Halladay on life, liberty and the pursuit of postseason
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Halladay on life, liberty and the pursuit of postseason
Matt Gelb, Inquirer Staff Writer
CLEARWATER, Fla. -- Roy Halladay's alarm goes off at 4:45 a.m. every morning. He has about a 45-minute drive from his home in Oldsmar, Fla., to Bright House Field. His goal is to be the first one at the park every day, which requires an arrival time of around 5:45 a.m.
"F or me, it’s a part of who I am," Halladay said of his work ethic. "And I think it’s an important part."
Some of the players, like Kyle Kendrick, have started working out with Halladay and are trying to beat him to the park in the morning. Halladay said his work ethic is the single reason why he has become one of the best pitchers in the game.
"I think that there are points in your career when you come up and have success and it’s based on talent," Halladay said. "I think that can’t be sustained throughout a career without putting in the effort to do things the right away, not only mentally but physically."
Halladay spoke on a number of topics during his first meeting with the media here. Some highlights:
Halladay said he understood many will compare him to Cliff Lee this season. He is, after all, wearing Lee's No. 34 jersey and is the ace the Phillies decided to keep.
"I think that's what baseball is," Halladay said. "I think everybody is always comparing different players. I think that's how they decide who is the better player. That's always been the case, whether it's guys on the team being compared to you or other teams. That's part of it. It's nothing that fortunately I have to pay attention to."
And what is he looking forward to the most with his change?
"Postseason. For me that's the ultimate," Halladay said. "Obviously there's no guarantee, but that's the driving force for me right now and the biggest reason. It was never about changing teammates, changing environments, changing cities. It was about wanting to pitch in October. That's what I look forward to here the most. Like I said there is no guarantees, but based on what they've done in the past and the guys who are in that clubhouse, I look forward to having that chance."
Halladay said he normally watches the playoffs on TV but this past year's World Series was the hardest. Not only was one of his good friends and former teammates, A.J. Burnett, pitching for the Yankees, but the team he was linked to the most in trade rumors, the Phillies, was also playing.
He said there were even times when the Blue Jays visited Philadelphia during Interleague play over the past two seasons where he would walk into the visitors' dugout and wonder what it would be like to sit on the other side.
And if the fans boo, Halladay said he's prepared for it.
"I think it’s part of it," he said. "There were times earlier in Toronto and for me it was tough because some of those games, you can hear every single guy yelling at you. I don’t know what’s worse — 40,000 or five guys you can actually hear. It’s a challenge. They expect to have a good team and they expect people to perform. I expect the same thing. I’d probably boo myself."
Halladay also said he wouldn't bite on Johan Santana's proclamation that Santana is the best pitcher in the NL East.
"No, I steer clear of that," Halladay said. "I think it was a Lou Holtz quote, 'Well done is always more important than well said.' I've always tried to take that philosophy. I try to stay out of those things as much as possible."
Much, much more in Saturday's Inquirer.
halladay,lee,hamels would have been great. rubin amaro jr. should be fired.— phillyfrank1- "My mancrush on Roy Halladay is only going to grow once he starts killing opposing teams. This dude is awesome." Took the words out of my mouth. "I'm also looking forward to what he brings to the other guys." Definitely. This guy sounds like a real leader. That will take some of the pressure of Hamels. The other guys just have to follow his lead and we'll be in real good shape.— JimG
- How could anyone not like the best pitcher in the game. Problem is what do we get after him— eaglesman1
- yak yak yak...i can't wait till the games count.then everyone knows........thats when its put up,then play ,then shut em all up! let the games begin......— t_darb_56
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- im so pumped man. the guy seriously pitches like hes trying to get into a league above mlb. with the phils offense behind him, roy is gonna dazzle...cant wait!!!!— jrollpatrol08
- DaleSveum It is insane that this man is on our team!...... EXACTLY MY SENTIMENTS DALE!!! THIS IS WHY RAJ WANTED HIM SOOO BAD!! THIS IS THE GREATEST TIME EVER TO BE A PHILS PHAN. ENJOY THE RIDE...WE HAVE EARNED IT!!! THIS IS TRULY INSANE...AND INSANITY FEELS REALLLLL GOOD!— stan the man too
- so PhilliesSucker, you think they didn't tell Halladay that Lee was getting traded away before he agreed to the contract extension? My guess is he came here fully aware that he wouldn't be pitching in the same rotation with Lee. I will agree that if he reads the comments at philly.com, he might be secretly disappointed to be coming to a team with so many stupid fans.— GoPhilsGo
You know what, that last comment was supposed to be for another column. Sorry for the confusion.- If his back is heeled up, (and that’s a big if. Back injures tend to stay with you for life), then I’ll welcome Andrews with open arms next year. You can never have enough healthy offensive lineman. To me, it’s obvious Andrews is coming back with a chip on his shoulder, to try to make up for the last two years…To steal a quote from Roy Halladay who stole a quote from Ben Franklin (sorry Doc, it wasn’t Lou Holtz)- ‘Well done is always more important than well said.'
- Opening day can't come soon enough.— smfree31
- The dude is an absolute horse. We thought we had it good with Cliff Lee, but wait till this guy toes the rubber. He was made to play here— aantinore
- With Halladay and Moyer being much better pitching coaches that the one Oppressed calls "Dubious Dubee"!— tomvallar
I hope when the season is over, the worst thing we can say about Hallday is that he attributed a quote to the wrong person.— EJAY- I hope Doc helps the younger guys like Cole, Kyle, Scott, Aumont. He could give the Phils along with Moyer really 3 pitching coaches.— KGKoons
Do You think he is as Hard a worker as Brett meyers??- God Bless the health of the 2010...Phillies!!
- 'Well done is always more important than well said.' I hope that work ethic rubs off! This guy quotes Ben Franklin and he doesn't even know it!— vegasflyer
- Having Halladay, Moyer, and Contreras to tutor some of the young guys like Hamels and Happ should really help. These vets have done their talking on the mound which is where it counts. Can't wait for the season to start!— AlanInFlorida
Oh great. Pretty soon we'll have a bunch of fatiged pitchers. By June these guys will need their naps, waking up at 4 AM and all that.— road515- Best aspect of this article is the fact that apparently KK is following Doc around like a lost puppy dog. Keep it up KK, it will only improve you as a person, a teammate and a pitcher. I hope KK takes Moyer's spot and finds success.— The Reddgie
- getting goosebumps just thinking about how good he can make this team...i love to hear that kendrick is working out with him— jgmatt12
- I cant wait for opening day in DC (I will be there) I cant wait until this mans first start in Philly. And I cant wait till bobble head day in May (I will be there). This season is going to be special.— Phillyphan26
- now if only they served canadian beer at the stadium i'd be at his first home start— paddy9_ca
- I think it moved...— JesseH
- So far, so good. Good health is the key with any player but the dude has the right attitude. Speaking of attitude, anybody can say Halladay won't get a ring and the odds are on their side as only one team wins a ring. Nice safe prediction so you won't be disappointed. Where's the fun in that? Isn't it more fun to get excited at the possibility of a 2nd ring in 3 years? To say Halladay may secretly be disappointed at signing here is ridiculous. 35 years of being a fan and I bet you predicted the Phils losing the big prize every year. Well, I got news for you. You were wrong TWICE! There, I gave you your attention now please go away.— vafan
- How unreal is it that not even Blue Jay fans can find a bad thing to say about him? I've read a ton of Toronto baseball fans who all seem to say that they hate that he is gone, but loved everthing about the way he handled his business. I just can't believe the Phils have him, and even more amazing is that he actually WANTED to be here.— phillyjeffsr
- i need more....more info— whocares
- Halladay's work ethic is not reported to be comparable to Cliff Lee's. Its said to be better than the work ethic of EVERYONE else in the league. Its already rubbing off too. Kyle Kendrick is racing him to be the first one to work out everyday. lol!!
- as a long time jays fan i want to say how much he will be missed by jays fans you will see what a class act he is..you ll find he is a leader not a mentor.. up here you seldom heard statements from Halladay nothing but actions just what you want from a star player good luck to Roy and the Phillies kick the Yankees ... next time...— paddy9_ca
- LET ME TELL ALL YOU PHILLIE FANS WHAT YOU GOT IN DOC,A BEAST,A ANIMAL,A WARRIOR WHO SEES THE ENEMY AND ATTACKS,HE IS A LEADER IN ACTION WHO LEAVES PROMISES TO SANTANA,HE HAS A AURA WHICH DRAWS YOUNG,TALENTED PITCHERS TO HIS SIDE AND THEY LOOK WIDE EYED AS HE TEACHES THEM HOW TO BE A PRO,HE IS BOB FELLER,DON DRYSDALE AND EVERY OTHER OWNER OF THE INSIDE PART OF THE PLATE,HE IS CLASS ON AND OFF THE FIELD AND HIS MERE PRESENCE ON THIS TEAM HAS TAKEN IT TO EVEN A HIGHER LEVEL,IF THAT WAS POSSIBLE...WELCOME DOC— soliteryman
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- His first name is Harry. I don't think you can get a better omen than that.— maine_mariner
- I like that the work ethic / mentality between Halladay and Lee seems pretty comparable... and Johan can be the best pitcher in the world for all phils fans care, as long as he's still pitching in the minor league organization of New York, he can spend all his money on a nice flat screen tv to watch Halladay dominate in October.— philsphanatic4
- "Well done is always more important than well said" One of the best quotes I've seen from a sports athlete. Every player on the mets needs to read that over and over again— birdsfaninnc
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- Nice to finally hear what our new Ace talks like. Great quotes, and I have a feeling his work ethic will rub off on MOST of the pitchers there. But, a lot of the ones going North with the team already have that ethic. I'm sure the others can benefit themselves if they wish to. Can't wait for the seasons opening pitch by him.FLY FIGHTIN'S FLY!!!— TBear
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- Those few quotes tell me one thing, Doc is on a mission.— EarlKeese
- Everyone . . Cliff Lee is pitcher we ALL wish we still had with Doc of course / for all you cliff who 's ? out there . .— ingy9
- What irony when he thought the "well done/well said" quote he thought came from Lou Holtz, in fact, came from Philadelphia's most famous citizen. Can't wait for the season to start and watch him pitch in a Phillies uniform!— TerryW
- I'm also looking forward to what he brings to the other guys. Having Halladay mentor Hammels, Blanton, and Happ will be priceless. Can you say the best pitching lineup in the MLB?? It easily could be.— Hollywood Junkie
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- It's nice to just have a consistent winning organization, that plays for World Championships......This has become a town of RED!— eric18966
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- bah ha ha ha ha!!! Did Johanna Santana really say that? Good lord when will those poor, unfortunate mets learn? I guess never…oh well, the mets pre-season bravado always makes for good in-season jokes. Keep ‘em coming there Flushing. Us Fightins can never get enough comic relief over here…bah ha ha ha! The best pitcher in the NL East. That’s hysterical!
- Awesome! Can't wait for him to be pitching for the Phils! I'll say it for him.... What does it matter if Santana is the best pitcher in the NL East? He still pitches for the Mets and the Mets SUCK!!!!!— lazylefty
- I'm getting my tixs to Washington on opening day just to see him dominate the Nats!— tralala
- I second all the above...I can't wait to watch him in action. The down-to-earth attitude, matter-of-factness, and complete lack of arrogance are refreshing, too.— uncle meat
- cliff who?— flyerfan55
- It is insane that this man is on our team! Who's Criff Ree?— DaleSveum
- Like him already. Does his talking on the mound!— Beef69
- Well done is better than well said is a Ben Franklin quote.— Zeke24a
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- Doc Halladay will be a fan favorite here once he starts pitching in games that count. It would have been great to have both, but I'll take Halladay for four years, no problem.— KingHoser
- My mancrush on Roy Halladay is only going to grow once he starts killing opposing teams. This dude is awesome.— bwillie
