News
Halladay ready to focus on pitching
Toronto (51-54) vs. New York (63-42), 7:07 p.m. ET
By Jordan Bastian / MLB.com
08/02/09 7:20 PM ET
OAKLAND -- Roy Halladay has not been very talkative since Friday's non-waiver Trade Deadline came and went. The Blue Jays' ace spent most of July discussing his uncertain future, and once it was clear he was staying put, Halladay decided to decline all requests to address the issue any further."I think he's through talking about it now," Blue Jays manager Cito Gaston said.
Halladay just wants to get back to focusing his time and his comments to the task at hand: continuing on as the leader of the Blue Jays' rotation. He will get that chance on Tuesday, when he takes the mound in Toronto for the opener of a two-game set against the Yankees.
It was unclear if Halladay would remain the face of Toronto's franchise when New York headed north of the border for the coming series. Blue Jays general manager J.P. Ricciardi made it known shortly before the All-Star break that Halladay potentially could be had via trade, setting off a three-week circus that followed the pitcher's every move.
There was no shortage of rumors or suitors, and it all began to wear on Halladay and his family. At the All-Star Game, Halladay drew national attention, but it was not only because he was named the American League's starting pitcher. Everyone wanted to know his thoughts about possibly being dealt, and Halladay, while accommodating throughout the process, grew tired of the countless questions.
"I know the All-Star Game was really a little bit of a downer for him," Blue Jays pitching coach Brad Arnsberg said. "He didn't really think he'd have to deal with it like he had to. He had 30 or 40 media members around him before his start that night, and after the start and the day before in the press conference. It was relentless.
"I think that's when it really got to him that, 'This isn't a whole lot of fun.' I don't really think, if he had it his way, that he would really want to go through that again."
The same could be said for the rest of the Blue Jays.
"It's going to be a relief for everybody," Gaston said.
Toronto's players are just as ready as Halladay to get on with the rest of the season, and there was no doubt the team hoped the pitcher still was with the Jays the rest of the way. Ricciardi said he simply was not blown away by any offers, and he added that Toronto was content all along to hang on to its ace.
That was good news for Halladay's teammates.
"As a whole, obviously, everybody would rather him be here," Blue Jays center fielder Vernon Wells said. "Whenever you see him on the mound and know that he's going to be on the mound every five days, there's a comfort to that with everyone else around. As a group, we're happy that he's still here."
Pitching matchup
TOR: RHP Roy Halladay (11-4, 2.68 ERA)
Halladay has gone 16-5 with a 2.90 ERA in 34 career games against the Yankees.
Pettitte has gone 18-12 with a 4.25 ERA in 38 career outings against the Blue Jays. Bird feed
Second baseman Aaron Hill launched a two-run homer in the first inning on Sunday, giving him six blasts in his past 11 games. Hill has 26 homers this season, marking the most in a season by a Blue Jays player since Frank Thomas had 26 in 2007. ... Toronto has scored only nine runs combined over Halladay's past four starts. ... Yankees outfielder Johnny Damon has hit .349 (30-for-86) with two home runs and 11 walks against Halladay in his career. Halladay has walked Damon more than another other hitter he has faced. ... Wells has hit .390 (16-for-41) with one homer and eight RBIs against Pettitte in his career. ... On Sunday, the Blue Jays placed closer Scott Downs (left foot) on the 15-day disabled list and recalled right-hander Jeremy Accardo from Triple-A Las Vegas. Right-hander Jason Frasor will fill in as the interim closer. Tickets
Buy tickets now to catch the game in person.
On the Internet
MLB.TV
Gameday Audio• Gameday
• Official game notes On television
• TSN On radio
• FAN 590 Up next
• Wednesday: Blue Jays (Marc Rzepczynski, 1-2, 3.25) vs. Yankees (Sergio Mitre, 1-0, 7.90), 7:07 p.m. ET
• Thursday: Off-day
• Friday: Blue Jays (Brett Cecil, 5-1, 4.36) vs. Orioles (TBD), 7:07 p.m. ET
Jordan Bastian is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
