Philadelphia Phillies Pitcher Joe Blanton May Return This Season But Not as a Starter

Earlier this week, it was revealed that Joe Blanton had nerve damage in his elbow and was all but done for the season. Now Blanton told Todd Zolecki of MLB.com that “there’s a zero percent chance I’ll start this year.” Blanton says there is just not enough time for him to build up his arm strength. He says he may be able to contribute still but it would have to be as a reliever. Personally I don’t see the odds of Blanton returning at all as very good, and I don’t think it would be a good idea for a team in the pennant race to have a guy who has never pitched as a reliever to suddenly be pitching in critical situations late in games.