Phillies Insist Everything With Roy Halladay Is Broken Except His Shoulder
By John Stolnis
The Phillies say Roy Halladay had the poops Sunday. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Everyone tuned into Sunday’s St. Patrick’s Day game against the Orioles in Clearwater for one reason and one reason only.
To see if Roy Halladay could throw a baseball harder than the average high school senior.
And, if you blinked, you missed the whole thing.
Halladay’s start lasted just one inning, removed from the game for what Phillies officials described as a stomach virus, per CSN’s Jim Salisbury…
"Roy Halladay left his start against Baltimore on Sunday after one inning. The team announced he had a stomach virus.Halladay, who complained of “lethargy” after his previous start, threw 25 pitches (13 for strikes) before leaving the game. He gave up one hit and a walk and struck out one.One scout in attendance Sunday said Halladay’s fastball was 85-88 mph and that the righthander appeared to be laboring."
So, just one start after getting bombed by the Tigers, a game in which his fastball was still far below average for him and was tagged for seven runs in 2 2/3 innings, Halladay could last only one inning, albeit a scoreless one.
But have no worry, Phillies fans. That fastball, even though it is still much slower than Halladay’s career norm, has NOTHING to do with his shoulder. His brief exit today had NOTHING to do with injuries of ANY kind.
It’s all about his mechanics. And a dead arm. And fatigue. And lethargy. And now, a stomach virus.
Everything is wrong with Roy Halladay EXCEPT his shoulder.
WHY WON’T YOU PEOPLE BELIEVE ME?
According to the Daily News’ David Murphy, Halladay still has time, provided he’s able to get past his illness, to make three full starts in spring training before the regular season starts.
"With two weeks to go before Opening Day, Halladay has yet to eclipse 69 pitches in an outing, although he could still have time to do so. The 35-year-old righthander can pitch on March 22 and March 27 on normal rest, and if the Phillies think he still needs work he could pitch in a simulated game on April 1. That would line him up to make his first start of the season on April 6 against the Royals, which is the Phillies fifth game of the season.Clearly, though, the stomach virus does not come at a good time as Halladay appears to need all the work that he can get."
Murph’s last line pretty much summed it up best. No matter what this is… a stomach bug, general lethargy, or a true injury, this is not what anyone wanted to see out of today’s outing. His one inning cameo Sunday will only italicize the question mark hovering over his head.
Apparently, there is a bug going around the locker room, as Jonathan Papelbon was scratched from today’s game because he was ill as well. Certainly, the Phils did not use this known stomach ailment of Papelbon’s as cover to remove Halladay after just 25 first inning pitches. Clearly, Halladay truly is sick and there is NOTHING wrong with his shoulder, arm or back.
THERE IS NO INJURY TO ROY HALLADAY HERE, PEOPLE. DO YOU UNDERSTAND ME?????
Hopefully today’s abbreviated outing was exactly what the Phillies say it was. A stomach bug that sapped him of his power and did not let him continue.
I have some swamp land in Jacksonville available too, in case you’re interested.