With Blanton Still Around, Who is the Fifth Starter?
By: Mike Reisman
Well, spring training is close. The buses have been packed, the countdown is nearing an end, and in only six days, pitchers and catchers will report to Clearwater Florida to start spring training. Of course the big names will be there, Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee, Roy Oswalt, Cole Hamels, Carlos Ruiz, and Joe Blanton. Wait. Joe Blanton? He was supposed to be gone by now, but since he's not, what should the Phillies do with him?
Of course, the off-season isn't quite over, and with Andy Pettitte retiring, the Yankees may want another starter, however a deal this week looks unlikely. This is not the easiest of situations for the Phillies, as they really wanted to get rid of Blanton to free up cap space, basically guaranteeing Kyle Kendrick the fifth rotation spot (assuming he didn't get traded either). However, now the Phillies must choose whether to go with the more proven, bigger name in Blanton, or with the 26 year old who had a promising last four starts last year. Of course, there is always the option to put in someone completely different like Vance Worley, however that seems unlikely.
With other pitchers, this would not be such a bad problem, just pick one and send the other to the bullpen, but both of these pitchers do better as the game wears on. Last year, Joe Blanton's ERA in the first inning of games was 6.43, and Kendrick's was 7.55. Personally, I wouldn't want either of them in my bullpen with numbers like those. So here is the "solution". The way I see it the Phillies have two options, the first obviously being to trade one, specifically Blanton. The second one is let them fight it out in spring training, and let one start, and let the other either be that pitcher who come in when the team is up or down by at least five runs, or send them down. With first inning numbers like theirs, there is no room for being a middle reviler, and though it is a little bit sad, one of these starters will need to see a smaller role on the team.