"Everything's moving pretty quick," the 27-year-old righthander said. "You're just trying to figure out names and get settled in."

Today, however, the path between normal American worker bee and newly acquired major league starter deviates. When Blanton takes the mound for the first time since the Phillies dealt three minor leaguers to the Oakland Athletics in exchange for his services, he will do so at Shea Stadium, in front of 40,000-plus, charged with halting a two-game losing streak and preventing his new team from losing control of first place for the first time since May 31.

It is a drastic change from where he was a month ago, pitching for the A's against the Phillies while listening to the almost daily trade rumors involving his name. When the two teams agreed to a deal for the fourth-year starter, who is 5-12 with a 4.96 earned run average this season, it marked one of his biggest upheavals as a ballplayer since he made the switch from catching to pitching as a preteen.

Growing up in Edmonson County, Ky., a rural area just outside of Bowling Green with no stoplights that is home to Mammoth Cave National Park, his future had always seemed generally solid. Like any other kid in the Bluegrass State, he grew up bleeding Blue and White, following Wildcats basketball while making a name for himself on the local baseball diamonds. After a standout career at Franklin-Simpson High, he made what seemed to be the only choice: signing to play for the University of Kentucky, which at the time featured a righthanded starter named Brandon Webb.

"Growing up in Kentucky, you grow up a basketball fan," Blanton said. "It was a completely different sport, but that's kind of always the dream. Just the whole deal. It was Kentucky all the way."

Blanton dominated for the Wildcats, finishing his career fifth on the school's all-time strikeouts list with 231. In a 5-2 win over Arkansas in May 2002, he struck out 14 batters in a four-hit, complete-game win. Earlier in the season, he had struck out 16 while walking just two in a victory over Ball State.

By the time the major league draft rolled around, Blanton had established himself as a pitcher with the potential to help a big league team in the not-so-distant future. The Athletics drafted him at No. 24 overall in 2002, using a pick they had been awarded when free-agent Jason Giambi signed with the New York Yankees the previous offseason. He worked his way quickly through the minor leagues, reaching advanced Class A by the end of the summer in 2002. In 2003, he struck out 174 batters and walked just 26 in 169 innings, making his final seven appearances at Double A Midland and going 3-1 with a 1.25 ERA.

Several times along the way, he faced former Mariners minor leaguer and current Phillies utility man Greg Dobbs. When Blanton arrived at Dolphin Stadium this weekend, Dobbs made sure to seek him out.

"That's the first thing I said, 'I'm so glad I don't have to face you,' " Dobbs said. "He owned me."

Shea Stadium is a long way from Midland, both literally and figuratively. Blanton hasn't pitched since July 9, when he allowed six runs on nine hits in six innings against the Mariners. He has faced the Mets twice in his career, and has yet to allow a run in 15 innings.

Publicly, the Phillies don't seem to have definite expectations for Blanton. Will he be the solid No. 2 behind Cole Hamels that the team has lacked all season? Is he the type of pitcher who, in a situation such as today, can put a team on his back and carry it to victory?

"He's capable of pitching a real good game," manager Charlie Manuel said. "We'll see where he goes. I think that he'll do pretty good."

Blanton certainly hopes so. He hoped to spend yesterday's off-day scouting out a place to live in the Philadelphia area before joining the team for the bus ride up to Queens. The Mets and the Phillies enter today tied for first place in the National League East, a position the Phillies have held since the end of May.

Now, it will be up to the team's newest member to help keep them there.

"It's exciting and it's different, and kind of weird at the same time," Blanton said. "I spent my whole career with the A's, minor leagues through here, so it's the first time I've been on a new team. But I'm definitely excited." *

For more Phillies coverage and opinion, read David Murphy's blog, High Cheese, at http://go.philly.com/highcheese.