Blanton headed to DL
The latest Phillies and baseball news from Philly.com.
Blanton headed to DL
Matt Gelb
CLEARWATER, Fla. -- Joe Blanton will be placed on the 15-day disabled list with a mild oblique strain that will need between three to six weeks to heal, Phillies team physician Michael Ciccotti said.
Blanton injured his left oblique muscle during a bullpen session on Wednesday. He met with doctors this morning and the diagnosis was made.
It is the first time in Blanton's six-year career that he will need to go on the disabled list.
His injury further complicates an already murky pitching situation for the Phillies headed into the season. Presumably this means Kyle Kendrick, who had lost the fifth starter's job to Jamie Moyer, will slide into Blanton's spot in the starting rotation. Kendrick was going to pitch out of the bullpen.
Ciccotti said the plan is to have Blanton travel north with the team and throw for the first time as early as a week from today, April 8. If Blanton responds well to rest and anti-inflammatory medication, he will long toss that day.
Blanton's last outing was a minor-league game on Monday in which he allowed 11 runs in five innings. Ciccotti said Blanton had shown no symptoms of the injury until Wednesday.
Ciccotti said Blanton's oblique strain is less severe than the one that kept former Phillies reliever Clay Condrey out of action for over two months last season. Condrey missed a month with the injury, then came back and pitched in three games before reinjuring the muscle.
Ciccotti said the injury is one that will not return if treated correctly.
"If you treat it carefully initially, then you can actually minimize the risk of recurrence," Ciccotti said.
What does this mean for the rotation? The guess here is that Kendrick will be slotted into Blanton's spot in the rotation, meaning he makes his first start Thursday in Washington against the Nationals. That will at least keep J.A. Happ and Jamie Moyer on their current schedules.
Moyer starts in today's Grapefruit League finale against Pittsburgh.
The other question is this: What happens now to the bullpen? Kendrick was probably going to be more than a long man to start considering the injuries to Brad Lidge and J.C. Romero had already left the bullpen thin -- and few of the middle relief candidates have been impressive this spring.
Now the Phillies have another spot to fill. Does it come from within the organization? I'm not so sure it does. Of all the relievers sent down in the last few weeks, none appeared ready for a major-league job. General manager Ruben Amaro Jr. has been paying close attention to the waiver wire already during the past few weeks and the Phillies will likely add another bullpen arm before the season begins on Monday.
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Wow!! you fans sound very positive. You have found out this is the beginning of something we all will be proud of. Base ball is back and we all can rejoice.— wiseoldowl
Andy Martino is not doing the Phillies Zone anymore??? How will we know??? Seriously, from day one it was like he was assigned to clean the cat box. I'll give this another shot if we can have some decent blog posts and intelligent Phils talk. Let's Go Phils!!!— bobby- If you're going to San Francisco this summer to see the Phillies take on the Giants, check out the Hyatt's Home Run Package for visiting teams at http://www.fishermanswharf.hyatt.com/hyatt/hotels/offers/details.jsp?pid=2229&offerCode=&specialOfferId=29801920&corp_id=78440— mocahill
- If we still had Lee we'd have 2 guys on the DL, then yes it might be time to dial up Pedro. Though I'd rather bring up Carpenter. But we have 5 starts so it doesn't really matter. In 3 weeks we don't play any power offesive teams. Just the Marlins, but it should round out to be Moyer, who doesn't lose to the Marlins, Halladay, and Hamels. We'll be fine.— richards4captain18
- reidbetweenthelines, I see you also noticed Blanton's awkward pitching mechanics. I'm surprised his shoulder is still attached to his body. Sometimes players get away with bad habits since they were kids because they were superior to their competition but with age those bad habits catch up with them.— EL Zorro
- They have Contreras. Don't worry.— EL Zorro
- Is Satchel Paige still alive? Seriously now, who is going to replace Moyer after 5 or 6 early losses? Could Bastardo have even a .500 season in the majors with his two pitches (including a 92-mph "fastball")?— Delaware Jim
- It's time to bring back Brandon Duckworth. He has great control and has the mental moxie to be effective— Jersey Devil
- Pedro!— frankenslade
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- Get Scott Eyre out of retirement for some bullpen help.
- Tubby has to slow down on the calories during the off season. You'd think some of these guys would pick up the baseball before spring training starts.— gwite
This board regularly reminds me that the majority of Phillies fans are hopelessly reactionary and as dumb as a box of rocks.— jpk- Martino went back to NY Daily News... but that may not have lasted. There's a piece about R. Amaro appeearing at INQ today with his byline.
- Been out of pocket for a bit. What happened to Martino? Did he get run out of town?— DPL
Martino went to the NY Daily news to cover the Mets. No I am not kidding. Good riddance to the carpetbagger!
This to me is actually a good thing. We know Blanton will come back strong and be the inning eater he always has been but now Kendrick gets a golden opportunity. This is why they kept Jamie and put Kendrick in the bullpen we have 6 starters ready to go.— KINGOFZED- I'll decide.— Big Game
- Maybe he strained it lifting his BIG FAT NEW PAYCHECK. Typical modern day athlete, did he work out at all this winter? Have another dozen doughnuts on us Joe.— Duck2late
- how about Cliff Lee? What were we thinking?— jbcanoe
- how about Cliff Lee? What were we thinking?— jbcanoe
- we need to get Pedro back here ASAP!!— nixman101
- Polanco is a natural second hitter. I'm not saying Rollins should lead off, but having Victorino later in the order gives them versatility speed. That being said, I just find it interesting that some of the posters here have the inside info...and there is tension in the clubhouse...lets see how the 'real' games go first. Can I get a CliffLee?— dirttracker
- I can't believe he's never been on the disabled list with his lack-of-wind-up pitching. How does he hit 91-92 without blowing out his arm by the 4th?— reidbetweenthelines
- 'Dirttracker': Gammenthal is correct, he's not the only MLB writer who is aware of that situation with one former NL coach on the staff. And wouldn't two lead off hitters give them a better chance of having RISP's ahead of Polanco, Utley, Howard and the rest instead of one--Rollins?— Jason*Verducci
- Even if they wanted to sign Pedro, he doesn't want to sign with them...or anyone else until later in the year. It's like Bret Favre avoiding training camp. Pedro knows he can't go a full year an still be good for the playoffs. Look for him in July or August at the earliest.— Scorekeeper
- Has to be an April fools joke cause Blanton doesnt have an ab muscle to pull. jk, Heavy B is the man. The bats will hold the fort down until he returns. They should really take their time gettin him back as long as hes right by June.— Golden17
- Where are the guys that wanted Moyer to retire now? And what about the ones that a year ago were saying Kendrick doesn't have major league skills? Can I get one more guy to mention Cliff Lee? and nice inside work there Bluster....it's amazing how many experts there are.— dirttracker
- I think the "owners" of all of our major sports teams in Philadelphia need to realize they are custodians of those teams and they owe it to the fans to put the best product on the "field". Trading Cliff Lee for profit protection and trying to sell it to the fans as a "restocking" of the farm system is a betrayal of the fans' trust.— Facialdoc1
- Great !!! Way to go Joe— phillyfanyo
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- Phillies bats have been cool of late. This might be time for Charlie Manuel to make changes. As of early this morning it had appeared Jimmy Rollins' two-for-three performance with the bat Wednesday had inflamed more tension within the Phillies clubhouse than it had dispelled. Sources within the organization have disclosed that at least one of the more National League-minded coaches has been pushing Charlie Manuel to bat Shane Victorino at the top of the line-up and Rollins second, as twin lead-off hitters. Manuel had planned to announce following Wednesday's game with the Blue Jays that he agreed to give it a try beginning with todays game. However after Rollins performance vs the Blue Jays and after the game Manuel was observed in the clubhouse sticking his index finger out at one particular coach who had pushing the most for this change and shaking his head as if to say "well now, that settles that." With Joe Blanton going on the DL for several weeks now there is a heightened urgency for Phillies offense to score runs.— Bluster_Gammenthal
I agree with GNIKGNARLY, 15 days for an oblique is wishful thinking. Hopefully Blanton stays in shape, or gets in shape.- Alright KK, you got your shot, show em what ya got! Phils bats better step up.
- Dasher - lidge was a loser last year, didn't have halladay last year, lee only had for less than half the season, we counted on Moyer in the rotation last year, we had very little depth last year (actually have more this year), braves have no offense and lost Javy Vasquez... where did all that get us last year?? oh yeah, the World Series. Go sell your sh*t somewhere else.— therev
- I guess Martino is out as Phils beat writer, or left the Inquirer?— everydayguy
- This is part of the game and part of the season, and it's why organizations have all those levels of minor league systems. KK will get a chance to start, and yes that means we need him and moyer to both pitch well, not just one of them, but nobody needs to jump off the ship yet. A lot can happen in 162 games people, and instead of all of the nostrodamus action, try enjoying opening day, the home opener, Doc's unveiling, and start worrying in May, that is of course if there's a need to...there may not be.— Bleue
- Lidge needs a cortisone shot...no biggie. No lefty in bullpen...no biggie. Park with Yankees... no biggie. Lee in Seattle...no biggie. Blanton on DL...no biggie. Counting on Moyer in rotation...no biggie. Ibanez hitting less than a hundred...no biggie. Very little depth if one of starting eight goes down...no biggie. Braves vastly improved with great rotation...no biggie. A hundred and thirty wins...easy.— dasher
- I meant April...— therev
- Pedro wouldn't be ready for 3 to 6 weeks.— hope55
- As long as we don't bring Contreras in as a starter....It's time we give Pedro a call....Ring him up! Go Phillies!— rochaa3
- this is a minor speed bump. no need to worry or make any rash decisions. The offense should be able to carry the team through the month of August. If this team can win the World Series with Hamels, Blanton, Myers,Moyer and Kendrick in the rotation then we sure as hell can make it through the first month of the season w/ Halladay, Hamels, Happ, Kendrick and Moyer...— therev
Obliques are NEVER 15 days. Either mild enough to not need any rest, or more likely, linger for months. All the Big Joe Nay-sayers beware. This could be a big mess. Kendrick is the easy shiort fix for now- but if Joe is out longterm we lose our bullpen depth and security blanket in case Jamie realizes he's 823482 yrs old.- Guys we don't need to sign Pedro because a pitcher is on the DL for 3-6 weeks. Chill out. We got KK. If someone goes down for the whole year... Then ok.— BammBamm
See, told you we should have kept Cliff Lee, ooops hes hurt too. Now don't I sound dumb bellyaching about trading Lee- 3 to 6 weeks . . wow . . come on KK . . wonder if RAJ has Pedro on speed dial . . .— ingy9
15 days. no biggie.- Comment removed.
- crkreg, how do you get from April 7-12 where there are 6 games in a row without a day off? What about April 14-18 where there are 5 games in a row without a day off? Seems like they will either need a 5th starter or have everyone pitch on short rest. Look at the schedule a little more carefully.— hoyaray
- What difference does it make? With Aprils schedule they dont need a 5th starter until around April 23-24ish— crkreg
- Reuben - do you still have Pedro's number?— JesseH
- ouch. Bring back Carpenter— mick314
- april foools????????????????— JohnV NEP
- Things will work out. Now KK gets to start and show his stuff.— SEEK313
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