Kevin Blankenship

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1⁄3 innings of work. He was not on the Cubs' postseason roster. In fact, in an unusual move, Cubs' manager Don Zimmer actually sent Blankenship home before the season ended after Blankenship showed up late to team events twice in a four-day period.

On September 20, 1989, the Cubs pitching coach Dick Pole awakened Blankenship in his hotel room at 11 a.m., 30 minutes after he was to be in uniform. [3] He showed up at 11:45 a.m. And then, on September 24, 1989, Blankenship arrived 15 minutes late for an 8:30 a.m. physical. At that point, Zimmer sent Blankenship home to Fullerton, California. "I overlooked (the first infraction)", Zimmer told The Chicago Tribune , "I'm thinking to myself, 'How the hell could somebody oversleep a day game and show up at a quarter to 12?'" After the second instance of tardiness, however, Zimmer's patience ran out. "I called him into my office and said, 'Go on home.' I gave him the benefit of the doubt (previously). I could have fined him $300–$400. I can't stand being late. I sent him home. That's it. I didn't ask for any explanation." [4]

1990 season

Several months later, Blankenship played winter league ball in Venezuela, going 6–1 with a 1.81 earned-run average. In January 1990, Zimmer told the Chicago Sun-Times that Blankenship would be back for spring training. "That's forgotten," he told the paper. "It's over with." [5] And in spring training 1990, Blankenship told the Sun-Times that the issue of tardiness was in his past. "We talked," Blankenship said, referring to Zimmer. "From what I gather, it won't be held against me. The problem won't pop up again unless I do something to make it. And I don't plan on doing that. Everything I know and have heard of Zim, he's not the kind of guy to hold grudges." [6]

The 1990 Cubs had a rash of injuries to their starting pitchers, and Blankenship again found himself in the majors in May. He made just two starts, losing both. His final appearance was in relief of Mike Bielecki on June 12 in a game the Cubs ended up losing 19–8 at Wrigley Field. Blankenship allowed two runs in 22⁄3 innings on a day when Cub outfielder Doug Dascenzo pitched a scoreless ninth inning, the only Cub hurler not to allow a run that day.

Later career

After spending the rest of 1990 in Iowa, Blankenship became a free agent. He signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates and pitched for their AAA farm team in Buffalo in 1991, then closed out his career pitching in Oklahoma City in 1992 for Texas's AAA affiliate. Blankenship retired after the 1992 season with a major league record of 1–3 and a 4.59 ERA.

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Kevin Blankenship - The Baseball Cube". thebaseballcube.com. Archived from the original on 2006-11-15. Retrieved 2010-09-25.
  2. ↑ "Kevin Blankenship - El Dorado Hawks Baseball". El Dorado High School Baseball. Archived from the original on 2013-08-20. Retrieved 2012-06-26.
  3. ↑ Bierig, Joel (September 25, 1989). "No Cub party if you're tardy". Chicago Sun-Times . p. 17.
  4. ↑ Bagnato, Andrew (September 25, 1989). "Sutcliffe to start against Expos; Walton still idled by injury". Chicago Tribune . p. 11.
  5. ↑ Goddard, Joe; Dave van Dyck (January 14, 1990). "Reinsdorf: Non-union games out - Won't make football error". Chicago Sun-Times . p. 12.
  6. ↑ van Dyck, Dave (March 26, 1990). "No time now to be late - Cubs' Blankenship has learned lesson". Chicago Sun-Times . p. 113.
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Kevin Blankenship
Kevin Blankenship - Greenville Braves - 1988.jpg
Blankenship in 1988
Pitcher
Born: (1963-01-26) January 26, 1963 (age 61)
Anaheim, California
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
MLB debut
September 20, 1988, for the Atlanta Braves
Last MLB appearance
June 12, 1990, for the Chicago Cubs