Joe Blanton

From BR Bullpen

Joseph Matthew Blanton

Bats Right, Throws Right
Height 6' 3", Weight 225 lb.
School University of Kentucky
High School Franklin-Simpson High School
Debut September 21, 2004
Born December 11, 1980 in Nashville, TN USA

[edit] Biographical Information

Pitcher Joe Blanton was an unimpressive 13-12, 5.11 during his three years at the University of Kentucky. After he led the Southeastern Conference with 133 strikeouts in 100 innings as a junior, though, he was chosen by the Oakland Athletics in the first round of the 2002 amateur draft (the 24th overall selection), signed for $1.4 million and made his pro debut that season, going 1-1, 3.14 with 15 K and 2 BB in four games for the Vancouver Canadians of the Northwest League and 0-1, 7.50 with 6 K and 6 BB in two games for the Modesto A's of the Carolina League.

He split 2003 between the Kane County Cougars of the Class A Midwest League and the Midland Rockhounds of the AA Texas League, going 11-8 with a 2.29 ERA and 174 strikeouts between the two stops, before making one postseason appearance out of the bullpen for the AAA Sacramento Rivercats. He led the Midwest League with 144 strikeouts and was second to John Maine in total minor league strikeouts. He was picked as the #5 prospect in the Midwest League by Baseball America and the #20 pitching prospect in the minors. He was 7th in the MWL in ERA (2.57).

He returned to Sacramento the next year and went 11-8 with 143 strikeouts, a 4.19 ERA, 35 walks and 199 hits in 176 innings with the club before being recalled by Oakland in September. He was seven strikeouts behind Pacific Coast League leader Dan Haren. He was also the starting pitcher for the USA team in the Futures Game, hurling one scoreless inning, allowing hit and a walk and fanning one.

Blanton spent the entire 2005 season in the A's rotation, going 12-12 with a 3.53 ERA in his rookie season. In 2006, he logged 16 wins for the Athletics, against 12 losses, although he surrendered 241 hits in only 194.1 innings on the mound. His high ERA of 4.82 kept him out of the starting rotation in the post-season, and he made a single appearance as a reliever, pitching two scoreless innings in the Championship Series against the Detroit Tigers. He had another solid, if unspectacular season, as a starter for the A's in 2007,posting a record of 14-10, 3.95 and pitching a career-high 230 innings as the team fell out of contention.

On July 18, 2008, Blanton was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies for three prospects, second baseman Adrian Cardenas, left-handed pitcher Josh Outman and outfielder Matt Spencer. He was having an unimpressive season for the A's, having gone 5-12 with a 4.96 ERA in 20 starts over the season's ftirst half. However, the division-leading Phillies were interested in his proven capacity to pitch a lot of innings and were not looking for an ace. It was the second trade in a week by Oakland involving a front-line starter, following a deal immediately before the All-Star break that sent Rich Harden and Chad Gaudin to the Chicago Cubs.