meaningless.

 

I don't think your #4 does anything to show my analysis is meaningless. Saying Blanton is a good number 3, poor number 2 is meaningless.

[Mephistopheles]

You're making it seem as if people think Blanton is an ace, no one does. No one has. No one ever will. That was the entire point of your thread. You were saying how you didn't think Blanton was a difference maker and found some random split to compare him to Josh Towers to justify your point. Everyone already knows he's a #2/3 hybrid guy, which is never a difference maker. So your point was to prove to us that he wasnt a difference maker when we already thought that he wasnt a difference maker. In other words, your point was meaningless. You're trying to convince us on something that we're already convinced on.

 

I already told you the splits didn't mean anything and not to pay attention to them. I refrained from talking about Khalil Greene, Josh Beckett, Courtney Simpson and other people because this is a Joe Blanton thread, something you specifically wanted to keep this thread about.

Edited December 21, 2007 by Mephistopheles

[Cubbies622]

You have to imagine that he will do better in the national league as well but the fact that he pitches worse on the road makes me wonder how good he will be in a hitters park.

[Mephistopheles]

You have to imagine that he will do better in the national league as well but the fact that he pitches worse on the road makes me wonder how good he will be in a hitters park.

 

He doesn't really "pitch" worse on the road.

[javy knows my name]

Those aren't random and I'd have to say he changed my opinion on Blanton completely.

 

 

you bet your ass they are.

 

You didn't answer the question. Are all splits of the players I listed irrelevant splits? This split from Blanton was totally random, and the fact that he was 1st in AL ERA and in bad company on the road ERA, shouldn't cast any aspersions on how good he is?

 

Well let's narrow it down - are the Beckett/Chris Young splits meaningless, and why aren't Greene's splits meaningless?

 

1. You're looking at ERA (AKA you're wasting your time)

2. I don't look at ERA and I had no idea that he led the league in ERA (and I don't care)

3. His splits are fine. Forget about them.

4. He's a good number 3, poor number 2. That's exactly what everyone thinks he is.

5. b/c of 1-4 your Blanton "analysis" -- if it can be called that -- is meaningless.

You seriously drive me nuts sometimes. You have had three posts on this thread and you STILL haven't answered WHY his splits are not a big deal. I can't possibly see why they would not be, but I'm not blessed with your level of genius.

Maybe you could descend long enough to explain this to us lesser forms? Would be appreciated.

[brinoch]

A discussion and disagreement is fine, but the snarkiness I've seen in this thread needs to stop right now. Disagreements need not be personal.

[Mephistopheles]

Those aren't random and I'd have to say he changed my opinion on Blanton completely.

 

 

you bet your ass they are.

 

You didn't answer the question. Are all splits of the players I listed irrelevant splits? This split from Blanton was totally random, and the fact that he was 1st in AL ERA and in bad company on the road ERA, shouldn't cast any aspersions on how good he is?

 

Well let's narrow it down - are the Beckett/Chris Young splits meaningless, and why aren't Greene's splits meaningless?

 

1. You're looking at ERA (AKA you're wasting your time)

2. I don't look at ERA and I had no idea that he led the league in ERA (and I don't care)

3. His splits are fine. Forget about them.

4. He's a good number 3, poor number 2. That's exactly what everyone thinks he is.

5. b/c of 1-4 your Blanton "analysis" -- if it can be called that -- is meaningless.

You seriously drive me nuts sometimes. You have had three posts on this thread and you STILL haven't answered WHY his splits are not a big deal. I can't possibly see why they would not be, but I'm not blessed with your level of genius.

Maybe you could descend long enough to explain this to us lesser forms? Would be appreciated.

 

Let's see......

 

identical strike out rate

identical walk rate

identical ground ball rate

 

ITS AMAZING HE'S THE SAME DAMN PITCHER ON THE ROAD AND AT HOME!

 

 

OMG! OMG! OMG!

 

OH MY GOD CALL THE COPS AND GIVE THEM THE 411!

[Mephistopheles]

A discussion and disagreement is fine, but the snarkiness I've seen in this thread needs to stop right now. Disagreements need not be personal.

 

i didnt make a personal comment

i dont even know who im arguing with.

[brinoch]

A discussion and disagreement is fine, but the snarkiness I've seen in this thread needs to stop right now. Disagreements need not be personal.

 

i didnt make a personal comment

i dont even know who im arguing with.

 

And I wasn't referencing any of your comments when I posted this.

[Mephistopheles]

A discussion and disagreement is fine, but the snarkiness I've seen in this thread needs to stop right now. Disagreements need not be personal.

 

i didnt make a personal comment

i dont even know who im arguing with.

 

And I wasn't referencing any of your comments when I posted this.

 

yeah well it's usually me that you and other mods are referencing, so yeah...this is odd.

 

 

i need to do something

 

 

brinoch you suck!!!

[brinoch]

A discussion and disagreement is fine, but the snarkiness I've seen in this thread needs to stop right now. Disagreements need not be personal.

 

i didnt make a personal comment

i dont even know who im arguing with.

 

And I wasn't referencing any of your comments when I posted this.

 

yeah well it's usually me that you and other mods are referencing, so yeah...this is odd.

 

 

i need to do something

 

 

brinoch you suck!!!

 

:lol: \:D/