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Phillies Notes: Halladay has 'no doubt' about his return this season

A surgeon cut into Roy Halladay's shoulder May 16 and five days later the Phillies' erstwhile ace arrived at the team's facility in Clearwater, Fla. There, an athletic trainer tested Halladay's range of motion. It was better than the results from spring training.

Roy Halladay is as optimistic as ever that he will pitch in 2013. (Matt Slocum/AP)
Roy Halladay is as optimistic as ever that he will pitch in 2013. (Matt Slocum/AP)Read more

A surgeon cut into Roy Halladay's shoulder May 16 and five days later the Phillies' erstwhile ace arrived at the team's facility in Clearwater, Fla. There, an athletic trainer tested Halladay's range of motion. It was better than the results from spring training.

Halladay, 36, is as optimistic as ever that he will pitch in 2013. The recovery process from shoulder surgery is not precise. The Phillies estimated six to eight weeks of rest from surgery until Halladay can start throwing. It is not prudent to think beyond each week, Halladay said.

"In my mind there's no doubt that I [will] be back this year," Halladay said. "It's a week-to-week process. There could be bumps in the road, but as of right now I don't see any reason why I shouldn't be back this year."

The pitcher was in Philadelphia for a doctor's examination. He will return to Clearwater, where his rehab will continue away from the fever of a major-league season. Halladay said he hoped to reappear for the occasional homestand so he can be around his teammates.

Halladay's workouts consist of routines to strengthen his legs and arms. He said he feels stronger, a noted difference from before.

The results of the range-of-motion testing reveal what was painfully obvious: Halladay pitched hurt for longer than two starts.

Halladay said he was most surprised by the results from the removal of a bursa sac. Scans revealed that it hardened and was inflamed in the back of his shoulder. That corrupted any normalcy for the pitcher. The surgeon also cleaned his rotator cuff and labrum, both of which were fraying.

He has yet to pick up a baseball and will not do so for quite some time.

"I don't think throwing is going to be an issue," Halladay said. "I think I'm going to feel good throwing. But the everyday throwing - the pitching every five days - how that is going to affect things, we don't know. There are still a lot of variables and unknowns. But my gut feeling is that I will be back, and I can tell you that I feel a lot better than I thought at this point."

Draft time

The Phillies will select 16th in Thursday night's first round of the draft. It is their highest selection since 2001, when they picked Gavin Floyd fourth overall.

Phillies assistant general manager Marti Wolever said the team was targeting a position player, but do not be surprised if that is a smoke screen. The team has been known to conceal its true intent until the pick is made.

"Obviously we need more hitters and more offensive players," Wolever said. "If we could find some power, that's an asset we could use. But it always comes down to pitching and good arms."

Extra bases

Wednesday's 6-1 win was delayed for 15 minutes in the seventh inning when home-plate umpire John Hirschbeck was struck on the hand by a foul ball. He was replaced by Jim Reynolds, who shifted from second base, and the remainder of the game was called by three umpires. . . . Milwaukee placed Marco Estrada, Saturday's scheduled starter against the Phillies, on the disabled list Wednesday. The Phillies will face righties in three of the four games, with Saturday's starter unannounced.