Skip to main content

Blanton Speaks to the World


After Joe Blanton's rehab appearance with the Phillies single A club, the Lakewood BlueClaws, on Tuesday evening, he spoke to the media. Here's a run down of some things the injured pitcher had to say...


On the outing (2 innings, 2 strike outs, 13 pitches, 11 for strikes)...

I went out, good long toss, good bullpen. No pain with either one. If I had normal 5 days rest I probably would have thrown more pitches. I threw a lot in the bullpen and had a good long toss, so I'll just take that into my next rehab start.


On if he wanted to pitch another inning, as he undercut his expected pitch limit of 30 by shutting down the Hagerstown team on 13 pitches over 2 innings...

That was the plan, to go that far. I think I have an outing in a couple days, so...


On if he feels like he is ahead of schedule for a return to the big league club...

I think (the estimate for down time) was 3-6 weeks and I think the whole time we were shooting for the 3. Be optimistic....I've never been hurt before, so I didn't really know how to take it one way or the other, so that's what we were shooting for.


On if there have been lingering effects from the injury or soreness...

No. I threw two bullpens with a day off in between in Philly, and there was a day off before this one. I never felt any soreness from any of those and I never got stiff. Tomorrow will be another good test to see how I feel after some game action. Ya know, (I) put a little more effort level behind the pitches.


On his estimated return date with the Phillies...

It's kind of up to (the team). All I can do...is do what I can do, listen to the trainers and get myself healthy. My mechanics are pretty (much) there.


On his impression of FirstEnergy Park in Lakewood...

It was good. I was only out there a couple of innings, but....I've never pitched in "the SALLY League" before...so it looked like a really nice park and a good crowd and a really nice stadium.


On the extent of his next rehab outing...

I'll see what the plan is. Probably around 45-50 (pitches), about 3-5 innings. I'm just guessing.


On what he's been up to during the down time...

There wasn't a whole lot of days off. I've been doing a lot of arm exercises, from when I got hurt, so I kept my shoulder and elbow nice and strong. I've been playing long toss for a good bit too.


On if he feels the late start after the DL stint could help him in the long run this season, rest wise....

Not really. I've been a 200 inning guy. I haven't always gotten 200-plus, but I've always been around basically 194-197. Always like that, and usually as the season goes, I get better. I hope to still push to 200 (innings).


On who his favorite pitcher was growing up...

Nolan Ryan. Just tough-nosed...went out there everyday. You could see his intensity on the mound, that's what I always liked.



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

Read all about Blanton's Lakewood rehab outing by clicking HERE.

Check me out on the radio today, talking Phillies baseball with The Shore Sports Report. I should be on around 3:20pm with Mike & Joe. Tune in on WOBM AM 1160 and Fox Sports 1310 AM by the shore...or listen live on the web by clicking here.

Follow PhoulBallz.com on Twitter HERE.


Comments

Popular posts from this blog

PhoulBallz Interview: Reading second baseman Jesmuel Valentin

Jesmuel Valentin, image- Jay Floyd Switch-hitting infielder Jesmuel Valentin has been a bit of an underrated contributor with the Double-A Reading Fightins. Heading into action on Friday, Valentin was batting .339 over his last 14 games. Overall this season, the 22-year-old is batting .282 with four home runs and 35 RBI in 64 games. Valentin, who plays mostly second base, but dabbles at shortstop a bit also, is the son of former big leaguer Jose Valentin . The Puerto Rico native was a supplementary round pick (51st overall) of the Dodgers in 2012. He was acquired by the Phils as part of the Roberto Hernandez trade in 2014. Recently, I spoke with Jesmuel about his team's success, growing up around the game and more. Read ahead for that full interview. -The Reading team has been great and you've contributed very nicely to the club's success. What are your thoughts on competition in the Eastern League this year? I just came here with the mindset that...

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...

Phillies look-alikes, Part 1

The Phillies are World Series Champions and, thus, are world wide celebrities. This recognition isn't enough, I tell you. Some of the champs could very well be confused with other major celebrities around the globe...or at least around my house. Let's dig in... Two look-alikes in particular have been widely discussed. Geoff Jenkins even made a sign on the table covering at his autograph station at last year's Phillies Phestival that he is not Brett Favre or phormer Phillie Randy Wolf. ------------------------------------------------------- Jayson Werth may be on his way to Wrestlemania. Jay-Dub is aware that he resembles Heavyweight wrestling champion Adam "Edge" Copeland. Are you? -------------------------------------------- Carlos Ruiz's fame was boosted by TBS during the playoffs, but he might be ready for his own Comedy Central sketch show, as he looks very much like Carlos Mencia. Dee dee dee! -------------------------------------------------- And whi...