Good news first: starting pitcher Joe Blanton returned to the Philadelphia Phillies' rotation on Monday night after a brief DL stint, and he even got a win for his trouble after limiting the Florida Marlins to three runs in five innings. Blanton only threw 66 pitches, but after some time off, that's perfectly acceptable.
Joe Blanton’s Elbow ‘Still Cranky’ After Pitcher Returns To Phillies
Now the bad news. Or at least, the not-so-good news. While Blanton threw, the elbow that sent him to the disabled list in the first place may not be feeling so hot. Writes Jim Salisbury:
In fact, the closest [Blanton] came to giving a positive appraisal of the condition of his right elbow was when he was asked if he felt any pain at all in pitching five innings against the Florida Marlins on Monday night.
“It was OK,” Blanton said. “I’m able to pitch.”
Added pitching coach Rich Dubee:
“I don’t think he’s 100 percent,” Dubee said after the game. “It’s still a little cranky. At the same time there was some rust, too ... We’ll see,” he said. “He’s definitely not 100 percent.”
So according to the Phillies’ pitching coach, Blanton wasn’t at 100%. And Blanton didn’t do much to refute the notion, either with his performance or his words. All we can do now is wait and see how Blanton feels in the coming days. Given that he didn’t go on a rehab assignment, it isn’t surprising that he’d be a little off in his first game back. But if this elbow discomfort holds up, the Phillies may need to back off and take things slowly with their #5 starter. While Blanton’s willing to pitch through a cranky elbow, it isn’t in his or the organization’s best interests to have him do so for an extended period of time.
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