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| We'll go out on a limb and say that this was probably a strike... |
For 11 years, Roy Halladay suffered through losing seasons.
Year after year after year, Halladay, one of the greatest pitchers in MLB, had
to sit there and suffer on a perennial losing franchise. Although he would
never officially come out and say it in the media, because he is too classy, he
wanted to leave and go to a contender; everyone knew that the Doctor wanted a
chance to go to the playoffs. For several years at the trade deadline, rumors
would come and rumors would go, but one thing would remain constant: Roy
Halladay wearing the #32 Toronto Blue Jays jersey. During those years of
unrest, two more things remained constant, a clamoring from Philadelphia fans
to have the best pitcher in baseball on the roster and the desire of Big Ruben
Amaro to have the Blue Jays’ ace in red and white pinstripes (usually very slimming). Eventually, when push came to shove, and the offseason came around,
Big Rube could no longer control himself.
In the offseason, following a 2009 loss in the World Series
to the Yankees, Amaro decided to trade what turned out to be some pretty mediocre
prospects, including Kyle Drabek, to the Blue Jays and brought Roy to his real
home at Citizens Bank Park. This settled two things. The first thing it solved
was that the best fans in professional sports got there man. It helped a fan
base, who was grieving a big loss to the ugly troll of baseball, forget what
happened and have hope for the future. Hope that in the upcoming years, they
wouldn’t have to worry about the other teams, but that other teams would in
turn have to start worrying about them. The hope that with the best arm in the
majors, would come the best prize in MLB, a trophy and another championship,
possibly even a dynasty. The savage fan base’s hunger was satisfied and the
masses were quieted.
The second problem, which was more important, did not get
fixed until the following October. In the following October, after years of
losing, Roy Halladay got his biggest wish, he was going to pitch in the
postseason. In his first game against the Cincinnati Reds, everyone knows what
happened. Halladay threw only the second no-hitter in the history of October
baseball. Halladay had given the fans what they wanted and had gotten what he
wanted, to pitch in the postseason and become part of history again in a way
that he had never imagined possible before. But, this story is far from over.
Last year was just the appetizer; Game 5 on Friday night is the main course.
On Friday night, Halladay (and many other current Phillies)
will get the ultimate postseason experience. Some men never get to experience
what is about to happen on Friday night. A Game 5 is the absolute end all, be
all of postseason baseball and this is what Doc wanted. If he wanted to
experience the thrill, excitement and nerves of a meaningful fall game under
the lights, this is what he wanted. Roy has waited his entire life for this
moment. The moment when the ball, a season, and a city all rest in the care of
his golden right arm. Knowing all of this, don’t expect him to fail. Don’t
expect anything less than dominance, guts, and heart from the most dedicated
man in professional sports. There is only one more thing to expect on Friday
night: a win. Halladay has worked for this moment, October glory is his for the
taking and expect him to take it.
Moments that only happen in October...
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