2015 Pittsburgh Pirates Gradeout

The offseason is unfortunately here and so we are simultaneously tasked with reflecting on the 2015 season and looking forward to next spring. As part of Rumbunter’s off-season coverage, we will be grading out virtually every member of the Pittsburgh Pirates who spent substantial time on the team’s 25-man roster over the past season. We will look at their seasons as a whole, show you their relevant stats, and assign a final grade to each player. Today’s entry: Joe Blanton

The Pirates had so many players that contributed to their 98-win season, many of whom flew under the radar. Joe Blanton was one of these players. Blanton was one of the prizes of the trade deadline for Neal Huntington, who went out and added not only Blanton but J.A. Happ, Aramis Ramirez, and Joakim Soria. The difference between Happ and those other acquisitions was the cost it took to get him. Or the lack thereof. Huntington managed to snag Blanton solely for cash considerations, who had trouble holding a place in a deep Royals bullpen. Reflecting back on the 2015 season, it’s safe to say that Blanton was one of the many fantastic trades made by Huntington and another notch in his belt.

Blanton, who had been a starter for most of his career, pitched mostly in relief this season. He started just four games, and wasn’t that bad overall with Kansas City. He pitched to a 3.89 ERA, but was eventually acquired by the Pirates in late July right before the trade deadline. The move wasn’t really questioned because no players were given up to get him, but some wondered whether he could truly benefit a somewhat-ailing Pirates’ pen. Any doubters were soon proven wrong.

At the time, the Pirates’ bullpen was the one weak spot on the team. The injuries to Josh Harrison and Jordy Mercer were a temporary setback, and any detriment to the bench or the starting lineup in their absences wasn’t due to poor play, but rather the use of minor league fill-ins. The pen, on the other hand, was seeing poor performances from Antonio Bastardo and Arquimedes Caminero, both of whom had ERAs near 4.00. The addition of Blanton gave the pen a much-needed long-man, which neither Bastardo or Caminero were.

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Blanton gave up one run in his first appearance with the Pirates, but didn’t give up another one in the entire month of August. His August was highlighted by two outings of scoreless three-inning outings against the Dodgers and the Diamondbacks. He did hit a rough patch in the middle of September, which was bound to happen after the fantastic run he went on in September. But he finished the season on a high note, not allowing a run in any of his last five outings.

When all was said and done, Joe Blanton finished his Pirates’ tenure with a 1.57 ERA and a 1.02 WHIP. He was also worth 0.9 wins above replacement. If he had performed near what he had with the Pirates over the course of an entire season, he would have easily cleared two wins above replacement, which is very good for a non-closer. His season-ERA, including his time with the Royals, of 2.84 is the best season-ERA of his career. He was often thrown in at the end of the game in extras or to try to keep the team in games, a role that he hadn’t really been in until his time with the Pirates, and he excelled. It’s safe to say that Blanton was a huge success for Neal Huntington and the Pirates.

A. Joe Blanton helped an ailing bullpen upon his arrival to the Pirates and ended up being the main long-man in the best bullpen in all of baseball. He had one rough stretch, but that’s nitpicking an otherwise fantastic season. With the low-cost to acquire him and his subsequent great performance, there’s no reason to complain about Blanton’s time with the Pirates.. RP. Pittsburgh Pirates. JOE BLANTON

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2015 Pittsburgh Pirates Gradeout – Joe Blanton

By Tyler Waite | Oct 26, 2015