It was on this day in 2000 that six Boston pitchers (including starter Pedro Martinez) combined to throw a perfect game against the Blue Jays in a Spring Training matchup. While perfect games in the spring obviously aren't nearly as prestigious as those during the regular season, it was still an opportunity for Martinez to finally be involved in a recognized perfecto. Martinez threw nine perfect innings against the Padres on June 3, 1995 but his performance isn't considered a perfect game by MLB rules since (shades of Harvey Haddix) the 0-0 game went into extra innings and Martinez allowed a hit to the first batter of the 10th inning.
Here's the latest from Fenway….
- The Red Sox have "their radar up on Roy Oswalt," writes Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe as part of a reader mailbag. Carfardo thinks if Oswalt wants to pitch for Boston, the club will sign him. Oswalt was reportedly holding out for a team closer to his Mississippi home but recently said he's willing to pitch anywhere, though perhaps not until midseason. Also in Cafardo's piece, he says the Sox aren't going to make a move for a pitcher until they see what they have in Daniel Bard and internal fifth starter candidates like Felix Doubront.
- Scouts from the Red Sox and Orioles have joined the contingent of scouts at Joe Blanton's spring starts, reports Jim Salisbury of CSNPhilly.com. The Phillies are reportedly willing to pay up to $2MM of Blanton's $8MM salary as part of a trade, but Boston makes another move, even $6MM might be too much for the Sox, who are trying to keep payroll down to avoid a big luxury tax hit.
- Carlos Beltran was interested in joining the Red Sox this winter, reports Brian MacPherson of the Providence Journal, but ultimately signed with the Cardinals since Boston's focus was on working out a deal with David Ortiz. "We talked a little bit, and they had interest," Beltran said. "They were trying to get something done first with David. At the end of the day, I wasn't going to wait until they got that done." As MacPherson points out, it may have been a moot point since the Sox wouldn't have been able to afford Beltran once Ortiz accepted salary arbitration.
Ship Blanton up to Boston… Kendrick’s more than ready to be the 5th starter.
And who pitches if one of the starters gets hurt? I am also not ready to give Kendrick a regular starting job. I like him where he is as a long man and spot starter.
I don’t understand the Blanton hate. He has a ring and Roy and Cliff don’t. If he is healthy he is a decent starter, and certainly worth the $6.5 Million that any team he would be traded to would pay. He will get 12-15 wins this year and I don’t know what else you could ask for. He won’t be worth crap in a trade and $2M in salary relief is just a joke.
He’s had one good year as a Philadelphia Phillie and his poor performances in the 2009 World Series and 2010 NLCS are pretty big reasons why Cliff and Roy don’t have rings… Cole Hamels is essentially the reason anybody on the 2008 Phillies has a ring.
He’s not going to win 12-15 games this year and if he is does, it’ll be a product of our offense. Certainly not his 4.00 era, which is good for a #5 starter but nothing Kendrick can’t do.
He’s a waste of payroll space and if Ruben can find somebody willing to take $6.5 million he should do it… Blanton should never have been tendered a contract in 2009, let alone extended.
I don’t “hate” Blanton. I just don’t think he should be on the team anymore… especially if his salary is preventing us from upgrading other parts of the squad.
I don’t think Boston’ll trade for him anyway. Maybe Baltimore or somebody.
Who pitches if one of our starters gets hurt? Austin Hyatt, Dave Bush, and Joel Pinero are options. Maybe Trevor May dominates (stretch). I’m not really worried about that because if one of Halladay/Lee/Hamels go down we’re in deep trouble regardless.
Charlie completely messed up Joe in the 2009 playoffs. He took Blanton out of the rotation for Pedro ( I forget the ridiculous time off between starts). That made no sense at all as Blanton was pitching well down the stretch and probably kept us in the playoff hunt. Blanton is usually good and has a few terrible games throughout a season. Many times he should be pulled but Chuck leaves him in too long. I don’t know how many times I can tell a pitcher is done and Ol’ Cholie isn’t ready.
I hate stats because people act like a guy is consistently producing at his numbers. I remember a time when you could pencil in 2 or 3 runs over 7-8 innings from Joe most of the time. He would get rocked in a few starts and his numbers would fall apart. Most days Joe pitches he keeps the team in a position to win.
I have some major concerns with Kendrick and Worley. I would much rather know what I am getting with JB then take a shot on the two mentioned and some guy off the scrap heap (That most likely will not turn out like Garcia). If Joe is healthy I think many will be happy with what he gives us. With no way to see the future I guess we will have to see what happens.
I don’t understand why you think Boston would choose Blanton over Oswalt when they can have either (if Joe is so terrible). I highly doubt the Phillies would bring back Oz at the same money.
Charlie completely messed up Joe in the 2009 playoffs. He took Blanton
out of the rotation for Pedro ( I forget the ridiculous time off between
starts).
Because Pedro out pitched Joe Blanton… He didn’t push Joe out of the rotation. (off the top of my head)
NLDS
Game 1: Cliff Lee
Game 2: Cole Hamels
Game 3: JA Happ
Game 4: Cliff Lee
NLCS
Game 1: Cole Hamels
Game 2: Pedro Martinez
Game 3: Cliff Lee
Game 4: Joe Blanton
Game 5: Cole Hamels
World Series
Game 1: Cliff Lee
Game 2: Pedro Martinez
Game 3: Cole Hamels
Game 4: Joe Blanton
Game 5: Cliff Lee
Game 6: Pedro Martinez
I seem to remember Joe Blanton getting light up like a Christmas Tree only to be bailed out by Jimmy Rollins in the 9th inning.
I seem to remember the Phillies rallying to tie of CC Sabathia only for Joe to give up the lead in the next inning and put them down 4-2.
I don’t think Boston would trade for him because they realize he’s not worth his money.
Many times he should be pulled but Chuck leaves him in too long.
Because he expects to get 6-7 innings out of his starting pitcher. I remember Joe Blanton kept getting light up in 2010 after going 7 innings. That’s not Charlie’s fault, that’s poor conditioning.
“I hate stats because people act like a guy is consistently producing at
his numbers. I remember a time when you could pencil in 2 or 3 runs
over 7-8 innings from Joe most of the time.”
Joe Blanton’s never been a 7-8 inning guy… at least in Philadelphia. He’s been a guy who will go 5-6 innings and give up 2-4 earned runs… Maybe less against a bad offense or on a good day.
As a Phillie, he’s gone 8 innings 3 times. 3!
He’s gone at least 7 27 times.
27/80 starts he’s managed to 7 innings. 27
54/80 starts he’s gone only 6 innings.
80-54 = 26/80 times he’s failed to go 6 innings in a game. It’s far more likely he’s going to go 6 innings or less than he is 7-8… or ever really. All of his 8 inning starts came in 2009.
Most days Joe pitches he keeps the team in a position to win.
So does Kendrick. If we can subtract $6.5 million from our payroll and turn that into a big piece at the deadline, they should do it.
I have some major concerns with Kendrick and Worley. I would much
rather know what I am getting with JB then take a shot on the two
mentioned and some guy off the scrap heap
And you DON’T have concerns about a pitcher who’s been ineffective since 2009? You DON’T have concerns about a pitcher coming off a season where he missed the MAJORITY of the season with an undiagnosed elbow problem?
What you’re getting from Joe Blanton is 5-6 innings and 3-4 earned runs a game. Is that worth $6.5 million?
I think Vance will take a step back… but those are the exact numbers I expect him to put up.
Wow
Easily my longest post ever… most of it’s me quoting him though and spacing.
He’s had one good year as a Philadelphia Phillie and his poor performances in the 2009 World Series and 2010 NLCS are pretty big reasons why Cliff and Roy don’t have rings… Cole Hamels is essentially the reason anybody on the 2008 Phillies has a ring.
Oh come on… Pedro Martinez couldn’t contain Hideki Matsui. Matsui had Martinez’s number. Also, Manuel is a stubborn man, I would have started JA Happ over Martinez. I would not have gone with the veteran in that case. Also, Cole Hamels was a big part of the 2008 W/S, but also that cold snap which brought snow to Philly and delayed the series, otherwise I think the Rays would have won the series. Look the Phillies earned it, but there was some luck involved. However to blame Blanton for the 2009 defeat is silliness.
However to blame Blanton for the 2009 defeat is silliness.
I didn’t blame him. I said he pitched bad both seasons in key starts that put his team down 3-1 each time The poster said that Joe Blanton has a ring and Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee don’t… which is true. I just said Joe’s a reason why that’s the case… which is the truth.
Also, Cole Hamels was a big part of the 2008 W/S, but also that cold
snap which brought snow to Philly and delayed the series, otherwise I
think the Rays would have won the series.
1. It was Rain
2. The Phillies DID have luck just like virtually every team to win the world series does. One instance of being lucky was NOT facing Boston in the World Series.
3. The Rain had nothing to do with why the Phillies won.
3a. Cole Hamels would have shut the Rays down had the rain not come… They barley touched him with half his arsenal.
My other post got flagged…
Basically the gist… Rain had nothing to do with the Phillies win… if anything it pre-empted it. Cole Hamels would have dominated the Rays and become the first pitcher (or 2nd whatever it was) to win 5/5 post season starts.
They were lucky… I’ve said that a lot, they weren’t the best team in baseball when they won.
Joe Blanton wasn’t the reason they lost in 2009. I know that. I was just responding to the poster who insinuated it was because of Cliff/Roy that they didn’t have rings… Joe Blanton didn’t do anything to help them. Cole Hamels losing focus and blowing a 3-0 lead and Matsui were the main reasons the Phillies lost.
Do not want
Don’t blame you.
Have to wonder where the rumor of Blanton going to Boston originated from. Some NY pub is my guess, filled with Yankee fans…
glad to have ortiz’s bat around for another year, but this offseason would have been a lot better if he had declined arb and beltran had been signed in his place
Not sure agree with you there now and was not a fan or ortiz being offered arbitration.
beltran has injury problems, still got 2/26m and Ross IMO will give the team probably 3/4 of what beltran even if manages to stay healthy for 3m and we know ortiz should produce more with the bat. Beltran’ might have a good glove, but as Boston fans are about to find out? Ross is no slouch once he is moved out of CF either and he’s not exactly a poor CF.
Ortiz at 16m and 1 year is a better sign than beltran at 2/26m to me.
i can see that POV, but beltran gives you ortiz’s offensive production + adequate (or better) defense in right. he and youkilis could be kept healthier by rotating through the open DH spot and lavarnway (& possibly middlebrooks) would have an opportunity if/when they earn it
i like david; i don’t mind his one-year price. i was glad they offered arb. but the situation above +2 draft picks sounds better in every way to me
Well unfortunately the red sox have no control over the draft picks. ortiz decided to accept arb…and this is the result.
Although I agree that 2 draft picks sounds good. not too sure on where i stand on beltran though :S
EDIT: That was meant as a reply…dunno why it became its own post.
Yet another new term for what the Red Sox have been doing this winter when it comes to pitchers on the market. First we had “looking into”, then “checking on” then “watching” now it’s “their radar up on”. I can’t wait to see what it will be next. Anyone have any guess?
Trade Jenks for Blanton, both teams get what they want
Jenks is probably not going to be pitching at all this season..