The Phantastic Phour...and Joe Blanton

"How does it feel?" is the question athletes are redundantly asked after winning a championship, losing a pivotal game, etc. But it is guaranteed no one has ever been asked how it feels to be in Joe Blanton's situation; a mere man among beasts, the guy who no one really cares about. The highly acclaimed 2011 Phillies starting rotation includes Roy Halladay, a two-time Cy Young Award winner (most recently this past season); Cliff Lee, the 2008 AL Cy winner who won the only two games for the Phils in the '09 World Series against the Yankees; Cole Hamels, the '08 World Series MVP; Roy Oswalt, while the 4th starter in this rotation, would be an ace on over half of the other MLB teams; and Joe Blanton, who is the definition of an average MLB starter.

"The four Phillies aces...and Joe Blanton," was the way Around the Horn host Tony Reali described the Phillies' staff. And this description is realistic. Blanton has a 4.30 career ERA and no All-Star appearances or distinguished personal awards. He's never won 20 games or had an ERA under 3.50. But what he does do is give a ballclub solid innings (as high as 230 in 2007), and give his team a chance to win almost every start. You won't see him pitching shutouts like Halladay routinely does, but giving six or seven inning, three run starts every five days. For a fifth option, he sure isn't bad.

But how must it feel to be in his situation? It seems as if every time he's brought up as a member of the Phils' rotation, it's by poking fun at him. It was different last year, when there was a Jamie Moyer/Kyle Kendrick in the rotation as well, another "normal" pitcher. But now he stands alone as a symbol of mediocrity. It's said in literature when to bring out a trait in a character, place them next to a complete contrasting one; it will bring out the differences. This situation brings out Blanton's pedestrian credentials as a pitcher. Blanton could do one of three things: let the situation get to him, ignore it, or use it to try and improve, and if possible, become less distanced from his peers.

Many guys in Blanton's situation would simply crumble, back out, let this drastically lower their self-esteem, the "I'm not good enough" attitude. Blanton could give up in Philly, ask for a trade to become a three or a four in another city, but not have a shot at another World Series ring. This in unlikely. He could also be indifferent to the entire situation, just go on his business as a decent MLB starter and make a comfortable living, and be thought of well but generally ignored by the fans in Philadelphia. He could also option to use the situation to his advantage, and learn from the other starters. The glaring problem to this is that Blanton is not a rookie coming up, but a 30-year-old established pitcher, and learning the ways of 27-year-old Cole Hamels would be a punch in the mouth to his pride. What Blanton could do is pick up Halladay's highly acclaimed work ethic, and routinely ask arguably the best pitcher in baseball for advice. However, maybe Blanton really has reached his plateau. Regardless, he hasn't shown any indication of wanting out of Philadelphia, and while he is a rather expensive fifth starter (8.5M), he is welcome to stay.