Not getting Blanton should concern fans

[TheBee]

I would have been much more concerned if we had gotten Blanton by overpaying.

[Prayin4Reign]

A month ago DD said that we were in it to win it, that the team had Angelos's full support.

In this link (it's from last month, I'm sure everybody read it ) he says everything that gives the notion that the team wouldn't be afraid to add payroll. But...he never mentioned that specifically. Maybe in the end DD just didn't think that Blanton was worth the 3 million. But it sure makes you feel that 3 million dollars wouldn't be a deal breaker.

http://brittghiroli.mlblogs.com/2012/06/23/duquette-absolutely-has-ownerships-backing-to-add-pieces-at-the-deadline/

[MurphDogg]

True, but if you don't think Blanton is better than what you already have, why even engage into talks about him?

Depth. I think the fact that Blanton wasn't traded says more about the ineptitude in the Phillies front office than the Orioles. The Phillies have officially waved the white flag, why not trade a guy who will be a free agent in two months for as little as a fringe prospect. Blanton's salary is a sunk cost of the Phillies, not the Orioles, their future would have been better served had they made a move.

[Can_of_corn]

Depth. I think the fact that Blanton wasn't traded says more about the ineptitude in the Phillies front office than the Orioles. The Phillies have officially waved the white flag, why not trade a guy who will be a free agent in two months for as little as a fringe prospect. Blanton's salary is a sunk cost of the Phillies, not the Orioles, their future would have been better served had they made a move.

They still have time to move him, not like he won't pass through waivers.

[hoosiers]

Not because he's an ace, though I think he would have helped more than some suggest. But, because money seemed to have held this up. We may finish at or above .500, and that's great. But those expecting PA to open the checkbook next year to build off that is setting themselves up for even more heartache. By not shelling out a little to get Blanton, says alot. This should atleast extinguish any Zach Grienke rumors before they even hit the HO this winter though. Or any thoughts of the O's going after any premium FA for that matter.

I think PA has been a hindrance to the organization many times in the past though he once carried the league's highest payroll and was a good owner at times.

I find it very, very difficult to believe that PA turned down a $3M request from his GM to improve this team.

I am sorry that some posters draw the line of PA's contributions/hindrance to the organization at $3M and Joe Blanton. I do not believe that is the case at all.

[theobird]

OK, when Hammel returns somebody gets bumped out of the rotation. Probably Hunter. If you get Blanton, then somebody like Tillman or Britton gets bumped out of the rotation. No thanks. I just don't see the issue here. I would much rather have Hunter in the rotation than Joe Blanton, not to mention Britton or Tillman. I am not sure I would like a trade for Blanton if the Phillies paid his whole contract and we sent them a couple rosin bags and a bucket of balls. This was a great no trade.

[MemorialStadKid]

Well, Tillman's stinking up the joint tonight. Maybe a blockbuster trade would have made a difference?

MSK

[MurphDogg]

Well, Tillman's stinking up the joint tonight. Maybe a blockbuster trade would have made a difference?

MSK

Maybe they could have traded for more anti-bodies .

[Tx Oriole]

Not because he's an ace, though I think he would have helped more than some suggest. But, because money seemed to have held this up. We may finish at or above .500, and that's great. But those expecting PA to open the checkbook next year to build off that is setting themselves up for even more heartache. By not shelling out a little to get Blanton, says alot. This should atleast extinguish any Zach Grienke rumors before they even hit the HO this winter though. Or any thoughts of the O's going after any premium FA for that matter.

Good golly we as fans dont know what stopped the trade for Blanton. The fans that make a statement abut something without the facts is just not right. IMO.

[Ampontan]

Not because he's an ace, though I think he would have helped more than some suggest. But, because money seemed to have held this up.

The other GMs watch all the moves too. Showing that you are willing to overpay to obtain an overpaid pitcher of marginally better talent than the ones you already have for a two month rental will make it that much more difficult to do a deal in the future with any of the other teams on reasonable terms.

But those expecting PA to open the checkbook next year to build off that is setting themselves up for even more heartache.

He spent quite freely at first, and then stopped during the period when the Nationals were getting a franchise. Absent indications to the contrary (this is not one of them), I think he is ready to spend the money. Perhaps not as profigately as he once did, but he did lay out 8 million for Guerrero last year.

[DrungoHazewood]

If it's true the Phillies openiing position for Blanton was Schoop, I'm not sure if there was much of a deal there. Also, I'm not sure Hunter and Gonzo are any worse than Blanton.

I'm quite sure Blanton is better than Hunter. I don't know how you could come to any other conclusion. Hunter has pitched 430-some MLB innings to a 4.79, and with the O's he's allowing almost six runs a game with a K rate of 5.0. Blanton's ERA is half a run lower, his K rate higher, his HR rate much lower, and his K:BB ratio far better. You'd have to grade Hunter on a huge park/league curve to make the two equals.

But don't confuse that comparision with me endorsing paying a high price to get Blanton.

True, but if you don't think Blanton is better than what you already have, why even engage into talks about him?

Because he's somewhat better than what they already have, so there is a price point where he makes sense.

I think PA has been a hindrance to the organization many times in the past though he once carried the league's highest payroll and was a good owner at times.

I find it very, very difficult to believe that PA turned down a $3M request from his GM to improve this team.

I am sorry that some posters draw the line of PA's contributions/hindrance to the organization at $3M and Joe Blanton. I do not believe that is the case at all.

It's hard to believe that $3M was the stumbling block, considering that the O's attendence in on pace to be up by about 300k, which translates to something like $15M in additional revenues. They couldn't have predicted or budgeted for that at the beginning of the year.

[Going Underground]

I think tke Phillies will have more payroll issues then the O's. Cliff Lee contract:

2013 34 Philadelphia Phillies $25,000,000

2014 35 Philadelphia Phillies $25,000,000

2015 36 Philadelphia Phillies $25,000,000

2016 37 Philadelphia Phillies *$27,500,000 $27.5M Vesting Option, $12.5M Buyout option becomes guaranteed with 200 IP in 2015 or 400 IP in 2014-15

No one wanted to pick him up for that price. The Rollins contract is also a bad one. The Phillies have so much money invested in pitching.

[Brendan25]

This is crazy.

[Brendan25]

I would have been much more concerned if we had gotten Blanton by overpaying.

Agreed.

[Trackmaster]

It depends on how well they perform. Tickets are still cheap, and even though attendance has been better, there's still plenty of empty seats on a given night at Camden Yards.

Their operating budget will fall in line with projected attendance, and if they continue to do well, and an upward trend of gate revenue continues, then the purse strings may be loosened a bit.

As of now, I'd bet the Orioles are close to their break-even point after expenses. This team, having made unwise spending decisions in the past (signing Gregg, extending Roberts) has them hamstrung when it comes to their budget. I'm really not surprised that money became an issue in this case.

No, most small market teams are swimming in cash due to revenue sharing (assuming they keep their payroll low too). It's all about the owners feeling of how much each marginal dollar spent will bring extra revenue. For big market teams, the sky is the limit to how much money they can make if they field a winner, for smaller markets, there's only so much of a market share that you can fight for.

Don't feel sorry for Petey, with revenue sharing and MASN money, he'll always be in the black. Just be happy whenever he decides to spend money, and don't assume that money saved will be put back into the team.