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Read: Today, In the NL East
By David Pinto - Aug 13, 2008 12:21 pm

Phillies RHP Joe Blanton’s ERA is over 1.5 runs lower with the Phillies than it was with the Oakland Athletics.  He’s walking more batters, but giving up fewer hits – sounds like the Phillies put a better defensive team behind Joe.

As the Braves get set for a double header today, 3B Chipper Jones is 7 for 16 in twin bills this season. He’s scored four runs and driven in two.

The Marlins claim they fixed the signs that caused both Wes Helms and Dan Uggla to make mistakes Monday night.

After nearly 140 years of professional baseball, teams should have this down.

Garrett Mock moves to the Washington bullpen, where his high strikeout numbers may be more useful. He has yet to allow a run as a reliever this season.

For more real-time information, news, links and stats from around MLB, check out Baseball Musings.

31 Responses to “Read: Today, In the NL East”

  1. nysportsfan16 says:

    the Marlins…………………………

  2. Giuseppe Franco our next GM says:

    Omar should trade heilman for a candy to be named later

  3. Ryn05 says:

    According to Baseballthinkfactory’s Defensive Runs Saved Analysis the Phillies are +34 while the A’s are +30 for the entire year defensively.

    So that’s why Blanton’s ERA is 1.5 runs lower. I’d go with the fact that his BAA is .79 points lower for PHI then it was in OAK. It’s 66 points higher then his career average, it will regress to the norm.

  4. Metsfan309 says:

    This is a bit off topic but why hasnt Kunz, our “closer of the future” not gotten to close? Did they only call him up only to carry around the stupid pink backpack…

  5. iamatwork says:

    Once again, the comma after “Today” is incorrect. Stop using it.

  6. Lightweis says:

    They’re doing it just to bother you, and it’s working.

  7. With the comma, I imagine Tom Brokaw’s voice.

  8. LongJohnMaine says:

    Huh, that’s funny. Keith Law, who I revere and is absolutely excellent, said that while Blanton’s ERA might improve in the NL, it would be somewhat offset by the fact the Phillies are a poor defensive team. Guess that hasn’t been the case thus far.

    I also enjoyed it when he called all three starting Phillies outfielders “below average defensively.”

    • Ugh. Don’t remind me of their outfield. Jayson Werth makes me want to vomit. Is it written somewhere in the rule book that guys with “flavor savers” have to destroy the mets (or at least seem to destroy us)? That was a Scott Spiezio reference.

      • Dafatone80 says:

        Victorino’s a hell of an outfielder. Last night, they switched him out of the game for defense.

        Charlie Manuel’s the worst manager ever. Seriously.

        • phillygalfan says:

          Nope, he actually left hurt in the 7th- lower back strain. Hopefully won’t make it to DL, but I’m not holding my breath….

        • metsftw says:

          victorino is an average outfielder. literally. his FRAA is…0.

  9. SK says:

    I’m going to say small sample size of 4 starts with Blanton here…but…

    His FIP is is around 4.80 with the Phillies (compared to 4.17 with the As this season) which would indicate that he’s not pitching as well, but his ERA is lower due to (possibly) better fielding behind him.

    Then again, his BABIP is .213 which means no matter how you split it, he’s been lucky.

    • Ryn05 says:

      The Phillies and A’s are both top 5 for best defensive teams.

    • metsftw says:

      what’s with all this sabermetric talk? don’t you nerds know that baseball games aren’t won with computers, but with heart and grit?

      /typical metsblog commenter