The Most Valuable Pitcher Is . . .

I would think thinking in the near past that Cliff Lee would jump as the answer to most Phillies fans, or even baseball fans for that matter. Cliff Lee has been pretty much dominant since his plane landed in Philadelphia. He started off with a complete game victory against the Diamondbacks, tossed two other complete games, and has only had small bumps in the road during his post-trade vacation to the Phillies.

Others may think a second and say "Cole Hamels has to be the choice." Cole has that MVP Postseason etched in people's minds very clearly. He dominated the Brewers, Dodgers, and Rays last October and has definitely done that more recently as the leaves are starting to fall again. He pitched a complete game shutout against the Nationals last week, a 2 hit shutout against the Giants the first week of September, and looks to do the same as he takes the hill tonight and lower his era into the 3.00s.

Then a longer pause may make one think back to the emergence of JA Happ. Happ is 10-3 (would have won #11 but had to leave in the third inning against the Braves last week), fourth best era in the National League at a 2.36, and has helped the Phillies deal with the early season 5th starter question.

But my choice would be Joe "The Lumberjack" Blanton. Blanton had a very rough start to 2009. He wasn't used to that in Philly where he did not lose a decision while in a Phillies uniform, postseason included, during the magical season of 2008. He lost his first three decisions of '09 and complied an 8.41 era during April and early May. But since his 7.0 scoreless innings of 4 hit ball against the Marlins back on May 26, his era dropped below 6.50 and has steadily fallen like the trees he should chop in the Appalachian Mountains. He is 9-4 in July, August, and September and has 13 out of those 14 starts being quality starts (6 + innings with 3 or fewer earned runs).

Joe Blanton is a quiet guy who takes care of business on the field. Cole may have a better change up, Cliff may have a better overall package, and Happ may still have that rookie glow to him, but Mr. Blanton has turned into "Mr. Consistency" that the Phillies rotation needed to have for so long. Let's sign that man to an extension.