Just to rub it in - Blanton is killing it for Pirates

[yk9001]

http://grantland.com/the-triangle/mlb-the-30-mariners-diamondbacks-mets-pirates-schedule/

 

 

The bigger shock for Pittsburgh — and one of the biggest for any team all year — has been the performance of Joe Blanton. Acquired from the Royals for nothing more than a few bucks on July 29, the well-traveled right-hander has caught fire with his sixth major league team. In his 11-year major league career, Blanton had thrown 1,553.2 innings as a starter and just 55.1 frames as a reliever — both with forgettable results. But after being given the role of long man in the Pirates pen, Blanton has become Pittsburgh’s secret weapon. In 15.1 innings with the Bucs, Blanton has fanned 20 batters, issued just three unintentional walks, and allowed just 11 hits with no home runs. He’s throwing his slider far more often than he has all year — nearly 40 percent of the time — and opponents are batting just .211 on at-bats ending in Blanton sliders since he joined the Pirates.

 

 

[laagamer]

That's it. We're cursed.

Now we have to figure out why that is.

Any of you guys try and haul a donkey into the stadium the past few seasons?

[fan_since79]

Butcher probably told him to throw more sliders when he was here and he ignored him and went with the fastballs down the middle.

[Troll Daddy]

Can't say I'm shocked ... it's sports. Obviously the guy went back to the drawing board.

Good for him

[DowningRules]

Good for him.  Dude kept trying and found his mojo, for however brief.  

 

I can't get angry because I think he actually tried hard to win for the Angels and you could see the frustration on his face.  

 

Unlike Kazmir who just couldn't give a toss, collected his filthy lucre, and decided to play to his capabilities well after he left the Angels and pretty much only when he felt like 'turning it on.'

[Stradling]

I knew we should have kept him and then gave him an extension so he could figure it out. Just think we should have him, Colon and Kazmir pitching for us. All we had to do was let them work through their struggles. F'in Dipoto! F'in Stoneman! F'in Reagins!

[Blarg]

That's it. We're cursed.

Now we have to figure out why that is.

Any of you guys try and haul a donkey into the stadium the past few seasons?

Not my fault, I haven't been to a game with Adam in years.

[Blarg]

I knew we should have kept him and then gave him an extension so he could figure it out. Just think we should have him, Colon and Kazmir pitching for us. All we had to do was let them work through their struggles. F'in Dipoto! F'in Stoneman! F'in Reagins!

F'n Stoneman again, he could have picked him up from the Royals.

[Stradling]

He didn't pitch well for the Royals, obviously they suck.

[Capital_Dave]

Anyone who claims that pitching coaches don't matter hasn't been paying attention to what Ray Searage has been doing for years in Pittsburgh.

[seenoevil]

He got butchered by butcher

[laagamer]

Anyone who claims that pitching coaches don't matter hasn't been paying attention to what Ray Searage has been doing for years in Pittsburgh.

Guilty as charged. Was I supposed to be?

 

EDIT: Wow. This image is golden.

 

Edited August 25, 2015 by laagamer

[stevestevens]

I have never even heard of Ray Searage until about 30 seconds ago.  Having said that, from what I know about him he seems like a straight shooter and a stand up guy.  Never have a heard someone say anything bad about the guy.  Not even once and that speaks to his character.

[Blarg]

Blanton always has the look on his face that he was just charged with murder.

[Capital_Dave]

Francisco Liriano.

A.J. Burnett.

Edinson Volquez.

Vance Worley.

Arquimedes Camanaro.

 

Now Joe Blanton.

 

He keeps taking pitchers off the waiver wire scrap heap and making them great... or at least really good.

 

Interesting article here: http://tartansportsanalytics.com/2015/02/23/ray-the-reformer-do-the-pittsburgh-pirates-have-the-best-pitching-coach-in-baseball/

[AngelsLakersFan]

15 innings

[ABC]

15 innings

 

Exactly. 

 

That way everyone carrying on here I thought I didn't read that correctly. 

[AngelsFanSince86]

Francisco Liriano.

A.J. Burnett.

Edinson Volquez.

Vance Worley.

Arquimedes Camanaro.

 

Now Joe Blanton.

 

He keeps taking pitchers off the waiver wire scrap heap and making them great... or at least really good.

 

Interesting article here: http://tartansportsanalytics.com/2015/02/23/ray-the-reformer-do-the-pittsburgh-pirates-have-the-best-pitching-coach-in-baseball/

 

Don't forget Jason Grilli...oh wait...

[OregonLAA]

The Pirates have done amazing things with reclamation projects. Good for them. But anytime someone goes to the National League life seems to get a bit easier for them

[Ray McKigney]

It won't last.

[IEAngelsfan]

Blanton always has the look on his face that he was just charged with committed murder.

[Vegas Halo Fan]

Good for him.  Dude kept trying and found his mojo, for however brief.  

 

I can't get angry because I think he actually tried hard to win for the Angels and you could see the frustration on his face.  

 

I didn't have a problem with Blanton. His performance sucked, but you could tell that he was giving it his all and he was genuinely distressed by the way that things turned out.

[eligrba]

The only way it could better would be for the Angels to be paying his salary.

[ELEVEN]

Guilty as charged. Was I supposed to be?

EDIT: Wow. This image is golden.

He has always looked like a ferret crawled up his ass in any situation. Now he's finally pitching like it.

[laagamer]

He has always looked like a ferret crawled up his ass in any situation. Now he's finally pitching like it.

Hahahaha I just spilled my beer!