Happ or Halladay?
Amid the giddiness of Sunday's shutout and sweep of the Marlins, I typed this into my Facebook page: ``Happ or Halladay?''
Happ or Halladay?
Sam Donnellon, Daily News Sports Columnist
Amid the giddiness of Sunday’s shutout and sweep of the Marlins, I typed this into my Facebook page:
``Happ or Halladay?’’
When I went to the page this morning, I found about two pages of responses, and the count, as I write this, is 10 for making the much –talked about trade, and 10 against.
What I found even more interesting was the timing of the comments. The first 10 people urged restraint, arguing that Happ was worth keeping and mortgaging the farm was a bad idea for a 32-year-old arm signed through next year.
The next 10 however spoke about making the team great for this season, making a chance at repeating as world champions worth the price and the risk. There was no back and forth. First 10 yeah. Next 10 nay.
Pushing aside for a moment the anxiety over losing a potentially dominant player like Michael Taylor (remember how close this team was to trading Ryan Howard?), I am curious over one thing. If this is about winning right now, then why is Kyle Drabek less expendable than Happ? If you give me the choice between a rotation, right now, of Halladay, Hamels, Blanton, Happ and Moyer/Martinez/Lopez, or one that simply switches Happ and Halladay, why wouldn’t I want the former? And if this is about winning right now, and maybe next year too, then why is Drabek untouchable and Happ not?
Because he might be the next Tom Seaver? What if he’s not. And by the way, Seaver was an uninjurable, inning-eating horse for the first part of his career. Drabek already has an injury asterisk attached.
And what if Happ is Tom Glavine for the next five years?
Happ is old for a rookie, no doubt. But as he showed in escaping that no-out, bases-loaded jam Sunday, that’s not all bad. Again, if we’re talking now, and if the Blue Jays would really take Drabek over Happ, then what’s the haggle?
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There is nothing more overrated than "hot" minor league prospects. Maybe Drabeck will be great maybe he wont. But its worth the shot to win now— clever- Keep Happ, there is no guarantee they will win with or without Halladay. One player does not make a team, look at the Yankees. Today, with free agency, it's very difficult to repeat a World Series Championship. The Phillies were not the best team last year on paper, but they outlasted all the rest with injuries and a little luck. Keep Happ he is doing great and he is a good guy. There are too many maybe's and what if's to do a trade.— karbase8
- 2181. You make a great point about taking the 1 guy that already has been successful in the bigs. But this team has produced some serious studs from the minors in recent years. We might be trading some gems. I worry.— ILL-UH-DEL
- Drabek is probably going to be somewhat better than Happ so I would still give up Happ and not Drabek .. people are nuts as they either think about this year or the long-term future. I think about both and frankly the near future is not important to me..who cares if we don't win.. Next year we will with Halladay, Hamels, Drabek,Blanton, maybe Savery. Big mistake to give up Drabek. We can afford to give up hitters like Taylor though I hate to..— sportsdead
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why would the Phils need a Halladay when they've got a Happ in their step?- I cant even believe theres a debate as to whether the phillies should acquire doc halladay,he is a bonafide number one,one of the most consistent,durable innings eater in the game,i give the jays two pkgs to choose from,happ,werth,donald,carrasco for doc and rios or drabeck,brown,donald,savery,do the deal ruben— soliteryman
- People just don't get it! Hamels and Halladay give you the best 1-2 punch in baseball and it means they pitch 4 times in 7 games series! FDixon you are way off as Jays are tied up in outfield money big time and do not want or need Brown or Taylor.— phillysbest1
- What concerns me is the effect on Hamel’s psyche of acquiring Halladay. There can only be one big dog. When one guy is deemed to be the main guy, and then you bring in another main guy, stuff can come up. Uncle Charlie will need to stroke Hamel’s ego.— ChiBubba
- Here's a question for you. When is it bad for a team to win 9 in a row? When that team will think it's undefeatable, which it is not. All of you remember last month when they stunk the joint up, right? Amaro may think the present Phil's are good enough to win without making a major move. He's wrong. You trade the future when the future is NOW. GET HALLADAY— SPBilly
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- Like many people I am truly conflicted over this issue. Short term? Long term? Probabilities of success? Failure? ....you know what I would like?...to be able to produce a division winning record like that of the Braves a decade or so ago...on and on they dominated...of course I would stir in a significant more World Series championships than the Braves....but to be a part of that kind of dominance amd control of your divisional fate each year. AHHH!....so all you gurus figure out how to do that and we can abandon Conjecture Park for greener fields...and by the way...don't you dare trade JA.....to do so would be an Happ-less exercise UGH!!— jachanin
- Plz call Pat Gilleck...he is still a consultant and has long term connections to the Jays as well.....the guy knows his business (yeah, yeah there were glitches el Freddy Garcia, Adam Eaton..but last time I looked we did win it all under his tutelage...let him work with Amaro to get the deal done...without forfeiting the future...to deal JA would be senseless....a Happ-less exercise ( I really like that stupid pun)...you are trading away a starting rotation guy with a 7-0 record and proven cajones...sure I would love to keep Young and perhaps Drabeck...Pata work your magic...persuade the Jays that this is Ray Halladay...not the Sistene Chapel— jachanin
- Lets face it. Meyers might be done, Happ, while he looks good now has not been around the league yet. The hitters don,t have a book on him yet. Remember Kendrick? We will probably be able to keep either Happ or Drabeck but not both. The Blue Jays need a shortstop and a catcher, we have both to deal. I think that one of the pitchers, Marson and Donald along with either Taylor or Brown will get it done. Go for it, the window is open for the next two or three years.— Pat & Joyce
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Reach Sam at donnels@phillynews.com.
