Joe Blanton

Joseph Matthew Blanton is a professional baseball player currently signed as a starting pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies of Major League Baseball (MLB). He was born on December 11, 1980 in Nashville, Tennessee.

Blanton was selected by the Oakland Athletics as the 24th overall pick in the first round, a draft right acquired from the New York Yankees' compensation for the loss of free agent Jason Giambi. During the 2008 season, the Oakland Athletics traded Blanton, who by then had a 5-12 record and a 4.96 ERA, to the Philadelphia Phillies.

In Blanton's debut game with the Phillies, he pitched for 6 innings and conceded 5 runs. He didn't factor in the decision, however, the Phillies still managed to win by scoring 6 runs in the ninth inning. On August 2 in his 3rd Phillies start, Blanton recorded his first victory against the St. Louis Cardinals by a score of 2-1.

Major League
Oakland Athletics

Blanton made his MLB debut for the Oakland Athletics in 2004, making three appearances and pitching eight innings. He posted a 5.63 ERA, but did not get a decision in any of his games. In 2005, Blanton joined a rotation that had lost pitchers Mark Mulder and Tim Hudson to trades. Blanton was third on the team in innings pitched, but still exceeded 200 innings in his first full season. He posted 12-12 with a 3.53 ERA in 33 starts, and his 33 starts set an Oakland rookie record for most games started which had broken the previous mark of 32 set by Matt Keough in 1978. His ERA was best among all rookies with 100 or more innings pitched. He also tied the Oakland rookie record for most wins in a season with 12.

Blanton's first career complete game came as a 1-0 loss to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim on April 24, 2005. He was the only rookie to post two complete games in 2005. Blanton's high loss total was attributed to poor run support, as the A's only posted six runs total in all twelve of his losses combined, while posting 62 runs in his 12 wins. Blanton was also named the American League Rookie of the Month for June, as he tied with teammate Dan Haren for the AL lead in wins and finished third in ERA in June.

In 2006, Blanton's ERA rose over a full point to 4.82 and gave up the fifth highest number of hits in the American League with 241, resulting in a .309 batting average against. However, he had four more wins than the previous year, posting a 16-12 record, striking out 107 batters and walking 58. He pitched his first career complete game shutout against the Kansas City Royals on May 31. Blanton did not pitch in the ALDS for the Athletics, but was named to the roster for the ALCS, where he pitched two innings in one appearance, allowing no hits or runs.

In 2007, Blanton, Haren, and Rich Harden briefly formed the A's second "Big Three" for the season, though Harden's season was cut short by injuries. Meanwhile, Blanton went on to post a 14-10 record in 230 innings pitched. He struck out 140 batters, walked 40, and gave up 101 earned runs, resulting in a 3.95 ERA for the year. Though Blanton's road and home records were the same (7-5), his home ERA was 2.69 compared with 5.11 on the road. He also pitched three complete games in 2007, but his first one of the season was his third career complete-game loss, on April 25. Blanton made his 100th career appearance at the end of the season, posting a 7-3 win against the Texas Rangers on September 15.

At the end of the 2007 season, the A's broke up their "Big Three" yet again by trading Haren to the Diamondbacks. The A's completed their dealing by trading Blanton, who had posted a 5-12 record and a 4.96 ERA to the Philadelphia Phillies for second baseman Adrian Cardenas, pitcher Josh Outman, and outfielder Matthew Spencer.


Philadelphia Phillies

Blanton with the Phillies in 2009In Blanton's first start for the Phillies, he pitched six innings and allowed five runs; however, he did not factor in the decision as the Phillies scored six runs off the Mets' bullpen in the ninth inning to win. On August 2, Blanton recorded his first win as a Phillie against the St. Louis Cardinals by a score of 2-1 in his third Phillies start.

In Game 4 of the 2008 World Series, Blanton hit his first major league home run to become the 13th pitcher overall and first since Ken Holtzman in 1974 to hit a home run in a World Series game. He was also credited with the win in the Phillies' Game 4 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays.