It's been over a year since we've featured South African
Phillies lose Roy Halladay for 6-8 weeks and lose out on Roy Oswalt
30 May 2012 | MLB
The Philadelphia Phillies were the preseason National League favorites but it’s starting to look like a lost season for the club as ace pitcher Roy Halladay has been placed on the disabled list with shoulder problems and could miss up to two months.
The Phillies are calling Halladay’s injury Grade 1/2 strain of his right latissimus dorsi. He will be sidelined from activity for three weeks, but the Phillies are hopeful he can be pitching again in six to eight weeks. No surgery will be needed.
“We hate to have him down,” Phillies assistant general manager Scott Proefrock said, “but it’s nothing that requires anything other than rest.”
Halladay is 4-5 with a 3.98 ERA in 11 starts this season, but 1-3 with a 6.11 ERA in six starts in May. He has not looked like himself since Spring Training, despite his insistence he felt fine. Halladay lacked velocity and sharpness in his first few Grapefruit League starts. Halladay strongly denied any implications he might not be healthy, but questions about his velocity continued during the regular season. Halladay pitched well at times, but he hasn’t dominated like he had in the past.
This is still a huge blow as the Phillies have struggled to score runs without the injured Chase Utley and Ryan Howard. But they still are only four games out of first place in the NL East. The Phillies said they expect Utley and Howard to play this season, despite the fact there still is no timetable for their returns.
The Phillies have recalled catcher Erik Kratz to take Halladay’s place on the 25-man roster. Vance Worley, who is on the disabled list with inflammation in his right elbow, could take Halladay’s spot in the rotation Monday. He threw a bullpen session Tuesday and is scheduled to throw another Friday.
After the Halladay news, Philadelphia upped its offer to bring back Roy Oswalt, who won nine games last season with the Phillies but was limited to 23 starts because of a back injury. However, Oswalt chose on Tuesday to sign with the Texas Rangers over the Phillies, Cardinals and Dodgers.
Place your MLB baseball bets at our online sportsbook!
Comments
