Roy ‘Doc' Halladay is the best pitcher today, has been for several years and will likely be for years to come. Luckily, here in Canada we were treated to almost 11 years of greatness. Now moved on to Philadelphia, the rest world is finally getting to see what Doc can do.
Every five days you could count on an amazing pitching performance from Halladay. If it was not a complete game win, it was a complete game loss; this guy ate up innings like crazy in Toronto. He also picked up a Cy Young award along the way – and arguably could have won a few more. He was the best and most consistent pitcher the Jays have ever had, no doubt about it.
Now he is with Philadelphia. Before I continue: I am not a Philadelphia fan – far from it. I am a Jays fan and still a Halladay fan. Halladay was traded to the Phillies for several potentially valuable prospects, helping both him and the Blue Jays succeed.
It was sad to see him go, yes. But, just look at the Jays staff grow and develop with him gone.
And just watch Halladay perform on the mound; it's hard not to be happy for him. I am past Doc as a Jay. I am now just happy to watch him perform on a whole other level.
Less than two months into the 2010 season Halladay took the mound for the Phillies just like any other start. But this was not any other start. Halladay retired all 27 batters he faced, pitching only the 20th perfect game in MLB history. Doc had shown the potential to do this on several occasions as a Jay, but he finally put it all together on May 31, 2010.
He continued pitching great all season, finishing in line to win the National League Cy Young award as the best pitcher.
Then October came around and he made his long awaited playoff debut. As a Jays fan, I enjoy playoff baseball without necessarily cheering for a particular team. And with the Jays missing the playoffs again, it made it even easy to get excited for Doc's first post-season start – it was like you knew he would do something special. And he did not disappoint.
Halladay took to the mound to face the Cincinnati Reds, the best hitting club in the National League. Halladay did not waste any time on the ‘best hitters in baseball'.
In fact, Doc did something only one other pitcher has done in baseball history. He threw a no-hitter in the playoffs. He allowed only one walk all game, and got every other batter out. It was an amazing and unbelievable feat; something legends are made of.
I watched the game in its entirety; my eyes were glued to the television. When Halladay made that last pitch and got that last out it gave me tingles.
The man is the best pitcher in baseball and baseball fans are lucky to have him.
