J.A. Happ says he’s okay to pitch on Saturday, but I think that’s one of those things players say because they want to pitch. If his knee shows swelling today, there’s no way the Phillies are going to risk him tomorrow. It seems to me that Charlie Manuel is going to be forced to use Pedro Martinez as a starter this weekend. I’d be very worried if that happens. Martinez hasn’t pitched well since his 130 pitch outing, hurting his neck in his next start batting. Now, the Phillies might send him out in extremely cold weather?

As for Blanton:

Blanton threw 19 pitches, fewer than he would in a typical side session between starts. “A few less pitches, but a little more intensity,” he said. “I don’t see it being a problem one way or another. I recover quick and I can do whatever.”

Blanton said that the cold would not bother him. “It’s going to be cold,” he said. “If you let it bother you, it will. If you don’t, it won’t.”

Manuel insisted that Blanton would be ready to start, despite the relief appearance. “I’ve been around the game 47 years. Yeah, I think he can do it, yes. Yes I do. I’ve seen guys come back and pitch three or four days in a row that were starters. How about that? Yeah, I’ve seen them do it.”

I’d have more confidence in Blanton than Martinez as well, except he hasn’t done the bullpen to starter in a long time.

The bottom line is that the Phillies are going into a park that’s not kind to pitchers with three question marks for starters and a shaky bullpen. That has to make Rockies fans willing to brave the cold.