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| Photo by Rich Wilkins |
Roy Halladay is one of the best players of the last 15 years, if not the best pitcher of that time. No one will argue that. The man was putting up sub-3.00 ERA's, 200 innings, 15 wins, and lots of complete games per year, on a team that never reached the playoffs in Toronto. He did so in a division where the Yankees and Red Sox were great teams consistently, and later the Rays joined them. Then, he finally was traded to Philadelphia, where he was on a contender. He promptly threw a perfect game, threw a playoff no-hitter, won a Cy Young, won 20 games, and won three playoff games in two seasons. He's got 200 career wins, a couple of Cy Youngs, the most memorable playoff performance of his generation in the post-season, to go with a bunch of top ten Cy Young finishes. He's going to Cooperstown someday.
Unfortunately, that's just not enough for Doc, and that's clear now. Last year when he began to slip, it was clear that he was hurting. He pitched through for a while, then finally admitted he was hurt. It was a lat pull at the time, then by the time this season started, we learned he was having lower back pains. When he started poorly this season, we thought he was hurt, and then he managed to get it together for three really good starts. Then the last week happened.
Yes, Doc should have told the Phillies he was hurt. He can't pitch like this. Yes, the Phillies had to sit him down. I have a hard time though with blaming him. That a $20 million pitcher who is the most accomplished player on the roster really wanted to help his team, and really believed he could do his job better than anyone else is not a shock. It's also what you want to hear. It's clear though that he was hurting the team now. He can't get anyone out if he can't get the Marlins out. It's painful, but Doc shouldn't be allowed back out there unless Dr. Yocum says he's got no structural damage, and the Phillies can watch him throw and see noticeable improvement from where he's been this season. I don't care what your track record is, when you have the worst ERA of any starter in baseball, we have a problem.
Why did Doc do this though? It's clear that he badly wants a World Series ring. There would be something really wrong if his last good chance was Game 5 of the 2011 NLDS. In a sports culture that is obsessed with individuals getting rings in team sports, it's what defines Michael Jordan as "great," and Barry Bonds as somehow less. Doc does not want to be defined by playing most of his career on a team that could not win. How can he be, to be honest? It makes little to no sense, but the drive for one ring will make players do dumb things. Like play hurt.
