Shoulder Surgery Could Be Just What the Doctor Ordered for Roy Halladay

Baseball has finally done it. It’s finally broken Roy Halladay.

And that may not be such a bad thing, for now he can be put back together again rather than merely patched up.

If you haven’t heard the latest news, yes, Doc Halladay is indeed broken. According to the team’s official site, the Philadelphia Phillies right-hander will be going in for surgery on his right shoulder.

The bad news? Halladay, who has an 8.65 ERA in seven starts this season, is going to be out a while.

The not-so-bad news? The surgery may not be major, and the man himself thinks he has a shot to pitch again this season.

Ryan Lawrence of the Philadelphia Daily News was on the scene to collect some quotes from Halladay, who says the surgery is going to “clean up” his labrum and rotator cuff. The bigger issue is a bone spur in his shoulder that’s been causing trouble.

“They said the bone spur, the rotator cuff kept rubbing over it,” said Halladay. “And over time it gradually created more and more of a tear. They want to get that cleaned up and get that out of there.”

And now for the ideal scenario: 

And from what I understand, if they go in and see during surgery what they saw on the exams I have a chance to come back and pitch this year. I have a good chance to come back and pitch this year and hopefully be a lot more effective. They said that my range of motion will be better, my location will be better and hopefully the velocity will be better.

So it’s not a given that his shoulder surgery will be a mere clean-up. But if it is, Halladay could find himself feeling healthy again for the first time in a long time.

In essence: “[The doctor] said he thought they could turn back the clock two or three years for me.”

All bets are off as to exactly how Halladay is going to actually recover from this, mind you. But while I’m not a doctor or Will Carroll, B/R’s resident injury guru, I’m willing to believe that this surgery could indeed result in a reborn Halladay.

For one, it feels long overdue. Per FanGraphs, nobody compiled more innings than Halladay between 2006 and 2011, and he also pitched almost 20 more complete games than the next guy on the list (CC Sabathia). That’s a lot of work for a guy who went from age 29 in 2006 to age 34 in 2011.

Halladay also indicated that the docs are going in to fix some issues that have been there for a while now. He said his labrum and rotator cuff were damaged last season, in which he was on the disabled list for six weeks with shoulder issues. The only thing that might be new is the bone spur, though Halladay wasn’t certain whether or not it was also there last year.

If it was, then Halladay has basically been pitching all this time with a ticking time bomb of a shoulder. It’s certainly been volatile in the meantime, and it finally went off this month.

As Halladay noted, surgery could conceivably result in some added velocity. He could definitely use some, as I’m sure you’ve heard that his average fastball velocity is on the decline.

Here are the numbers from Baseball Info Solutions (via FanGraphs):

• 2011: 92.0 MPH
• 2012: 90.6 MPH
• 2013: 89.6 MPH

Pretty alarming stuff for a guy who threw in the 92-93 range like clockwork between 2008 and 2011.

Just as important, if not more important, is the range of motion that could be gained from surgery. That’s something that could help rescue Halladay’s arm slot, which is very much in need of rescuing. It’s quite literally going down.

The best place to get a glimpse at how much Halladay’s arm slot has dropped is over at BrooksBaseball.net. I’m not supposed to post any of their graphs here, but do yourself a favor and check out the release point plots from three separate starts.

The first: Halladay’s outing against the St. Louis Cardinals in the 2011 NLDS.

The second: Halladay’s outing against the Atlanta Braves last Sept. 22.

The third: Halladay’s most recent outing against the Miami Marlins on May 5.

It’s important to note that all three of these starts were at Citizens Bank Park, meaning we’re talking about the same mound being in play. 

Now, line up the release point plots for those outings up in three separate tabs and scroll through them real quick. What you’ll see is a noticeable drop. Halladay has drifted from an over-the-top release to more of a three-quarter release.

Want actual visuals? Very well.

Here’s a screenshot from Halladay’s start against the Cardinals in 2011:

And here’s one from his start against the Marlins a couple days ago:

See the difference?

No? Alright then, here’s a look at these two images crudely mashed together:

I lined these up as best I could. It’s obviously not a 100 percent accurate overlay, but you can see that the pitching rubber and Halladay’s legs are about in the same spot while his arm is way off. That gives you an idea of how much his release point has dropped in a period of less than two years.

What sort of effect has Halladay’s lowered arm slot had on his pitching?

The biggest would probably be on his control. Halladay’s Zone%—the percentage of pitches he’s thrown inside the strike zone as calculated by Baseball Info Solutions—has gone like so since 2011:

• 2011: 46.7
• 2012: 42.3
• 2013: 43.5

Better this year, but still pretty far off from where Halladay was in 2011, a year in which he had a 2.35 ERA over 233.2 innings.

Not surprisingly, Halladay’s overall strike percentage has gone down as well. Courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com:

• 2011: 69
• 2012: 67
• 2013: 59

Halladay has gone from being one of the best strike-throwers in the business to being, well, not one of the best strike-throwers in the business. It’s fair to blame his declining arm slot for that.

Again, it must be understood that Halladay’s shoulder surgery may not be so minor. That depends on what the docs see when they actually go in with their tools and whatnot. And even if the surgery is minor, it shouldn’t be taken for granted that Halladay is going to enjoy the benefits he’s been told he could enjoy.

But if things go according to plan, then Halladay will be a good pitcher again. He won’t automatically return to being one of the game’s elite hurlers, but there’s not a pitcher in baseball who can’t at least be effective with good velocity and good location.

Here’s hoping. I know he’s not going to be able to pitch forever, but I don’t believe I’ve had my fill of good Halladay pitching just yet.

 

If you want to talk baseball, hit me up on Twitter. 

Read more Philadelphia Phillies news on BleacherReport.com

Phillies Rumors: Philly Would Be Smart to Explore Trade for Starting Pitcher

Nobody knows how long Roy Halladay will be out of the lineup, and the already pitcher-needy Philadelphia Phillies must now think about making a trade for another starting pitcher. 

MLB.com’s Todd Zolecki broke the sobering news on Monday that Halladay was placed on the 15-day disabled list:

Matt Gelb of the Philadelphia Inquirer reported on Monday that the Phillies will be “looking outside” the organization to find a “long-term answer,” along with bringing up a player from the minors:

Zolecki also added the news that the Phillies would be bringing up Joe Savery from Lehigh Valley (AAA) to fill Halladay’s roster spot:

Savery has been a pro since 2007, but he has only three career MLB starts—winning just one game and posting an ERA of 4.71. As a minor-league starter, he’s compiled a career record of 37-32 and has an ERA of 4.01. 

The career minor league pitcher has never displayed the ability to compete at the major-league level, and he’s not going to cut the mustard for the Phillies in 2013, should Halladay’s injury be a long-lasting affair. 

Teammate Cliff Lee didn’t sound optimistic about Halladay’s timetable for a return in a recent interview, via Jim Salisbury of CSNPhilly.com:

I hope it’s not major and it’s something minor and he’s back in a couple weeks and jumps back on board…Even if he’s gone forever, there’s nothing we can do. We’ve got to go out there and continue to pitch and try to give the team a chance to win every time you take the mound. All of us.

With a record of 15-18 and most of the season still in front of this team, general manager Ruben Amaro, Jr. must consider trading for a starting pitcher who can come in and help his ailing club get back on track. 

Steve Adams of mlbtraderumors.com offered a few suggestions as to whom the Phillies could be looking at (purely speculatory, of course). He mentioned Houston Astros pitchers Bud Norris and Lucas Harrell, along with minor leaguers Chris Young (Washington Nationals) and Chien-Ming Wang (New York Yankees).

The bottom line here is that the Phillies must make serious inquiries about acquiring another legitimate starting pitcher. If not, then the the entire season could be in jeopardy.

ESPN’s Buster Olney hypothesized recently that Chase Utley could potentially be put up for auction, should the team’s fortunes not improve:

That would be a most unfortunate development.

Rather than ponder how this team could fall apart at the seams, Amaro, Jr. must do whatever he can to improve his team’s chances of winning. Sure, the Atlanta Braves and Nationals are loaded, but the season is still young.

If there’s a way to turn the ship around, it must be done. Landing a quality starter is one way to ensure it happens, and it’s a move the Phillies must seriously consider.

 

Follow me on Twitter @JesseReed78 

Read more Philadelphia Phillies news on BleacherReport.com

Philadelphia Phillies: 5 Most Intense Moments in the Phillies-Dodgers Rivalry

The Phillies are in San Francisco as this article posts, and as you may have heard the Giants are the defending world champions.

Little did anyone know at the time, but it was the Giants’ first of their two World Series runs of the last four seasons that started the Phillies’ downward spiral to relative irrelevance.

Cody Ross hitting two home runs off Roy Halladay, and all that followed, was the canary in the coal mine.

While it is easy to envy and dislike the Giants, you would be hard-pressed to call the Giants a rival of the Phillies. The teams play in different divisions three time zones apart.

Of course, that is true for the Phillies and the Los Angeles Dodgers, too. But the Phillies and Dodgers have been rivals for a long time.

And in a week where Roy Halladay was placed on the disabled list, a week where Phillies fans are once again coming to grips with the likelihood that this recent golden era of Phillies baseball is over, it serves to revisit some happier memories.

Begin Slideshow

Is Roy Halladay’s Injury the Last Straw in a Philadelphia Phillies Fire Sale?

While the Phillies didn’t have an all-out “fire sale” in 2012, they obviously felt their chances for a playoff spot were slim when they traded away starting outfielders Hunter Pence and Shane Victorino on July 31st.

And who could blame them? At the time of the deal, they were in last place with a 45-57 record and 13 games out of a wild-card spot. They did receive some much-needed bullpen help with Josh Lindblom coming over from the Dodgers in the Victorino trade, but it was evident that both trades were part of a movement toward the future.

In the Pence trade, the Phillies landed prospect Tommy Joseph, who could be the team’s next starting catcher with Carlos Ruiz set to become a free agent after the season, and right-hander Seth Rosin, who has a 3.24 ERA with three walks and 25 strikeouts in 33.1 Double-A innings this season.

In addition to Lindblom, pitching prospect Ethan Martin also came over from the Dodgers. The former first-round pick is struggling in Triple-A (6.35 ERA in six starts), but he was ranked the No. 6 prospect in the organization by Baseball Prospectus prior to the season and allowed just one earned run in six innings on Monday.

A funny thing happened, though, after Pence and Victorino were traded. Someone forgot to tell the remaining Phillies players that the season was over. They went 36-24 the rest of the way and were back in the playoff hunt late in the season.

The front office was hoping the momentum from the last two months of 2012—along with the offseason additions of setup man Mike Adams, third baseman Michael Young and outfielder Delmon Young and the health of their veteran core of players—would push them back to the top of the division in 2013.

It’s still too early to count them out, but it’s going to be tough to surpass the Braves and Nationals—Philly is in third place with a 15-18 record and five games out in the NL East. A healthy Chase Utley (.798 OPS) and Ryan Howard (.783 OPS) help, but with one of the three aces, Roy Halladay, on the disabled list with shoulder inflammation, their NL East challenge just got much tougher.

The biggest question surrounding the club at this point is whether it will allow its strong finish to the 2012 season affect how it operates at the trade deadline. Do the Phillies think they have another late-season surge in them, or is this the right time to start cashing in on some valuable trade chips with an eye on adding some young talent to an aging ballclub?

For now, they are expected to fill Halladay’s rotation spot with another young pitcher from the farm system. Still focused on the 2013 season, though, they’ll look externally for a long-term solution.

Amaro said Phillies will go internal for call-up to fill Friday’s starting spot. Also looking outside org for long-term answer.

— Matt Gelb (@magelb) May 6, 2013

At some point, they could start to look ahead if they feel like their roster is simply not good enough to stick around and then make a run as they did last season.

Here’s a look at their projected 2014 roster if they stand pat and hold on to Cliff Lee and all others that won’t become free agents after the season.

Starting Lineup

1 Ben Revere, CF
2 Freddy Galvis, 2B
3 Jimmy Rollins, SS
4 Ryan Howard, 1B
5 John Mayberry, RF
6 Domonic Brown, LF
7 Tommy Joseph, C (pictured)
8 Cody Asche, 3B

Starting Rotation

1 Cole Hamels, LHP
2 Cliff Lee, LHP
3 Kyle Kendrick, RHP
4 Adam Morgan, LHP
5 Jonathan Pettibone, RHP/Jesse Biddle, LHP 

Bullpen

CL Jonathan Papelbon, RHP
SU Mike Adams, RHP
SU Antonio Bastardo, LHP
MID Phillipe Aumont, RHP
MID Justin De Fratus, RHP

Regardless of who the Phillies trade and acquire at the trade deadline, it’s very likely they head into next offseason with a young lineup that features as many as five players 26 years old and under and a projected rotation that could feature two young pitchers who could still have rookie status, depending on how many big league innings they pitch in 2013.

The money coming off the books after the season is substantial ($46 million between Halladay, Ruiz, Utley and M. Young), so there is a chance they go with what they have and try to add another impact bat or two to the lineup.

Trading away Cliff Lee and/or closer Jonathan Papelbon while strengthening the farm system would only create more holes heading into the offseason. A mini-fire sale, focused on the team’s free agents-to-be, would allow the Phillies to add a few more good prospects to the farm system, however, and possibly some more financial relief to go into the free-agency period. And they wouldn’t be as focused on trying to replace Lee at the top of the rotation.

That “free agents-to-be” list includes Halladay, Ruiz, Utley, D. Young and M. Young. 

Carlos Ruiz, C: Trying to trade Ruiz right now would require the Phillies to direct as much attention as possible to his breakout 2012 season (.934 OPS). Since then, he’s had a 25-game suspension for a positive test for amphetamines and two hits in 20 at-bats since his return. They’ll hope he can return to his 2012 form, which would make him a highly sought-after starting catcher at the trade deadline. 

Chase Utley, 2B: A second baseman who could hit anywhere from the No. 2 spot through No. 6 spot on a good team, Utley (pictured) will be a popular man if the Phillies put him on the market. He has a partial no-trade clause that would allow him to block trades to 21 teams, although it’s possible he’d waive it for a chance to go to a playoff competitor down the stretch.

Some very interesting potential destinations are already being thrown around the Twitter-verse.

If PHI doesn’t turn it around, Chase Utley could be one of the most interesting players on the trade market. KC, BAL great possible fits.

— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) May 6, 2013

Delmon Young, OF: Even if Young puts up his typical mediocre numbers during the regular season—he’s already on his way (3-for-20)—the Phillies can point at his postseason production over the last three seasons (27-for-94, 8 HR, 2 2B, 3B, 15 RBI) and try to convince a contender of his potential value in October and November. 

Michael Young, 3B: A few teams, including the Dodgers, could use a veteran like Young as their starting third baseman. Several others would find the 36-year-old, who is a career .302 hitter in over 7,500 big league at-bats, to be a valuable role player who can play both corner infield spots or designated hitter in the American League.

Young isn’t showing much power this season (30 of his 37 hits have been singles), but he’s hitting .333. They won’t get much in return but could probably get a live arm with upside to add to the lower minors.   

Roy Halladay, SP: If his shoulder injury is serious and requires more than a few weeks of recovery time, his trade value would all but disappear. A mid-June return would ensure teams get a good look at him to determine if he can help down the stretch. We’ll know more soon. He’ll visit Dr. Lewis Yocum for further evaluation.

An all-out “fire sale,” however, would likely involve the shopping of Lee (pictured), who is owed $75 million, including this year, and as much as $27.5 million more in a vesting option for 2016. Trading the 34-year-old would likely ensure the team gets another elite prospect added to the farm system, at least one more very good prospect, a lot of money off the books but a huge hole in the rotation for 2014.

A look at the organizational depth shows that some help is on the way, but there are a ton of holes on the roster, especially the lineup, heading into 2014. I’d expect the Phillies to look ahead to 2014 at some point during this season, but I think they’ll pass on trading every single player of value in the process. 

Read more Philadelphia Phillies news on BleacherReport.com

Philadelphia Phillies: 7 Prospects Who Are Tearing It Up in the Minor Leagues

After trading so many top talents to acquire Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee and Hunter Pence, among others, the Philadelphia Phillies may finally be starting to get back to having a serviceable farm system.

Most notably, the Phillies are stacked at the low levels of their organization with pitching talent. Most of the guys have been considered as three/four starters at best, but some arms, Jesse Biddle and Adam Morgan particularly, have distinction as No. 2’s with Biddle even having the potential to be a top ace.

Then, of course, there are a handful of offensive players with skill and talent, including the young Kelly Dugan and Maikel Franco as well as Cesar Hernandez, who very well could be the heir apparent to Chase Utley if the Phillies choose not to re-sign their All-Star after this season.

The farm is not barren, and as the first month of the season has shown, there are some talented prospects making names for themselves.

And with that being said, here are seven prospects, some ranked, some not, who have really been tearing it up at their respective minor league levels. This list is not about those with the most potential but rather just looks at 2013 and the guys who have really performed well in this calendar year.

Begin Slideshow

Philadelphia Phillies Faced with Reality That Roy Halladay May Never Be Back

Roy Halladay gave up five runs on two hits in the first inning of the Philadelphia Phillies‘ 14-2 loss to the Miami Marlins on Sunday. After a clean second inning, Halladay allowed another four runs to cross in the third, leaving the game after surrendering nine runs while only recording seven outs.

After the game, Halladay admitted he has been battling shoulder soreness. Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro told reporters the Phillies will have no choice but to put Halladay on the disabled list.

Per Phillies.com:

We’re likely to have to put Doc on the DL. Up until now he hasn’t really expressed any discomfort. He hasn’t been on our injury report. But now it sounds like we’ll have to DL him. Until we do some diagnostic work, we won’t know exactly what’s going on with him, but clearly, it doesn’t seem like he’s very healthy. It was pretty apparent with his performance, unfortunately.

Phillies beat writer Todd Zolecki confirmed the news on Monday.  

The Phillies had to be watching the game—seeing one of the great pitchers of our generation completely fall apart for the fifth time in eight starts this season—wondering if Halladay will ever return to top form.

Halladay told reporters after the game that his shoulder has been sore since the Pittsburgh Pirates outing on April 24, validating the belief that something was physically wrong with him during these last two outings. Per the Phillies.com report: 

I felt good all spring. I felt good all year. I just got up after that start against Pittsburgh and had soreness in there and wasn’t able to get rid of it. That’s really all I have. We don’t have a lot of information on it. We did some tests, and obviously they aren’t completely conclusive as to what it is.

As writers, we are asked to take our fan caps off and try to look at a player, team or story in an objective way. I’m not ashamed to admit that with this player on this team involved in this story, objectivity is impossible. I root for Roy Halladay not just because he is on the Phillies, but because it has been a true pleasure to watch him work the last few years. 

There have not been many players in the history of the game like Halladay, so to have the privilege of watching him work every fifth day has been incredible.

Now, watching him fall apart and hearing him search for answers after each demoralizing loss this year has been like seeing a member of your family slip away…with nothing you can do about it. 

At times this year, the old Roy was back, like in his seven-inning, two-hit, six-strikeout win over the St. Louis Cardinals in April or his six-inning, one-hit, eight-strikeout gem against the Pirates the next time out.

I was convinced, as a fan and a writer, Halladay was back. Sure, he didn’t have the same velocity, but after two rough outings to start the season, the former ace had figured out a way to change his game.

Everything would be OK, wouldn’t it? 

Watching his last two outings—Halladay gave up eight runs on nine hits in 3.2 innings against the Cleveland Indians in his last start before Sunday’s debacle—there were flashes of the old Halladay here and there.

In the second inning on Sunday, Halladay threw just 10 pitches, retiring the side in order. The old Halladay looked like he was back, for a fleeting moment.

Of course, that was after walking two, hitting one and giving up a bases-loaded double and a bases-clearing triple in the first inning. The second-inning success was also before the third-inning humiliation, when Halladay hit another batter, walked the next, gave up a single to load the bases and, after a strikeout, served up a 1-0 fastball only to see it smacked over the right-field fence.

Grand slam. 

Adeiny Hechavarria, the Marlins hitter responsible for the bases-clearing homerun, came into Sunday batting .169 with three RBI on the season. After his triple in the first and grand slam in the third, the light-hitting shortstop upped his total to 10 RBI, with seven coming in two at-bats off a former Cy Young Award winner and likely Hall of Famer in Halladay.

Only, this isn’t the same guy he was. He can’t be, and it’s looking more and more like he won’t be anymore. 

If it wasn’t bad enough for Halladay on Sunday—being hung out to dry by his manager and pitching coach when they left him in the game with the bases loaded and nobody out in the third—Halladay had to stand on the mound after the grand slam until the umpires could finish reviewing the play.

During the break for review, Phillies catcher Carlos Ruiz trotted out to the mound and chatted with Halladay. The television cameras showed a close-up of the two, leaving viewers to wonder what that conversation must have been like. 

What do you say to the greatest pitcher you’ve had the chance to catch when you both realize it’s over? 

Phillies fans can’t expect Halladay to return and be the pitcher he once was, and after a year filled with injuries and ineffectiveness, it’s fair to speculate if Halladay will ever come back at all. 

What if he can’t get it back? Halladay doesn’t owe anyone anything. How many times can he try to get back the greatness before he realizes it might not be there anymore? 

Phils manager Charlie Manuel was asked a question about Halladay’s future after the game (via Phillies.com): 

We always talk to him. As long as he feels like he is healthy and can pitch and the doctor says he’s healthy we pretty much…gotta send him back out there.

…

I think he’s very professional. I think that how he thinks is what he’s going to come and tell me. I think if it got to that, he’d come and talk to me about that. 

You can infer what “that” is pretty clearly. Nobody wants to talk about “that,” especially not a pitcher like Halladay who just won a Cy Young award two years ago. “That” shouldn’t have come this fast.

Halladay missed nearly seven weeks last season with an extended stint on the disabled list after several horrible outings in May. He was out all of June and half of July before coming back to, honestly, a similar result to what the Phillies have seen season. In some games last year, Halladay looked like the Cy Young award winner we remembered. Others, not so much.

After a dreadful run in September, the Phillies—following weeks of speculation—finally shut Halladay down with a few starts left in the season. Something was clearly wrong, and it took both the pitcher and the team too long to admit it.

This year was supposed to be different, even though Halladay had a woeful time in spring training trying to find his command and getting his velocity anywhere close to what he needed to be effective at the major league level. Some pundits suggested the Phillies should have left Halladay in extended spring training when the team came back up for the regular season, certain something had to be wrong with him.

Halladay kept insisting he was fine physically, and the team had no other choice but to believe him.

Think about the predicament the Phillies brass were in having to trust that one of the greats in the history of the game could work through his problems when performance after performance is indicating he can’t.

Then, after two horrible starts to begin the regular season and a trip to the DL or demotion from the rotation looming with another bad outing, the guy pitched three straight gems.

We were all fooled into thinking he was back because we wanted to be. 

Nobody thought he was the same Halladay as 2009 or 2010, but if anyone could find a way to get guys out with the stuff he had left, it was Doc.

Maybe we were the ones losing it. 

When Halladay was pulled on Sunday, he kept his back turned away from the dugout until Manuel lumbered all the way out to the mound to take the ball. 

Halladay walked off to a smattering of groans, boos—most of the boos were likely directed at Manuel for leaving Halladay out there so long—and applause, with some fans left hoping that a cheer or two might serve to remind the ace know of how much he means to the team, the fans and the city.

“You’ll get ’em next time, Roy.”

Watching someone you love slip away is never easy. Knowing he may never come back—at least not as who he once was—is even harder.

Read more Philadelphia Phillies news on BleacherReport.com

Stock Up, Stock Down for Philadelphia Phillies’ Top 10 Prospects for Week 5

It’s a good thing that some of the Philadelphia Phillies minor league pitching prospects have had success this season, because it appears another call-up will soon be needed.

John Finger of CSNPhilly.com reported that Roy Halladay admitted to having a sore throwing shoulder. General manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said the pitcher will likely go on the disabled list.

If Halladay ends up on the disabled list, a starter will be needed May 10 against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Which pitcher will potentially join Jonathan Pettibone and become the second minor league call-up this season?

In terms of who will be pitching on regular rest, Adam Morgan made his start Sunday at Triple-A, setting up May 10 as a possibility for his major league debut.  However, he has seen his ERA increase in recent weeks.

Although he is not currently ranked as a top 10 prospect, Tyler Cloyd recently struck out 10 batters in an eight-inning victory at Triple-A.

Which other top 10 prospects, according to Baseball America, are setting themselves up for a potential major league call-up?

Let’s take a look at which players’ stocks are up and which are down following Week 5.

 

*All statistics courtesy of MiLB.com unless otherwise noted.

Begin Slideshow

Philadelphia Phillies: Roy Halladay’s Crashing End Hard on All Concerned

The final curtain may be coming down on Roy Halladay‘s once-dazzling run as a starting pitcher in Philadelphia.

Whether the show can reopen in another city some other day is, well, some other day’s question. 

The here and now is pretty awful. When the Triple-A All-Star team that goes by the name of the Miami Marlins hits you with more earned runs (nine) than you get outs (seven), something is clearly wrong.

Halladay’s earned run average stands at 8.65. He is probably going to land on the disabled list (per ESPN.com) with what has loosely been described as “shoulder soreness” but might more accurately be called “he lost it.”

Whether Dr. Lewis Yocum declares Halladay fit for duty or not is beside the point now.

Halladay has taken the ball seven times this season. Four of those times, his team has been irretrievably behind by the fourth inning. 

What the Phillies are paying Halladay to pitch this season (an even $20 million) is no longer important, either.

Halladay’s results would be unacceptable from a pitcher earning the league minimum. Halladay’s price tag does not make resigning the Phillies to more lopsided losses any more justifiable.

In a perverse way, placing Halladay on the disabled list—maybe even finding out he cannot pitch at all—will be a sort of relief.

Consider all the agita the Phillies and their fans have been exposed to by Halladay just in 2013:

• Spring training was consumed by “is he or isn’t he healthy” stories amid bad outings.
• After two outings, with his ERA over 14, the alarm bells were piercing.
• In search of an explanation (scapegoat?) career backup catcher Erik Kratz saw his name dragged down for Halladay’s sins, like it was his fault Halladay had lost velocity and couldn’t locate any more.
• Just this week, Halladay felt compelled to defend his pitching coach, Rich Dubee, from criticism from noted mechanics expert Mitch Williams. Talk about a low point.
• Now this, an early Mother’s Day massacre at Citizens Bank Park where half the 45,276 announced were wandering to the parking lot like mugging victims by the sixth inning.
• Followed by the coup de grace: Halladay’s concession that he has been pitching hurt for two weeks.

Ugly, irresponsible things leak out of situations like Halladay’s unraveling, including but not limited to radio talk show hosts questioning Halladay’s integrity:

You didn’t ask me, but in my opinion there is no chance that Halladay is saying he is injured to excuse his inability to do his job, or to engender sympathy.

The Phillies have had more than their share of high-priced talent who signed the contract and then jaked it at every opportunity. Lance Parrish, Gregg Jefferies, Travis Lee, Kevin Millwood: Phillies fans have had their share of mutts. Roy Halladay is not a mutt.

But neither Halladay’s valor nor his standing among the game’s active greats is doing anything for him when Adeiny Hechavarria is halfway to the cycle with seven runs batted in off Halladay in the third inning.

Halladay’s quick spiral into uselessness is putting everyone around him in difficult spots, per CSNPhilly.com’s John Gonzalez.

Charlie Manuel: “I have a hard time watching him struggle.”

“Until we do any diagnostic work, we won’t know exactly what’s going on with him,” Ruben Amaro Jr. said. “But, clearly, it doesn’t seem like he’s healthy. It’s pretty apparent with his performance, unfortunately.”

Everything ends badly, or it would not end.

For Roy Halladay and the Phillies, their time together appears to be ending far more rapidly and sadly than either party could ever have imagined.

Read more Philadelphia Phillies news on BleacherReport.com

Roy Halladay Injury: Updates on Phillies Pitcher’s Shoulder

Roy Halladay‘s tumultuous season just got a lot worse. The Phillies’ star pitcher left the Sunday, May 5 contest against the Miami Marlins due to discomfort in his shoulder. 

 

UPDATE: Thursday, May 9, at 9:29 p.m. ET by Eric Ball

—End of update—

 

UPDATE: Wednesday, May 8, at 2:00 p.m. ET by Tom Kinslow

Mike Axisa of CBSSports.com had more information on Halladay’s timetable for surgery and recovery and more of his thoughts on the entire process.

“[Doctors said the surgery] could turn the clock back two or three years for me,” said Halladay. “I feel like it’s a lot better than some things I anticipated … I don’t feel as lost as before. I feel like there are some answers there.”

Halladay, 35, will have the surgery “as soon as possible.” He cautioned that they will be smart about the entire process and take whatever pre- and post-surgery steps are necessary without rushing back to the field.

“I couldn’t understand why my location was so poor. So I really didn’t know what to think,” added Halladay, who pitched to a 8.65 ERA and 1.46 WHIP in seven starts this year. He allowed nine runs in 2 1/3 innings to the Marlins on Sunday.

—End of update—

Roy Halladay (shoulder) has been placed on the 15-day disabled list, according to MLB‘s Todd Zolecki.

—End of update—

 

 

After the veteran starting pitcher got chased in the third inning Sunday afternoon by the Miami Marlins, the Philadelphia Phillies revealed even more terrible news (via the Bucks County Courier Times‘ Kevin Cooney):

Halladay has been dreadful this season, and while this could very well explain some of the problems he has been having, it’s a potentially serious injury no one wishes for.

After beginning his 2013 campaign by allowing 12 earned runs through 7.1 innings in his first two starts, Halladay appeared to finally regain his Cy Young form.

The 15-year veteran won two of his next three starts, giving up just eight hits and four runs while striking out 16 in 21.0 innings. He lowered his ERA from 14.73 to 5.08, efficiently putting his catastrophic start in the rear view.

But as Cooney notes, this particular malady arose on April 24 just after he held the Pittsburgh Pirates to one run and one hit in six innings:

It would make sense, considering how horrendous he has been since that encouraging stretch.

On April 30, he lasted just 3.2 innings against the Cleveland Indians, getting blasted for eight runs and three homers. On Sunday, he gave up nine runs through 2.1 innings against the Giancarlo Stanton-less Miami Marlins.

For those wondering, CSN Philadelphia’s John Gonzalez notes this is a completely new injury for the veteran starter.

Add it all up—a very un-Halladay start to the season, an injury to the pitching shoulder for someone with over 2,700 innings pitched under his belt and a visit with famed surgeon Dr. Lewis Yocum—and the outlook doesn’t look good for Roy Halladay.

After Sunday’s loss, the Phillies sit at 14-18, five games behind the Atlanta Braves in the NL East. 

Read more Philadelphia Phillies news on BleacherReport.com

Philadelphia Phillies Need to Let the Fire Sale Begin, Starting with Cliff Lee

From 1994 through 2001, nobody really wanted to play in Philadelphia.

The organization was a mess.

The clubhouse was not very enlightening.

The team couldn’t win ballgames.

Sure, the likes of Scott Rolen were there. But every Philadelphia Phillies fan knows how that turned out.

As Jayson Stark noted in his book Worth the Wait, the detrimental nature of the inner workings of the Phillies during that span created an apathetic atmosphere toward baseball. Losing was accepted and nobody took credit for the blame.

Not the free-swinging Bobby Abreu. Not Larry Bowa. Not the young Jimmy Rollins.

It wouldn’t be until several years later when the culture would change and the road to a World Series victory parade would be paved. 

Fast forward to 2013. The Phillies are no longer a World Series threat, let alone contenders in their own division. The sky hasn’t quite fallen, but multiple blunders are driving the perception that the Charlie Manuel era is coming to an end. Fans are still seeking out hope that a break here or there will propel the Phillies back into legitimacy. 

But the sad reality is that no breaks are coming for the Phillies. The climb will only get steeper and the hurdles will only get taller. 

Following Wednesday night’s blowout loss to the Cleveland Indians, Phillies hurler Cliff Lee said the team needs “to have a little more pride.” At 12-16, the Phillies are five-and-a-half games out of first place in the National League East division.

I am not sure if pride will win the Phillies more games or not.

Seven of the 12 Phillies wins came against the New York Mets and Miami Marlins. Of the 16 losses, the Phillies fell to the Atlanta Braves (twice), Kansas City Royals (twice), Cincinnati Reds (three-game sweep), St. Louis Cardinals (twice), Pittsburgh Pirates (three times) and Cleveland Indians (two-game sweep). The other two losses came against the Mets and Marlins.

Put simply, the Phillies can’t beat good baseball teams. The Mets and Marlins have a combined winning percentage of .432. The other six clubs the Phillies faced and lost 14 games to boast a combined winning percentage of .565. 

It is just May, though. No one can seriously consider selling the team off at such an early juncture in the season, right?

Wrong.

With a minor league system that has consistently failed to get prospects ranked in the top-50 lists of Baseball America and Baseball Prospectus over the course of the last two seasons, something needs to change. 

The Phillies must begin with lefty Lee. Aside from the admiration Phillies fans have for Lee, his $25 million per annum contract through 2015 (with a club option or buyout for ’16) is no longer commensurate with the club’s current situation. Of current players on the roster, Lee will fetch the largest return.

Everyone can see which way the wind is blowing in Philadelphia, whether they admit it or not. The month of May is the perfect time to start working out prospective deals for the left-handed pitcher. By June, he should no longer be in a Phillies uniform.

The Phillies are a better team with Lee, but they are not a good enough team with him, either.

The run the Phillies had since 2007 was fascinating, but the club needs a makeover. It’s unfortunate that Lee never got to hoist the Commissioner’s Trophy on Broad Street. But at the end of the day, it’s time for reality to set in. A new direction must be undertaken in order for Phillies fans to feel the way they did in 2008.

Read more Philadelphia Phillies news on BleacherReport.com

« Previous Page — Next Page »