Roy Halladay reflects on the possibility of giving up on 2012
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Roy Halladay reflects on the possibility of giving up on 2012
David Murphy
Want to know why I've been so adamant about my belief that the Phillies will not end up trading Cole Hamels? Because I keep trying to picture Ruben Amaro Jr. and Charlie Manuel calling Roy Halladay into an office to inform him of the news, and I just can't do it. I realize that you cannot govern an organization based on sentiment, but think about this: the Phillies are now 9.5 games out of a playoff spot, which is the same deficit the Cardinals faced at the end of August last year. That's not to say the Phillies look like a team that can make a similar run. But to a player like Halladay, who is 35 years old and playing out the second-to-last year of a contract that he signed at a discount rate in order to pursue a title, a 9.5 game deficit is not grounds for dismantling a team that led the majors in wins one year ago.
"We saw what happened last year in Atlanta with St. Louis getting in and going all the way to win the World Series," Halladay said. "I mean, it's happened before. It's going to be difficult. There's a long way to go and it's a steep hill to climb, but I think there's got to be a positive mentality, especially when you have the players that we have. It's not like we have players that can't compete and can't win. We have those players here. It's just a matter of being able to go out and do it and give ourselves a chance. You look at the way baseball has gone the last few years, there's definitely a chance. I don't think there is any reason to believe there wouldn't be."
Since the end of May, Halladay has sat on the sidelines and watched the Philies spiral further under .500. Over the last couple of weeks, he has heard trade speculation about the team intensify, with general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. surveying interest in crucial pieces of the roster like Cole Hamels and Shane Victorino. And he hasn't been able to do a damn thing about it.
"It's definitely hard," said Halladay, who returned to the mound on Tuesday night, holding the Dodgers to two runs in five innings while striking out six and walking none in the Phillies' 3-2 win. "This is an organization that has been committed to winning and you want to see that continue. And obviously there are points where they may have to reconsider how they are going to go about that, but I hope that is long after I'm gone, to be honest with you. You want to have every chance you can to try and win. It's tough having a trade deadline and being at the point we are in, it puts some pressure on the front office, but I don't think any of us have given up on it and I know they haven't in the front office. It's a tough situation where you can't always continue to go down the same path if things aren't working, you have to make some changes and do some different things and we understand that, but as players you want to go out and win and give yourselves a chance to avoid those situations."
Would Halladay ever personally lobby Amaro to keep the team intact?
"I think he's aware of how a lot of guys feel," Halladay said. "As a player, there are certain lines that you don't cross. I think he understands that you want to win and you want to be able to have the guys here to do that, but by the same token, he's the GM, I'm a player, and I respect his position. But he knows. He knows that we want to keep Cole and Victorino. He knows that."
The only way to control what happens is to keep on winning.
*sigh*
The sky is alwats falling for us Phils fans.
I still beleive we're gonna make the playoffs, esp with the extra WC.— G FORCE- A walk does in the Phillies again. When will this staff learn that free passes come back to haunt you? As for Papelbon, he is not worth $50 million. Oh, well, I hope that the team can win each series the rest of the way out. Blanton should be moved for a reliable veteran bullpen arm.— dross
- I heard the captain of the Titanic didn't want to give up, either.— fmMD
- The only player that should be gone is Mayberry. Will somebody, please, explain to me why he is still starting games, let alone still on this team. I don't care if you bring up somebody from Reading. What dunderhead is keeping this guy around. I'm at a total loss to understand. If somebody knows, please enlighten me.— joberzut
- It's good that the players don't really get math so they can keep trying in a hopeless cause. Last year on August 29th the Cardinals were 0.5 games behind the Giants and 9.5 games behind the Braves for the Wild Card. So, even though the Phillies are 9.5 back more than a month earlier, they are in a more unlikely position. The Cardinals got hot and the Braves faltered. The Phillies need to pass 7 teams. One team crashing isn't going to do it. The Phillies need to get very hot, but that alone won't do it. They also need the division leaders and the four teams behind them to get hot. That's why their playoff probability sits at 1.3 %.— jtj06
- Not saying I think the Phils will make the playoffs, because they need a lot to fall into place, but if they do make it even by the slimmest of margins....then I can guarantee no one will to face Halladay, Lee and Hamels in a playoff series, no matter what their season stats are.— JimG
- Lee will come threw tonight.......bet on it! Time for us to get red hot and make a run at this thing....i just hope these wins arent just smoke in mirrors!— huntnmike3666
- Everybody read and digest drhoffman. RETOOLING is the answer here. They have stud starting pitching in the system. What they need is an experienced bullpen arm and a position player or two to keep this ride going! As shawnmac said - "it's your turn, Cliff Lee." There is no reason to give up. re6035 - Roy Halladay doesn't run this team - it's just a professional courtesy. I just love Doc's attitude - do NOT give up!— dwp66
Comment removed.- Almost always, the worst people to evaluate a team are the players themselves. They tend to think that they are better than what outsiders think they are.
Even managers and GM's have the same soft spot for players that have been around for a while and have contributed in the past.They tend to let good personal relationships mudddy their judgements.
If you were to ask the players on this team, how many of them would admit that Victorino, Rollins, Polanco and Utley are not the players they used to be, and will not be ever again.
Who knows if they Phillies can make a run or even get into the playoffs.
The unavoidable reality at year end, will be that they need to make numerous changes to be successful going forward.
They may have have a better chance to accomplish that NOW rather than LATER.
Which puts all of us in a quandry ....
Would we rather see the team go back into a slump, with no chance for a playoff berth, and make changes...or....
Hope they keep winning and get in the playoffs.— candidly - If the Phils think they still have a shot they need to get a left fielder and middle relief. Kubul out of Arizona would be nice.
If they are not going to try to get players for this year then they should trade Rollins, Victorio, and Dom Brown for top prospects. They can then trade those prospects in the off-season to fill their needs for next year.— towman - Hamels must be trying hard not to walk around all day with a smile on his face. He knows that there are least 4 very good teams that will try to sign him, at more that the Phils are offering and give him a shot at a world series next year.— farley
- Hamels must be trying hard not to walk around all day with a smile on his face. He knows that there are least 4 very good teams that will try to sign him, at more that the Phils are offering and give him a shot at a world series next year.— farley
- of course he doesn't want to give up...he's near the end of his career, can't afford to throw away ANY season even a fiasco such as this one.— Dean Winchester
- Of course the players say they don't want to give up. But unlike some, Halladay is a competitor and won't give up. But the players don't decide because they are wrong more often then they are right. They always talk like there's more time and it's never over but people outside the clubhouse know the truth.— AvoidSundanceVacations
- Interesting, if you had just lost to Atlanta last year like you were supposed to, you may already be a champ because the Cardinals would have been out. By beating Atlanta when you didn't have to (in extra innings)you insured the hottest team in baseball would get in and defeat you. I'm not sure there is a team that dumb in MLB this year that would help out what would have to be the hottest team in baseball at the time. Rest your arm and cross your fingers that your last $20 mill will include a title next year.— Relocator
- After reading your post, at least we now know who the dumbest fan is. — TexasYankee
- sometimes I read the nonsensical drivel from the writers here and all I can say is, Wow....— thingfish
- I like Halladay's attitude. Why not keep trying? In the end, its up to Hamels to choose whether or not to stay or go. My hope, is that Roy and Cliff make their pitch to Cole to keep the Phillies version of the "big three" together. With a healthy Worley and a less expensive #5 (Tyler Cloyd, Trevor May, etc...) this team can still be very competative for the next 2+ seasons. Retooling, not revamping is the way to go. Nix comes back soon to make the line up even more dangerous. Time to think one game at a time....one game at a time.— drhoffman
- Sorry Roy.. we saw you Pitch 33 Pitches in Game 5 1st inning and Lee starting his Fiasco of Burping up leads carrying over to 2012— Ubercatholic
- Since when does Roy Halladay run this team? Why does anyone have to explain their actions to him?— re6035
- The challenge is on for the Phillies. Your turn to come through Cliff Lee!!!!!— shawnmac
- Of course he holds out hope. Unless they're trading him, he has no other way to a World Series. He's not getting younger and neither is the rest of this squad. Did you expect him to say it's done? He's a player, he can't. Are they mathematically done? No. However, they should root for the Nationals and Giants and Reds in every series those teams play against the teams ahead of them in the WC Standings. Of course, they also need to win every one of those series (like they've done with the Dodgers) if there's to be any hope left.— kmon
- He knows it now........thanks, Doc. Was hoping to see someone else in CF real soon.— Mark1npt
- Since the chances of a WS, this year are slim and none, what is the
likelihood of a Halladay trade to a contender to help Roy in his quest
to win a WS before he hangs-em-up? Definitely food for thought IMO!— larryv - Nice sentiments by Halladay, but sentiment did not stop him from making a move when the personal need arose. Likewise, Phillies need to make personnel moves to field a team composed of players that are most capable of winning. Finally, in Hamels situation, it is very much a two way street.— DameB
- Notice he mentioned nothing about wanting to keep Blanton.— jjacob02
- They want to keep this team together--its simple, keep winning like nthey nhave the last 4 games— jeff gross
- Understanding that the Phillies were also in free-fall, but both the Rockies and Dodgers are in free fall. LA is something like 6-20 and Colorado is the second worst team. Battling it out and having things break their way the Phillies have a few wins, but their line up was handled by Christian Friedrich, Nate Eovaldi, and Barney Fife so this week hasn't changed anything in terms of the current Phillies being able to contend or win a playoff series against a successful team's top three pitchers. — jtj06
