Halladay endorses Hamels for Opening Day nod
Roy Halladay has made a major league-best 10 straight Opening Day starts. But he's ready to hand the ball to Hamels this year.
Halladay endorses Hamels for Opening Day nod
Ryan Lawrence, Daily News Staff Writer
Roy Halladay has won two Cy Young awards. He's one win shy of 200 career wins and he's arguably been the best pitcher in baseball in the last decade.
He's also started 10 straight Opening Days. But he's ready to hand the ball to the longest-tenured Phillies pitcher this year.
After throwing to hitters for the second time this spring in a live batting practice session, Halladay fully endorsed Cole Hamels as this year's Opening Day starter.
Here's all of what Halladay had to say:
Q: Do you expect Hamels to start Opening Day?
Halladay: "Yeah absolutely, I think the commitment they made to him last year… you know, it’s his time. He’s been here for a long time, he’s had a lot of success here. There aren’t many teams where you have a World Series MVP and then you bring in 4-5 guys to pitch in front of him. It should have been his spot a long time ago. I think it’s something he’s going to embrace. And really after Opening Day, we’re all five days apart anyway.
"But I talked to him about it when we’re going out and doing drills, stuff like that, it’s time for him now to kind of step up and take charge in those situations and establish himself as the head of the staff."
Q: So you expect that's the way they'll go, with Hamels on Opening Day?
Halladay: "Yeah, after the year he had last year and everything else. I think you earn it year-to-year. There is no… I don’t care what you’ve done in baseball, what you’ve done in the game. I’ve always believe you come in every year to earn your spot in spring training and he earned his spot last year as the Opening Day starter. He deserves that and I think that’s they way it should be."
One of the classiest, hardest working guys in pro sports...and a pretty damn good pitcher too. Glad I've had a chance to watch him over the past few years, hope we have a few more.— chesapeake- Gotta love Doc.— Copper34
- Roy is 100% correct.
- Doc takes on the 3ed best thrower from other team, gotta like that match up.— camasbud
- What a class act. Glad we got to see him here and hope he gets a ring here.— outta work
- I really truly love the 4 top starters. All good guys who work hard and make sacrifices to their egos for the good of the team - always.
- talk about a class act, this guy is a real team guy and a leader, hopefully he can retire here.— william20
- How is the soreness in Hamels shoulder doing?— donjuango
- Another example of why Roy Halladay has been a team leader all the time he's been here. The pleasure has been ours, Doc.— ijj
- what kind of stupid comment is that? rollins does not have act like halladay, rollins has his own mind dummy it may be too hard for you to deal with that fact if so its your problem.— only 9
- Phills have to keep Doc after this year if only for his class, professionalism and work ethic. He is such a positive influence on the entire team.
— spak506 - Classy comments, Doc. Handing the torch to the next generation.
Well done!— phoenix phlash - I'm hoping Halladay recovers that hard fastball and turns into the Randy Johnson late thirties type pitcher.— high water
- Classy comments by Doc, yes, but Cole has had mad opportunities to say things many were thinking over the years and kept it zipped. He has a lot of class as well.— CallisonTaylorRojas
- Manuel probably thinks Charles Nagy will be the opening day starter.— Phillies2008WSChamps
