Skip to main content

Blanton Sharp in Rehab Outing With Lakewood

Phillies starting pitcher Joe Blanton appeared with the single A Lakewood BlueClaws in his first rehab outing on Tuesday night, as he attempts to recover from an injured oblique muscle. Blanton, the Phillies 3rd starter, has been resting and recovering on the disabled list, since March 31st, when he injured his oblique during a bullpen session.

The injury was not something Blanton saw coming at all. "I threw a pitch in the bullpen, thought I felt something. I didn't know if I just kinda pinched my side, or something grabbed, or what. Then I threw another pitch and it felt like somebody stabbed me in my side," Blanton said when discribing how he experienced the strained muscle.

While warming up prior to the game in Lakewood, Blanton expressed frustration, as he wasn't displaying the type of control he expected of himself, early on. A few of his warm up pitches went wide and in the dirt, but none of that translated into the game action, as Blanton displayed excellent command, shutting down 3 batters in the first inning, then topping that with a 6 pitch 2nd inning. Blanton threw first pitch strikes to 4 of 6 batters and threw 11 strikes out of 13 pitches.

When asked about his command, Blanton, who last pitched in a minor league game in 2004, told the media, "I pretty much counted on good command. It wasn't a lot of time off from throwing." Blanton stated that throughout this trip to the disabled list, the first of his career, that he only missed about 9 days of throwing. He has been increasing his distance and staying active throughout his down time.

Looking a bit more lean, Blanton appears to be in better shape than phans may be used to. Asked if he's changed his diet or training routine, Blanton stated, "Not really. I've just been going about the same as always. Just trying to work hard and get better every year."

Blanton's time frame for a return to the Major League Phillies is still up in the air and depends on his progress through rehab work, but a target date of early May looks realistic. A Phillies representative was overheard saying that Blanton will pitch Friday in (double A level) Reading. That would be an longer outing than his two inning effort in Lakewood (possibly 50 pitches), and would set Blanton up to pitch again on Wednesday, April 28th, if he goes on regular rest. Reading is the only one of the three local teams that is home on that date.

The BlueClaws won the game against the Hagerstown Suns 4-3 in 11 innings. The team plans to auction off the uniform Blanton wore on Tuesday benefit BlueClaws charities.

--------------------------------------


Follow PhoulBallz.com on Twitter HERE.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Harry Kalas Phorever...

Legendary broadcaster Harry Kalas passed away today. Harry collapsed while preparing to call today's game against the Washington Nationals. So many phans will feel as though we've lost a member of our own families. I feel as though I've lost a part of myself, but Harry enhanced my love of the great sport we call baseball and I will always carry that love, and Harry, in my heart. I've stated on this page before that I consider Harry more of a Phillie than anyone who wears the uniform as an active member of the roster. Harry Kalas was a Phillie. Moreso, Harry Kalas was the Phillies. Please share your thoughts and memories of Harry in the comments section, or send them to PhoulBallz (at) verizon (dot) net.

Caption This....

Jayson Werth was hit by a pitch thrown by Jeff Bennett on Friday. This picture shows where the ball made contact with Werth. Drop YOUR caption in the comments area.

Rappers in Phillies Caps

Weekend greetings to you phine pholks out there. Today's post features pictures of rappers wearing Phillies caps. Why rappers in Phillies caps, you ask? Because... Any other questions? We will start things off properly by going with a highly recognizable hip hop star. 50 Cent stays constantly relavant by consistantly creating radio friendly material to help sell (G) units, while he "keeps it real" by still rapping about the thug life he lived before becoming the 2nd highest earning black entertainer in America. 50 is seen here in a recent interview rocking a throw-back Phillies cap. Next up we'll use a throw-back screen cap from what may be the very first major appearance by a rapper wearing Phillies gear. Chuck D, of legendary rap group Public Enemy, wore a Phillies cap in the music video for rap anthem Fight The Power in 1989. The song was the lead single from the soundtrack for Spike Lee's film Do The Right Thing . Next up we'll go with some home grown tal