Life is a series of hellos and goodbyes, I'm afraid it's time for goodbye again
-Billy Joel, "Say Goodbye to Hollywood"
Nothing lasts forever in the cruel game of baseball. The ceremony in the winter of 2009 where Roy Halladay was ushered into town was one of the most exiciting moments of any hot stove season (until the Cliff Lee reunion the following one of course). Through it all we had a Cy Young season, a perfect game, a no hitter in Halladay's playoff debut in the NLDS against the Reds, and another Cy Young worthy campaign in 2011. It was the best of times.
Many won't start here but I suppose I would. I go back to Game 5 in the NLDS against the Cardinals in 2011 where Halladay was matched against friend and former teammate Chris Carpenter and the two squared off in one of the best pitcher duels I had ever seen. Ultimately Halladay and the Phillies fell. The injury bug bit everyone the next season it seemed, including Halladay. Ever since, it's been on the decline for the once time staff ace.
It was a sad sight last night. The work horse was spent with all sorts of bad body language of fatigue, confusion, anger, and frustration. It seemed to me the arm, while not strong was the least of his problems last night. He looked defeated.
If he came back too fast or not is up for a debate I suppose. Halladay has earned the right to make his own call but I wonder if he sealed his fate with the Phillies with that call.It may have been worth taking a flyer on Halladay had he shut it down after surgery. Now, I'm not really sure it is.
One looks at the free agent starter market and it's full of names of former front line names like Tim Lincecum, Dan Haren, and Matt Garza. There are plenty of middle to back end names like Bartolo Colon, Ricky Nolasco, Bronson Arroyo, Paul Maholm, A.J. Burnett, Ervin Santana, and Jason Hammel. Coin flips such as Halladay and Josh Johnson could be nice options at a low price, even great options.
For a team like the Phillies which has so many question marks as is, it just doesn't seem like a good gamble to make. There are issues with the other names mentioned as well but many of them are consistent in their workload and in their numbers. The risk factor just isn't as high and that is something that needs to be weighed against Halladay who is coming off two injury shortened seasons that ranked from mediocre to poor when he did pitch.
It's a tough conclusion to come to. Halladay has been my favorite pitcher and that goes back to before he was a Phillie. I think he will eventually come back and be effective for a team. It's a chance he's earned and certainly a chance he should get. I hope it happens. It is just not a good match for Philadelphia right now and we should remember and tip our caps to the man for the good times. He gave us many.
