Forget the Sistine Chapel. Right now we’re more concerned with all that black smoke billowing from the mound in Clearwater yesterday, where Phillies ace Roy Halladay was getting torched by the Tigers.
Halladay, who up until this point had been having a great spring, gave up 7 runs on 6 hits, including a grand slam home run.
The outing had everyone thinking about last spring, when Halladay seemed to struggle with his velocity. We know how that one turned out. Halladay had to be shut down last summer with a bum shoulder.
After getting hammered yesterday, Halladay tried to put out the flames. He said that he actually felt great during his warmup, “as good as it’s been all year,” but that vanished when he got to the mound.
“I was really lethargic,” the ace said.
You can read Dennis Deitch’s account of the carnage and aftermath here.
Halladay tried to brush off any criticism or observation that his velocity was off last spring. Yesterday was more of the same, no velocity and poor location on his pitches. That’s a recipe for getting lit up. He faced 18 batters and gave up six hits while walking four.
All eyes will be on Halladay’s next start in Grapefruit League play. Suddenly, that likely will be the most important day of the Phillies time in Clearwater.
More black smoke could be an ominous sign for the Phils’ chances this year.
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