Blanton starts:

3/25: 5.2IP, 3ER  - ND
4/1: 6 IP, 2 ER - L (QS)
4/6: 6.2 IP, 2 ER - L (QS)
4/11: 7.2 IP, 5 ER - W
4/16: 8 IP, 4 ER - L
4/22: 7.2 IP, 4 ER - L
4/27: 7 IP, 2 ER - W (QS)
5/2: 7 IP, 2 ER - L (QS)
5/7: 5.2 IP, 2 ER - ND
5/14: 7 IP, 2 ER - L (QS)
5/19: 6 IP, 4 ER - ND
5/25: 6 IP, 3 ER - W (QS)
5/31: 6 IP, 6 ER - L
6/6: 7 IP, 2 ER - L (QS)
6/12: 6.2 IP, 4 ER - L
6/18: 3 IP, 8 ER - L
6/24: 7 IP, 1 ER - W (QS)
6/29: 4 IP, 7 ER - L

In starts he gives up 3 ER or less: 3-5, 2 ND
In starts he gives up 4 ER: 0-3, 1 ND
In starts he gives up 5 ER or more: 1-3

Joe Blanton has pitched 8 quality starts, garnering a 3-5 record (3 deserved wins, 5 tough losses).

Lets analyze Mike Mussina of the New York Yankees, who has arguably been their best starter this year.  Mussina has also thrown 8 quality starts to the tune of a 7-1 record. 

Blanton QS: 16 ER
Mussina QS: 13 ER

Joe Blanton on the New York Yankees, by my best guess, would be 6-2 in the 8 quality starts he has made. 

Also, Blanton has given up exactly 4 ER 4 times this season.  The Yankees are 7th in scoring this year, scoring 385 runs through 82 games, or 4.7 runs a game.  Lets figure Blanton goes 2-2 when giving up 4 ERs.

Blanton has given up 5 ER, 6 ER, 7 ER and 8 ER.  Lets figure he does what hes done on the A's and is 1-3 in those games.

As a New York Yankee, I guestimate Joe Blanton at 9-7, and this has been a down year for him. 

Compared to the rest of their pitching staff, he'd be #3 right now behind Pettitte and Mussina and #4 with Wang back. 

Nobody can tell me Joe Blanton would not make an EXCELLENT #3/#4 innings eating pitcher, and the Yankees have some prospects to give.  The problem is expecting Blanton to be an ace of a staff who doesn't give run support on a consistent basis, besides the weekly outburst.  The A's offense struggles against finesse lefties and righties who throw heat and command the strike zone.  Blanton as an ace faces the other teams ace, which usually falls into one of those two categories. 

Now I don't have the stats to back everything up, this is merely my opinion, and some other opinions gathered from choice stats and estimations. 

I think GMs who undervalue Joe are sorely mistaken.  He is a huge relief to the bullpen and gives you a quality start for the most part.  As of late, hes been horrible, but mentally I'm sure he feels he cannot win.  On a team that scores runs consistently for him, I'm sure that would do a lot for his psyche.  I hope Beane waits as long as possible, a good deal HAS to be out there for this type of pitcher, especially as the trade deadline gets closer and teams bound for the playoffs or a push make a move. 

Oakland needs starters who can dominate.  Think Harden, not Blanton. 

I'm still in love with Rich Hardens stuff, and if he can continue to throw only a fastball / changeup combination for the most part, and sticks to his word of learning to pitch more, I think the injuries MAY be behind him.  I've thought this 10,000 times before, but I think there is no trade value acceptable for what he returns healthy, UNLESS somebody really overpays his current stock.  Harden has been healthy as of late, and I know it's easy to believe it's only a matter of time before hes hurt again, but I for one am thoroughly enjoying his starts.  The possibility of trading him for a couple of prospects and watching him dominate the playoffs / World Series for another team is too much to bear.  I would personally ride Harden to the end, either he's a dominate Athletic or he rides off into the sunset. 

Duchscherer BETTER not be traded, either.  He has an amazing art form on the mound and its superior pitching when hes on the mound.  Harden / Duchscherer back to back can really give teams extreme fits.  I would love to see them 1-2 with anybody else on the rebuilding market. 

Oakland's strength at the farm system is pitching.  Trade pitching where we can get quality prospects, besides Rich and Justin, and give more opportunities to young pitchers, like we have Eveland and Smith.  Our pitching is always a pleasant surprise, and the Colesium does nothing but help a young pitchers psyche early on.