Monday, February 28, 2011
Posted: 5:20 p.m.
By Jim Salisbury
CSNPhilly.com
DUNEDIN, Fla.Roy Halladay returned to his old spring-training ballpark in facing his former club, the Toronto Blue Jays, on Monday.
If Halladay was caught looking over his shoulder anxiously it would have been understandable.
Back when Halladay was a youngster trying to establish himself as a big-league pitcher, the Blue Jays' clubhouse was down the leftfield line. The Jays have since upgraded to a new clubhouse down the rightfield line. The visitors now use the Jays old clubhouse.
Halladay is quite familiar with it.
In fact, he gave Phillies manager Charlie Manuel a little tour of the place before Mondays game.
I was telling Charlie, I got sent down four times in the office back here, Halladay said with a laugh. The last time was to Single A ball. Ill be glad to get out of here today.
MLB
The only place Halladay is getting sent these days is to the top of the class of pitchers in the majors.
The reigning NL Cy Young winner made an efficient spring debut Monday, holding his former team scoreless over two innings and 25 pitches. He allowed a pair of hits, walked one and struck out one in the Phillies 6-3 win.
Routine stuff for the first outing of spring.
I liked getting back out there, Halladay said. Just being in games again is fun. You can throw as many bullpens as you want, but its always different once you get out there. Ive got some work to do to get back where I want to be. But thats all part of it. Im looking forward to the next time out.
Halladay kept it simple in his first game competition since the 2010 NLCS. Mostly fastballscutters and sinkersand a few changeups. Curveballs will come later in the spring.
The changeup was a big pitch for Halladay in 2010. He had struggled with the pitch for years but had success with it last season after learning a new grip from pitching coach Rich Dubee.
Anything new coming in 2011?
There are a couple of things I want to try, he said. For any pitcher, youre always trying to improve on what you already do. For me thats always the case.
Halladay wasnt ready to reveal the new things he is working on this spring.
Im going to keep them in my pocket until I decide whether or not they work, he said with a smile.
Despite leading the NL in wins (21) and pitching a perfect game and a playoff no-hitter in 2010, Halladay will be looking for more consistency in 2011.
There were times last year when I felt like Id lose a pitch for a couple starts, he said. I felt like there were times when I was really limited to one or two pitches during the course of a game. Id like to find a way to keep things more consistent. Having more than two or three pitches as options would be ideal.
Halladay is a very serious man on and off the field. That said, he seems to be showing a little more personality in this camp. He seems a little more comfortable in his surroundings in his second season with the Phillies.
Absolutely, he said. I feel like last year I was trying to get to know a lot. Not only teammates, but getting to know Rich and him getting to know me. The same with catcher Carlos Ruiz. I feel like weve really established that part. I feel like this year Rich is able to help me a lot more because he knows me better. He knows my tendencies. Obviously just being comfortable in the clubhouse and knowing what Im doing on a daily basis makes it a lot better. Last year was fun and exciting, but this year is a little more normal.
Halladay spent 12 seasons with the Jays before being traded to the Phils in Dec. 2009.
Halladays return to Dunedin was softened a little by the passing of time. It might have made a bigger splash had it occurred a year ago. He did not, however, pitch here last year. During introductions, the pitcher was greeted with a nice ovation by the crowd, which included a healthy number of Phillies fans.
Its always going to be part of you, Halladay said of the Jays and their spring home. But this is a new chapter as well.
Halladay will get another taste of the past when the Phillies visit Toronto in July.
E-mail Jim Salisbury at jsalisbury@comcastsportsnet.com.Related: MRI reveals that Utley has knee tendinitisBuy Phillies gear