Let the Players Get Ready

Ty Cobb once said that he would only hit about .270 against modern day pitchers, but further commented "you have to remember, I'm over seventy now".  The Phillies' Roy Halladay isn't 70 but he will turn 35 before opening day and the media is concerned about a few bad spring training outings.  Halladay was removed from Wednesday's game in the third inning after giving up five runs on seven hits and his fastball topped out at 89 m.p.h.  There is concern about his velocity and his lower than usual release point, indicating that he might be nursing an injury.  It is still March and opening day still three weeks away.  Isn't spring training the time to get into shape for the regular season?  Halladay is a veteran and arguably the best pitcher of his generation, he knows what he needs to do to get ready for April.  Spring training has no impact on how a team or player will play once the regular season starts, but for the players like Roy Halladay people expect to see him pitch like a two time Cy Young Award winner every time he steps on the mound.  Once the season starts however, he is the type of pitcher who can throw a no-hitter at any time, just like in 2010 when he was perfect against the Marlins then followed that by no-hitting the Reds in the playoffs.  He even admitted that as he gets older it takes him longer to get going in spring training, but nobody on the Phillies are concerned about him being ready for the regular season.  With all of the video and scouting reports available why shouldn't a veteran pitcher try new things to throw the hitters off, and what better time than spring training to do it.  Halladay was understandably upset when he was questioned about his health and even fired back at the media stating:  "That's poor reporting at the extreme end of poor reporting, it couldn't be further from the truth."  That type of comment isn't typical of Roy Halladay, but what do you expect from the 14 year pro, trying to get into shape for when the games matter.  So instead of expecting the veteran right hander to be at the top of his game in March, just enjoy the Florida sun and watch Doc go to work in April.  Who knows, he might surprise everyone with something new that he discovered while working out in spring training.