Phillies' Blanton making first start of season tonight vs. Cards

Joe Blanton got knocked around a little the last time he pitched, gave up a couple of homers in his rehab appearance for Double A Reading.

"That means zero," said the big righthander, who will make his first big-league start of the year tonight against the St. Louis Cardinals at Citizens Bank Park.

The Phillies sure hope he's right. Because while Charlie Manuel remains upbeat, he doesn't mind admitting that he needs to see a little more from everybody who's not named Roy Halladay.

That means Cole Hamels, who will start tomorrow night.

"I feel like Hamels is really close. I think he's going to have a big year for us," the manager said. "But our starting pitching, it's got to be better. And our bullpen has to be better. I think they know that. And if they don't, I'll tell them. We've got to have more than Roy and we also need Cole to be good."

That means Kyle Kendrick, who remains in the rotation despite a 7.61 earned run average. He starts Wednesday.

"He has to pitch better. He knows that," Manuel said. "At the same time, when you say he's gotta do something, he's got to go out and pitch and he's got to be focused and he's got to be relaxed. He's got to make pitches. He's got to keep the same cool he did when we gave him the ball 2 or 3 years ago and he pitched one game and then he pitched another one. And finally he was in the rotation. That's how he's got to pitch. That's exactly how he's got to pitch."

Kendrick had a terrific spring but hasn't been able to duplicate that success since the season began.

"Here's the difference in spring training," Manuel said dismissively. "I've seen hitters go to spring training, young hitters, and they'll be hitting the ball all over. And I'll tell my pitchers, 'Feed them fastballs. I want him to make the roster.' You know why? Because that might mess up their team for about 30 days. 'Here, feed him fastballs and let's see how far he can hit them.' "

Kendrick threw in the bullpen yesterday.

"Kyle's trying some different stuff, trying to get a better path to home plate," said pitching coach Rich Dubee. "He throws way across his body sometimes and that makes it awful tough to get to his glove side. We're working on that, trying to tweak a few things."

That means Jamie Moyer, who has a 5.70 ERA, also has to pitch better. Even though he got his third win last night, the Phillies are averaging 9.3 runs in his victories.

The immediate focus, however, is on Blanton, who has been out since late in spring training with a strained oblique.

"This has been by far the longest month of my career," Blanton said. "A lot of waiting round. Not being able to go out there and play and contribute at all, it's really tough. Then to go through the rehab process. It takes a lot."

He dismissed giving up a pair of homers to Double A hitters on several counts.

"The adrenaline's just not the same down there. You're working on things. You don't know the hitters all that well, not that you know all the hitters up here all the time. It's just different," he said.

In order to make room for Blanton on the roster, a move will have to be made. The most likely move is to send lefthander Antonio Bastardo, who still has an option, back to Triple A Lehigh Valley.

Blanton isn't expected to be on a pitch count.

"Commandwise, I don't know if it's going to be typical Joe Blanton," Dubee said. "But I know one thing: He'll compete like hell."

Added Manuel: "Since he's been with us, he's definitely given us some length in the game, without a doubt. He's been consistent about that. We need consistent pitching. That's what it's going to take for us to win."