Sandberg: Halladay's Future Has 'Yet To Be Seen'
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – Though Roy Halladay shown some signals of an evolution since his return from elbow surgery, of a "new" pitcher who has learned to get hitters out with less than stellar stuff, his starts have been uneven at best.
Halladay's season ended on Monday night, when "arm fatigue" caused 82 miles-per-hour fastballs and sweat like it was mid-August, and a first inning exit against the Marlins. Halladay threw a perfect game in Miami against the Marlins just three years ago, but it might as well have been a lifetime.
Halladay still seems confident that he can pitch and contribute. Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg isn't quite as certain.
"I think that's yet to be seen. I think that he was pitching, and has been pitching, as an audition to see where he could be next year. So with Roy, it's all about projection and that's what it's been since he came back," Sandberg told 94WIP's Angelo Cataldi and the WIP Morning Show on Tuesday. "He was showing signs of being a veteran pitcher and pitching at 89 MPH, getting innings under his belt, and also, us thinking---everybody watching thinking he would be able to add a couple of miles per hour to that over a normal offseason. So, with a dead arm and this little setback last night there's some concern there. It's something that we have to look at and see how he bounces back and reevaluate."
LISTEN: Angelo interviews Ryne Sandberg
Halladay will be a free agent at season's end, and any commitment from the Phillies on a contract would seem to be one based on a leap of faith, and not too much actual evidence.
Halladay said that in addition to the arm trouble, he's had trouble with his diet over the last year that has been rectified.
"Other than just having the dead arm, just because he's been rehabbing, and the hard work that he's put in and he's done it in a short period of time to be able to pitch, and then he's five or six outings under his belt. Other than that and just having a tired arm, I don't know anything other than that," Sandberg said. "I know that his work ethic and what he's gone through has been very strenuous and a very aggressive workout, just knowing how Roy [Halladay] is and wanting to get back to pitch. Other than that, I'm not sure. Last night was a concern, watching him throw the first batter and throw 82 MPH, and then topping out at 83 or 84. So it was very evident right away that something was totally not right, and so it was a quick shut down. There will be further conversations and check with Roy to see what's going on."
