Phillies Notes: Halladay throws first bullpen session

NEW YORK - Phillies righthander Roy Halladay threw his first bullpen session since undergoing shoulder surgery on May 15. According to Phillies pitching coach Rich Dubee, Halladay threw 20 pitches, all fastballs. The session was on Sunday morning, hours before the Phillies' 5-0 loss to the New York Mets at Citi Field.

Dubee won't set a timetable for Halladay's return, but he said he was encouraged by what he saw.

"It's a start," Dubee said. "He will determine how fast he will go by how he is feeling and as we increase reps."

Dubee said there is a plan, but one that is flexible, depending on Halladay's progress.

Halladay last pitched May 5, allowing nine runs in 21/3 innings in a 14-2 loss to the Miami Marlins. He was placed on the disabled list the next day.

Dubee said he sees Halladay returning as a starting pitcher even with limited time, though he could come back more quickly as a reliever.

"In my mind he is [a starting pitcher]; I don't know about anybody else's," the coach said. "What are you going to do with a two-time Cy Young winner if he is healthy and throwing good?"

Dubee said that the least of his concerns at this point is how hard Halladay is throwing.

"I could care less about velocity," he said. "I am looking for his delivery to be intact, his arm action to be intact, and his arm slot to be up in the proper slot, and today was a good day."

Halladay declined to comment after the game.

In the first inning, Phillies second baseman Chase Utley was hit on the left forearm with a 99-m.p.h. Matt Harvey fastball, but he quickly shook it off and went to first.

Utley played the entire game and said afterward there were no problems.

"Luckily, it didn't square me up, which is a good thing," Utley said. "Getting hit is just part of the game."

The Phillies have four outfielders and three catchers, which is a disproportionate number, but general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. says there is a simple reason.

"We don't have another outfielder that we think is better than the three catchers we have," Amaro said. "It's pretty simple."

The Phillies are looking for a centerfielder and another reliever by the July 31 trade deadline, something Amaro admitted. He also said that since teams know the Phillies' needs, it makes the task that much more difficult.

Amaro said that if reliever Mike Adams has shoulder surgery, he likely will not be ready for the start of next season. Adams is out for the season. . . . After Sunday's win, Mets pitcher Matt Harvey has a 1.08 career ERA against the Phillies covering five starts and 331/3 innings. That is the lowest ERA since 1921 against the Phillies (with a minimum of five starts).