Yardbarker: Joe Blanton

Phillies’ Top Prospects: Off-Season 11-20

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 15:30:05 -0500

Just a reminder that all the Phillies' Prospects articles can be found on the page linked on the right-hand side of the screen. I plan on doing specific posts for each of my top-10 prospects in the Phillies system, but I wanted to acknowledge the rest of my top-20 list here. 11. Jarred Cosart, RHP 6'3'' 180 lbs, 19 years old 2009 Stats (Gulf Coast League) The only Phillies' pitcher who received a larger bonus than Cosart in the 2008 draft was Jason Knapp. That should...

Phils-Yankees Game Four: Can history repeat itself for CC, Blanton?

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 19:16:27 -0500

The Eagles have already dispatched their half of the battle against New York, and now the Phillies simply have to the same. Tell me if any of this sounds familiar. The Phillies are about to face CC Sabathia in a playoff game on short rest, at home in CItizens Bank Park. Joe Blanton will make a start in the World Series, in the National League park, so he has to bat? You... uh... You ever seen either of those things happen?Of course I don't need to remind you of what happened to CC, then ...

Sunday: Phillies hoping for bounce back peformance

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 14:27:59 -0500

Faced with their first series deficit in two postseasons, the Phillies send righthander Joe Blanton to the mound in Game 4 against lefthander CC Sabathia, who will be working on short rest. Preview: Following last night's 8-5 loss, an unfamiliar, uneasy feeling is creeping in among the Philadelphia faithful. The Yankees used three homers to rip home-field advantage right back from Cole Hamels and the Phillies last night, while a number of sluggers, including Ryan Howard, continued to look out...

Breaking news: Blanton will have the ball for Game 4

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 14:43:14 -0500

After splitting the first two games in New York, Charlie Manuel has opted to go with Joe Blanton for Sunday's Game 4 rather than pitch Cliff Lee on three-days rest following his 122-pitch complete game Wednesday. It would have marked the first time in Lee's career he was used on short rest. Blanton, who's pitched as both a starter and reliever this postseason, allowed four runs over six innings in Game 4 of the NLCS. The right-hander finished the season...

Today in Philly Sports History: Joe Blanton Goes...Well, You Know, 2008

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 08:00:00 -0500

You just kind of know that things are going good when your ninth-hole hitter--also known in National League speak as "The Pitcher"--is going deep for you in the World Series. When Joseph Matthew Blanton stepped to the plate in the bottom of the fifth inning of Game Four against the Rays on October 26th, 2008, his aspirations were far from lofty. "I just closed my eyes and swung hard in case I made contact," said Blanton after the game. Indeed, it would have been unrealist...

Blanton better served in bullpen this postseason

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 18:56:04 -0500

Just a couple of leftovers from last night’s thriller Joe Blanton: Relegated to a bullpen role in the division series, Kentucky Joe had the look of a reliever called on to make a spot start last night. He started strong, retiring the first 10 batters, then nibbled through the second turn. By the fifth, Los Angeles had him solved, and by the sixth, I was shocked Blanton was still in the ballgame. Blanton may have been a workhorse this season,...

2009 NLCS Game Four: Phils Hope to Go Joe Blanton All Over the Dodgers

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 18:03:44 -0500

I was walking to my job in midtown Manhattan today wearing my Cliff Lee jersey (a nice button-down job, although it has a somewhat incongruous "2008 World Series Champions" patch on the sleeve) when someone--a Yankees fan, presumably--called out to me on the street. "Hey! We got you next! Yeah, kid, Game One in South Philly!" (Apparently he missed the All-Star Game this season). I smiled and responded "See you there," and as I walked the rest of the way to my bu...

Joe Blanton to Start Game Four

Sat, 17 Oct 2009 15:14:24 -0500

With the taste of yesterday's horrible loss still lingering, news that Joe Blanton will be the game four NLCS starter can refresh the fan psyche and help us look towards winning the games ahead. Blanton was perhaps the most consistent of all the Phillies starters all season long and the decision to give him the ball for the first pitch of the game instead of using him out of the pen is a welcomed one.And not to dwell on the past, but Chase didn't make any excuses after the game yester...

Game chat: Blanton hopes for better luck vs. Nats

Wed, 16 Sep 2009 17:29:17 -0500

In a rematch of Thursday's loss, Joe Blanton tries to rebound from his worst start of the season against Livan Hernandez, who held the Phillies to two runs in that same game. First pitch is 7:05 from the Bank. In other news, the Phils have activated injured reservist Greg Dobbs from the DL. Lineup are posted with the standard setup.

Phils vs. Nats: And We Shall Beat Livan

Wed, 16 Sep 2009 17:28:00 -0500

As it pertains to tonight's game, which is the more interesting statistical trend in the Joe Blanton in-season trajectory? Option A: His ERA gradually fell from 5.08 on July 5th to 3.80 on September 5th over a string of eleven straight quality starts; Option B: His ERA rose from 3.80 to 4.11 in just under two hours on September 10th.You may recall that the September 10th game was against... That's right! Tonight's opponent, the Natties! Hopefully that freak 8 ER occurrence doesn&#...

Got to get tough, go Joe!

Thu, 10 Sep 2009 14:50:00 -0500

Joe Blanton mounts the bump for the Phils tonight, looking for his 10th win and the series sweep against Livan Hernandez and the gNats.Meanwhile in the NL East, the Fish (6 games back) and Sean West faceoff against the Metropolitans and Bobby Parnell. The culturally incentive Braves (9 games back) and Derek Lowe are set for a showdown in Houston with Roy Oswalt. ~Carson

Blanton Eats Bucco Tacos for Breakfast

Tue, 25 Aug 2009 16:25:10 -0500

After enjoying victories in three out of four games this past weekend in New York, the Phillies are in Pittsburgh this evening to take on the Pirates. The Phils will roll out reliable Joe Blanton this evening who will go up against awesomely named Ross Ohlendorf who is having a nice season of his own. Blanton has been great for the Phils having thrown at least seven innings in all of his starts except for one since the month of July started. Despite a fire sale of ...