Halladay dominating
Published Monday July 20th, 2009
TORONTO - Brushing aside the endless speculation about his availability and the resulting circus around him, Roy Halladay offered his potential suitors some food for thought and Toronto Blue Jays fans a reminder of what they'd be missing should he be dealt.
The ace right-hander was dazzling in his fourth complete game of the season, allowing just a run on six hits in a 3-1 victory over the Boston Red Sox on Sunday.
Essentially placed on the trade market publicly by general manager J.P. Ricciardi two weeks ago, Halladay's future has become one of the biggest stories in baseball. His start for the American League at the all-star game thrust him into the centre of a media frenzy, and he patiently answered countless questions about his situation as best he could.
Worn down by the entire process, Halladay (11-3) was eager to refocus on pitching. He was his old dominating self in helping the Blue Jays (46-47) take two-of-three from the AL-East leading Red Sox (55-36) out of the all-star break.
He tipped his cap to the crowd on his way off the field.
Rod Barajas knocked in all three Toronto runs, breaking out of an 0-for-20 drought with a two-run double in the second for a 2-1 lead. He also brought home Lyle Overbay in the sixth with a sacrifice fly off Jon Lester (8-7) for a 3-1 lead.
That was plenty for Halladay, who cut up arguably the best team in baseball before a crowd of 36,534 that included Pat Gillick, the former Philadelphia Phillies general manager who is now an adviser to Ruben Amaro Jr., and Texas Rangers scout Don Welke, among other notables.
The Phillies are widely considered the favourites in the race to acquire Halladay, with the Rangers more of a dark-horse candidate. Halladay has a full no-trade clause giving him final say on any possible destinations.
The high-end package of prospects it would take to get him has led to some doubts over whether he will indeed be traded prior to the July 31 non-waiver deadline. But Ricciardi would not have gone public with Halladay's availability if he didn't plan to deal him.
If it doesn't happen now, it's likely to happen in the winter, making every Halladay outing feel like part of a countdown. He has two more starts before the deadline passes, Friday at home versus Tampa Bay and the following Wednesday in Seattle and even his wife is wondering if they'll have a new baseball home afterwards.
"This very well could be our last homestand," Brandy Halladay told the Blue Jays radio broadcast Saturday while discussing the Lady Jays' annual food drive. "We're leaving Monday.
"If something happens before trade deadline, I won't be back. That's difficult. That's more than difficult. I just broke into tears four minutes ago. ... You're making me cry now."
Roy Halladay shut out all the emotions versus the Red Sox, shutting the door after David Ortiz's sacrifice fly scored Dustin Pedroia in the first. The only other inning he allowed two runners to reach was the third and he retired Ortiz and Jason Bay of Trail, B.C., to escape.
He walked none and struck out seven, no doubt making the Red Sox, another team with some interest in him, wonder how good he'd look in their uniform.
"Whatever happens will be best for the Blue Jays and good for us, too," said Brandy Halladay. "I'm excited for everybody all around."
Disabled
Search Articles
More CE Network Sites & Partners:
