Ho-Hum: Roy Halladay Dazzles in Phillies' Spring Debut

CLEARWATER, Fla. -- OK, OK. It wasn't the '27 Yankees.

It was, however, the '10 Yankees that Roy Halladay faced Thursday in his first start in a Phillies uniform, and for the moment that will have to do, even if Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter and Mark Teixeira weren't in the lineup.

Halladay, the prize acquisition of the winter for the Phillies, has a history of dominating the Yankees and even in a meaningless spring game -- sure the house was sold out, the game was televised and the press box was stuffed to overflowing, but it was still basically meaningless -- that didn't change.

Halladay faced seven Yankees hitters. No hits allowed and no walks allowed in a 3-2 win over New York. The one baserunner came only because of a defensive mistake by third baseman Placido Polanco.

If you believe in omens, then this is a good one for the Phillies. Halladay is 18-6 in his career against the Yankees and based on what the crowd at Bright House Field saw Thursday, nothing about his game has changed.

Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said Wednesday his ideal vision for the season would be for the Phils, the losers in the World Series to the Yankees last year, to get another October shot at New York. If it happens, Thursday's game won't be much remembered except as the start of a new era in Phillies pitching. Former Cy Young Award-winner Halladay is aboard for three years with Philadelphia management hoping he can guide them to the promised land.

Frankly, that's going to be a difficult expectation with which to be saddled. After all, Cliff Lee was the Phillies ace after a midseason trade last year, he pitched great, especially in the postseason, but Philadelphia was denied its third World Series title none the less.

Phillies left fielder Raul Ibanez, who didn't play Thursday, agreed with that premise, but, no slight to AL 2008 Cy Young Award-winner Lee, he said Halladay was special.

"That was something. That's what he does. There were a lot of strikes and a lot of ground balls."
-- Placido Polanco on Roy Halladay "No disrespect to Cliff, who was fabulous for us last year,'' Ibanez said. "We wouldn't have gotten as far as we did without him. He was a great teammate, and it would have been great if we'd been able to keep him.

"But Halladay is a little different. In all my years in the American League (with the Royals and Mariners), Halladay was hands-down the best pitcher I faced. When he's on, he takes no-hitter stuff to the mound. When he doesn't have his good stuff, he still has plenty left to beat you. He's something else.''

For his part Halladay made it a special day. His family was there, even his oldest son, nine-year-old Braden, who was allowed to cut school for a day to see dad pitch for the first time in a Phillies uniform. And because of the expectations of the Phillies and because the Yankees were the opponent, this game was a new experience for Halladay.

"This definitely has a different feel,'' Halladay said. "It surprises me every day how different everything is but how comfortable it all has been. My teammates expect to win. They know how to win. It's a good feeling.''

Halladay spent about 90 minutes after his two innings continuing to work. First he threw a dozen or so extra pitches to make sure he'd gotten in enough work so that he'd be able to go three or four innings next time out. He spent time after that in the weight room, part of his routine every spring to get game ready.

And he needed a little time to think about how to express his feelings on his new gig.

"I looked forward to today with a lot of anticipation,'' he said. "I guess [facing New York] is meaningful. It was a different feeling today, coming out and seeing that amount of people was amazing.''

Halladay's teammates weren't amazed. Impressed? Absolutely. But amazed? No.

"That was something,'' infielder Placido Polanco said. "That's what he does. There were a lot of strikes and a lot of ground balls.''

Pitching coach Rich Dubee wasn't surprised, either. His surprise came one of the first few times he talked to Halladay to feel the right-hander out about how he'd like to use his time in spring training.

Halladay just handed him a binder with detailed descriptions of throwing days, non-throwing days, pitch count buildup -- everything a Cy Young Award-winner might need. The pitcher has been putting it together based on his springs dating back to 2001.

Preparation apparently is not a failing for Halladay.