Blanton included on Sports Illustrated cover with Phillies' Big Four ... well, sort of

The Phillies intimidating pitching staff made this season's Sports Illustrated baseball preview issue, which was released earlier this week. One of the staff members, however, is blatantly (or Blantonly) covered up by the title of the periodical and this snub, consequently, has the club, league and many fans irate.

Sports Illustrated contacted the team several months ago about including 'The Big Four'--Halladay, Lee, Oswalt and Hamels--on the cover of the popular magazine, but the team, and the pitchers, would only agree to take part if the fifth starter, Joe Blanton, was also included. SI at first hesitated then agreed, but remained quiet about how the final image would appear despite multiple inquiries from the team, including president David Montgomery and general manager Ruben Amaro Jr.

"This is egregious," said Amaro, visibly shaking with anger about the Blanton cover-up. "They were purposely vague and deliberately misguiding about the photo shoot and Joe's role in the final presentation. I sent some really harsh texts messages to those guys at SI. Texts that I can't share with the [press]."

"Oh, I'm used to it by now," said Blanton, about often being left out when the conversation turns to the Phillies starting pitching. "I'm thrilled that my body from the neck down made the cover of SI. It's really a dream come true and my whole family is ecstatic. I'm serious."

Despite the apparent laid-back nature of Blanton, his teammates are trying to soften the blow. "We've been teasing Joe ever since the issue came out," said fan favorite Cliff Lee. "You know, saying that it was a blessing that they covered that ugly mug of his up. Or, asking him why he didn't speak up when the photographer lowered the Sports Illustrated sign in front of his face during the shoot."

Early on Friday, before the opening day game against the Houston Astros, several Phillies, led by Ryan Howard, shoved a shaving cream pie into the face of an unsuspecting Blanton as a lighthearted prank, one that is extremely popular among MLB players. "Nothing gets a teammate to smile like a pie in the face," said first baseman Ryan Howard, stressing that the team has genuinely rallied around Blanton. "Although, I should have collaborated more with the guys because Joe got, like, three pies in the face on Friday morning. That wasn't good."

SI released this statement concerning the cover and a response to Amaro's comments: "The most recent issue of Sports Illustrated features the Philadelphia Phillies starting pitching staff on the cover. However, on page 27 of the issue we misspelled the last name of Luke Gregerson, a relief pitcher for the San Diego Padres. We spelled Gregerson with three e's. That is absolutely not SI quality and we apologize to our readers."