Official Blanton Press Release

by OaklandA23 on Jul 17, 2008 4:33 PM PDT

A’s Trade RHP Joe Blanton To Philadelphia For Three Players

A’s Acquire 2B Adrian Cardenas, LHP Josh Outman, OF Matt Spencer

OAKLAND, Calif. - The Oakland A’s today traded right-handed pitcher Joe Blanton to the Philadelphia Phillies in exchange for second baseman Adrian Cardenas, left-handed pitcher Josh Outman and outfielder Matt Spencer.
Cardenas was batting .309 in 67 games with Single-A Clearwater and ranks seventh in the Florida State League in batting average. He was leading the Threshers in batting and triples (6), ranked second in runs (44) and was tied for second in stolen bases (16). The 20-year old second baseman was named the Phillies’ number two prospect by Baseball America prior to the 2008 season. Cardenas (pronounced car-DEE-ness) was originally drafted by Philadelphia as a supplemental pick following the first round of the 2006 First-Year Player Draft out of Monsignor Pace HS in Florida. He played for the United States team in the Futures Game in San Francisco in 2007.
Outman was 5-4 with a save and a 3.20 ERA in 33 games, five starts, at Double-A Reading. He allowed a .257 opponents batting average and just two home runs in 70.1 innings. The 23-year old left-hander was named the Phillies’ number four prospect by Baseball America prior to the 2008 season. Outman was originally a 10th round draft pick of Philadelphia in the 2005 draft and has 409 strikeouts in 414.1 minor league innings.
Spencer was hitting .249 with six home runs and 41 RBI in 84 games at Clearwater in his first full professional season. The 22-year old outfielder was drafted by the Phillies in the third round of the 2007 draft and hit .263 with nine home runs and 26 RBI in 51 games with Williamsport in his professional debut last year.
Blanton was 5-12 with a 4.96 ERA in 20 starts for Oakland. He tied an Oakland record for most losses before the All-Star Break and is tied for the Major League lead in losses. The 27-year old right-hander also ranked third in the American League in hits allowed (145) and tied for third in runs (74), but he was tied for the league lead in games started and tied for sixth in innings pitched (127.0). Blanton was originally drafted by the A’s in the first round of the 2002 draft and compiled a 47-46 record with a 4.25 ERA in 122 games, 118 starts, in his Oakland career.

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Comments

Thank you as always OA23

We have missed you recently. It’s always nice to get the official word.

"Camelot sure fell apart, didn't it?"-Steve McCatty

by 5Aces on Jul 17, 2008 4:38 PM PDT 1 recs

If I could recommend this comment 957gazillion times, I would.

In the absence of OaklandA23, we get 23 separate fAnPoSts on one topic anytime something big happens.

There's no textbook for how to treat a geriatric tapir.

by Poppy on Jul 17, 2008 4:42 PM PDT up 0 recs

Good catch

go through all the trouble of making a thank you comment and I don’t recommend-sheesh.

"Camelot sure fell apart, didn't it?"-Steve McCatty

by 5Aces on Jul 17, 2008 4:48 PM PDT up 0 recs

+1

"Don't be an ass!" --Bill King

by batgirl on Jul 17, 2008 4:58 PM PDT up 0 recs

Thank you

You ARE the official word.

by arch on Jul 17, 2008 4:43 PM PDT 0 recs

Good to know you haven't been traded, OA23!

by Englishmajor on Jul 17, 2008 4:46 PM PDT 0 recs

Beginning to think OA23

is a front office personnel for the A’s. Perhaps Billy Beane’s handle on AN? Trying to find the significance of the #23….maybe him being the #23rd pick of baseball’s 1980 draft? Hmmm.

by arch on Jul 17, 2008 4:53 PM PDT 0 recs

Definitely a member of the PR staff

I don’t think there’s ever been any doubt that she works for the A’s.

"Dispatch knuckleheadedness with Bond-like aplomb." –74mk

by iglew on Jul 17, 2008 7:31 PM PDT up 0 recs

Do we know "she"?

When I think of OA23, I think of a female as well, but have we ever actually gotten even that much info.

The more I think about it, it could be a generic account that they send someone to post to when transactions occur. I hope that is not the case, and in my mind she will always be the ever-vigilant guardian of all official news that rides in during our hour of need to save us from needless speculation.

"Camelot sure fell apart, didn't it?"-Steve McCatty

by 5Aces on Jul 17, 2008 11:00 PM PDT up 0 recs

Come to think of it, I'm not sure

I always assumed she, but I don’t know if we knew that for some reason or I just imagined it. Probably the latter.

I agree with you that it’s probably a generic account that anyone in the PR office can log into. Doesn’t mean she can’t still have an individual female identity. Sort of like “Dear Abby” or “Wonkette”.

"Dispatch knuckleheadedness with Bond-like aplomb." –74mk

by iglew on Jul 18, 2008 3:01 PM PDT up 0 recs

This diary needs more recs.

There's no textbook for how to treat a geriatric tapir.

by Poppy on Jul 17, 2008 4:54 PM PDT 0 recs

done

by rh40 on Jul 17, 2008 4:59 PM PDT up 0 recs

Another official Press Release...

Billy Beane trades himself to the Yankees for a GM to be named later….
updates to come.

by dathirdeck on Jul 17, 2008 5:05 PM PDT 0 recs

like this trade

I think Billy has made a great trade. The boys on the USS Mariner think it was a steal for the A’s. I was not happy with the Harden trade, but this one for Blanton is very good.

by hokecole on Jul 17, 2008 5:11 PM PDT 0 recs

Rotoworld makes a good point

The drafting of Weeks already looks a little silly, what with picking up 2 second basemen in a week and a half.

Might as well Jump! - Van Halen

by sprtsnwyn on Jul 17, 2008 5:24 PM PDT 0 recs

maybe, maybe not

If all three start developing into “exciting,” high-AVG/high-OBP players, they can either all be mixed/matched in 2b/OF positions, or traded from a position of strength/depth for higher SLG-upside hitters.

I told them 'My game is like a blog.' Because I don't know what a blog is, but it don't sound good. @('.')@

by monkeyball on Jul 17, 2008 5:30 PM PDT up 0 recs

every time I've logged on these last few days

I’ve been expecting to see Blanton, Street or Ellis traded (in that order).

by OaklandSi on Jul 17, 2008 5:25 PM PDT 0 recs

Street is next....

writing’s on the wall….

by arch on Jul 17, 2008 7:39 PM PDT up 0 recs

I just hope we keep murton

by nevermoor on Jul 17, 2008 7:56 PM PDT up 0 recs

Beane just traded me

no new fanposts yet

thanks for the news, OA23

I'm here to talk about the past.

by 67MARQUEZ on Jul 17, 2008 5:43 PM PDT 0 recs

but what did he get in return?

by OaklandSi on Jul 18, 2008 10:50 AM PDT up 0 recs

You know it's a good trade when...

your competition says:

“I hate having Billy Beane in our division. “

"Twenty minutes," says Jack Sr. "Thank god for Billy Beane."

by ST on Jul 17, 2008 5:44 PM PDT 0 recs

They always say that, though

by Englishmajor on Jul 17, 2008 6:22 PM PDT up 0 recs

If I'm Beane, Now I....

sign Ellis to a three year plus option deal. These guys won’t be ready for a couple of years so there’s no point in letting Ellis go at this time. You get two years of Ellis and then can trade him with two years remaining on his contract.

Trade Embree and Street for a decent starter on another club who can help the team this year and next. If there was any way to pry the disgruntled Liriano from the Twins…nah. But still, the A’s need another starter and have a couple of pieces to move. It’s time to move from Prospectland to the Present.

by richwol1 on Jul 17, 2008 6:19 PM PDT 0 recs

except that Patterson's played in the bigs this year

Weeks and Cardenas won’t be ready for a while, but Patterson will be.

"To me, boxing is like a ballet, except there's no music, no choreography, and the dancers hit each other." - Jack Handey

by JJ on Jul 17, 2008 6:23 PM PDT up 0 recs

Patterson was kinda a lagniappe in the Harden trade, though.

"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s

by Nick on Jul 17, 2008 6:28 PM PDT up 0 recs

lagniappe

Mr. Poppy loves that word. He got it in a 3rd grade spelling bee or something.

There's no textbook for how to treat a geriatric tapir.

by Poppy on Jul 18, 2008 10:27 AM PDT up 0 recs

Lovely heritage for that word

It comes from New Orleans creole slang, but the exact etymology is not definitely known, which leaves the field open for plenty of interesting speculations….

"Dispatch knuckleheadedness with Bond-like aplomb." –74mk

by iglew on Jul 18, 2008 3:05 PM PDT up 0 recs

YES SIGN ELLIS AND YES PLEASE TRADE STREET/ EMBREE AND FIND A CLOSER

by oak52 on Jul 17, 2008 6:27 PM PDT up 0 recs

Why would you trade the closer... and then go look for a closer?

by mikev on Jul 17, 2008 8:30 PM PDT up 0 recs

You seem to have perhaps missed the exceptionally clever and subtle insinuation of the prior post,

namely, that Street is not actually a “closer.”

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Jul 17, 2008 9:53 PM PDT up 0 recs

Kind of you

But ALL CAPS = nonsense almost all the time

by nevermoor on Jul 17, 2008 10:36 PM PDT up 0 recs

Well you can give the Mets the division crown now once Joe starts eating thoes Philly cheese steaks it’s over.

by Kevin in SAC on Jul 17, 2008 6:44 PM PDT 0 recs

I will admit

I like both trades, but I kind of wish Gaudin was around at the moment

by nevermoor on Jul 17, 2008 7:57 PM PDT 0 recs

kind of interesting

That the Haren, Harden, Gaudin, Blanton, and Swisher are all currently in first place

I guess it gives us plenty of rooting choices come playoff time, in case the A’s don’t make it.

I'm here to talk about the past.

by 67MARQUEZ on Jul 17, 2008 9:33 PM PDT 0 recs

The interesting part of these trades are that all of them were to teams that are doing good.

like you said. they are all in 1st place. One or more of them can actually win the world series this year because of this.
Also, looking at Blanton, you realize that he has been pitching for the last year, since the last trading dealine, knowing that he was going to be traded. Especially if he ever came onto this site. Add to this that he could very easily started the year at 4 -0 but for lack of runs and blown saves.
I really think he will pitch alot better now that he doesn’t have to worry about all of that. And I wish him and Haren, Harden, Gaudin, Swisher good luck in the playoffs.

"Whether you think you can, or you think you can't, either way, YOU'RE RIGHT !"

by Eastbayjim on Jul 17, 2008 11:35 PM PDT up 0 recs