Long analysis regards Roy Halladay
:i will give the Phils the psychologic choice to allow Roy H to. pitch the 2nd game of the season on Wednesday: But if he struggles they will do Halladay and the Fans and The Team a disfavor if they then don't send Halladay on trip to Lehigh to complete rehab.
If it struggles on Wednesdey and keep him in rotation they cou8ld destroy season and Halladay's carreer.
Rushing pitchers back which have NOT completely Rehab, can and hasw ruind carreers of some of the best.
But Phils management is indicating rank stupity but ranting , "He is ready" Halladay, said of his last spring outing, nd against a MLB team in 2 weeks. Said he felt strong, alost there, EXCEPT for LOCATION. (He gave 8 hits 3 walks but ony 2 runs 4 and 1/3 inning---the good sign was he had 6 strike outs, and at the right time..
But the key with Halladay is location/location and location, and he may7well need Lehigh to get hid location in he groove.
i see a Greg Maddox chance for his career ahead if the Halladay and Philles handle this right. But the nightmare is, he thows a 120 pitches in 5 inning, struggling with location and control, and Phillies just kee3p saying He Is Fine, just a game away from being O.K., until Halladatys arm falls off his body, and is done for the season, and shot for his career..i personally am coming to see Dubai as "Why worry, be happy, throw Hallady into the fire, he will do just great" If he struggles next week, and they don't send them to Lehigh---i will be gravely disappointed with Charlie/Rubin and Dubai How important is Hallada. If Halladay can finish season strong, and have a 15-10 record--he could like Greg Maddox did at 35, go another six years with like 90 victories and 60 losses(at that space he could be 289wins and 160 loses-and could hang around to poossibly make 300, but he does NOT need that for H.O.F.. Max'es Phil's Corner:)
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Halladay pleased with final outing of the spring
This The Article That Pissed Me Off!! This "Don't Worry, be Happy" mindset.
Roy Halladay looked like a pitcher who made the most of his work-in-progress stuff. He also looked like a pitcher who has plenty of work to do before he arrives at the level he demands of himself. After allowing two runs on eight hits and two walks in 4 1/3 innings against the Blue Jays on Thursday afternoon, Halladay and his pitching coach chose to focus on the positives.
"Physically, [it's] night and day, last year to this year, which was the goal this winter," said the soon-to-be 36-year-old-righthander, who battled back and lat problems throughout a disappointing 2012 season. "I think mechanically we tried to make some changes, and I feel like they are becoming more consistent. And when they aren't, I can tell right away. There are a few times when I come out of my delivery, but I can make the adjustment right away, which is something that earlier [in camp] I wasn't feeling. So I'm happy with it."
Halladay again did not appear to have his customary command, throwing 39 of his 96 pitches for balls. During one stretch, 10 of 11 pitches were called for balls. Halladay said he felt many of those pitches were strikes, while Dubee acknowledged that Halladay has some work to do.
Dubee said he expects Halladay, who was set back by a bout with the stomach flu earlier this month, to make his scheduled regular-season debut against the Braves on Wednesday.
"I thought he threw fine," Dubee said. "He had two walks, I think. He had seven three-ball counts, and I think five of them came in the stretch. So we've got some work to do out of the stretch. I think the windup was much better today. So we've got a little work to do stretchwise. Today was a little bit difficult with the split. I don't know if it was the cold, dry air, having difficulty with the grip, he pulled a lot of them."
Dubee said he was happy with Halladay's cutter, although Blue Jays second baseman Adam Lind lined one off the wall for a double in the second inning.
"He threw some dandies. He threw some real good cutters," Dubee said. "He struck out somebody on a backdoor cutter, [Emilio] Bonifacio looking. He threw some that he got some action going away from righties and you saw a couple lefties chop balls. First one of the game was a cutter to [Jose] Reyes. So he threw some that were much, much better. So again, he's gaining momentum. I think gradually he's gaining his strength back, the strength that he lost . . . I think his arm slot continues to improve. For me, there is a lot of good there today."
Dubee also expressed a desire for Halladay to rely more on his sinker, the pitch that appeared to be the sharpest on Thursday.
"Obviously, I want to be as aggressive as I can," Halladay said. "We're still trying to work on things, but once the season starts, we will be looking to get through guys quickly. We threw some pitches today in counts that we may not normally do, but I feel good. I'm happy with where I'm at. There are a few things I feel I can improve on going forward, but I'm happy with how I feel physically, with my delivery. It's an easy fix for me."
Halladay's fastball was noticeably crisper, with radar readings clocking it consistently around 89-90 mph, which is where it sat at the end of last season. Still, Halladay did nothing to suggest that a return to Cy Young form is inevitable. But that does not mean he cannot still be effective.
"First of all, one, when you are looking at players, you have to look at first, ability, and, two, you've got to look at character," Dubee said. "This guy's got plenty of ability still, believe me, and he's got the utmost character on the mound. He's a winner. What's he, 199-100? He may not have the same bullets, but he is still going to be able to pitch us quality games and win ballgames for us." |
