Halladays sore shoulder makes bad day worse for Phils

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ST. LOUIS -- The Phillies arrived at Busch Stadium on Sunday morning looking to make a good weekend even better.

Little did they know this would become Sunday bloody Sunday.

The Phils fell short of a four-game sweep as they were 8-3 losers to the St. Louis Cardinals (see Instant Replay).

The game wasnt all that the Phils lost.

Ace righthander Roy Halladay left the game after two innings and 36 pitches due to soreness in the back of his right shoulder (see story). He will be checked by doctors Tuesday and his next start would seem to be in doubt.

Asked how he felt after the game, Halladay used a four-letter word.

Sore, he said.

He went on to say that he does not believe the problem is serious.

I really dont anticipate there being something in there that is shocking, he said. I think if that were the case it would have been something I felt more often and probably be a lot more severe.

Halladay said he felt soreness in the shoulder about halfway through his last start Tuesday against Washington. He gave up five runs in six innings in that game and told reporters that he was healthy afterward.

The soreness cropped up again Sunday. Halladay allowed two singles, a walk and a grand slam to Yadier Molina in the first inning. He retired the Cardinals in order in the second inning, but was removed from the game after speaking with pitching coach Rich Dubee in the dugout. Halladay said he would have opted to keep going, but it was a good thing that Dubee intervened.

I know he's had a cranky shoulder, Dubee said. He hasn't looked right, and he didn't look right today. I knew he wasn't going to come out of the game. I basically said that was enough.

Dubee revealed that Halladay has had the cranky shoulder for longer than the pitcher admitted.

Yeah, it's been an issue, Dubee said. It's been there. It's been lingering. Some days it's better than others. Chicago May 17 was better than others. Even the start of last game it was better and then got it cranky. Today, warming up, he felt fine, but as he got into the game and sat down and even before the first inning, it was just hard to get it going again.

Halladay was not sure whether hed have an MRI. Given his importance to the team and his 20 million price tag, this season and next, it would be surprising if he did not.

Halladay was twice on the disabled list with shoulder problems in 2004, while with Toronto. He said this problem was different.

I felt it every single start, from beginning of the season on, he said of 2004. Thats not the case right now. Basically, I really felt it affected me today and a couple innings in the last one. Its not to a point where Im in agony throwing pitches. Im hoping its something we can calm down quickly and get back out there. Thats obviously my hope, but again I dont have a lot of information until the doctors exam.

Halladay did not have surgery in 2004. He rehabbed the shoulder.

The two years before that I threw 500-plus innings and threw a lot of bullpens in the winter and wore my self out, he said. I didnt know what I was doing. Im smarter now. Im going to make sure we address it and move on.

Manager Charlie Manuel didnt directly answer a question about how long Halladay has had the issue. He did say he was concerned.

Yeah, definitely, he said. Pitching is one of the big things for us.

Dubee was asked about his level of concern.

We'll find out, he said. Im not a doctor."

Halladay, who turned 35 this month, is still a workhorse. From 2006 to 2011, he led the majors in innings (1,414 23) and complete games (46). He was sixth in the majors in pitches thrown (20,367). He was also first in the majors in ERA (2.86) over that span.

This season, there have been signs of that workload catching up with Halladay, not the least of which is his 4-5 record and his 3.98 ERA. His average fastball velocity has dipped and he has used more breaking balls lately. His first start in May was an awful oneeight runs in 5 13 innings in Atlanta. Sunday he made his last start in May and had to leave early. In both of those games, he allowed a grand slam. He entered the season having allowed just three for his career.

Dubee was asked if he believed Halladays shoulder issue was cause for the drop in velocity.

I don't know, he said. You can speculate all you want. I don't do that.

Thursdays off day would allow the Phillies to skip Halladays next turn in the rotation if he needs a rest. If he requires time on the DL, the Phillies would have to do some shuffling as swingman Kyle Kendrick is already in the rotation with Vance Worley on the disabled list with elbow inflammation. Worley is only throwing on flat ground. He has yet to throw off a bullpen mound. Scott Elarton, Dave Bush, Pat Misch and Tyler Cloyd would be candidates if the Phils added a pitcher from Triple A.

Of course, Roy Oswalt remains on the free-agent market, and the Phillies have scouted one of his workouts. Halladays status could increase the Phils interest in bringing back Oswalt. However, there could be a major hurdle in the way of signing Oswalt. The Phils payroll is over 174 million and they are reluctant to stretch it with the 178 million luxury-tax threshold staring them in the face. Signing Oswalt would require ownership to make a decision to eclipse that threshold.

If Halladay goes on the DL, the Phils would have some huge salaries on the sidelines. Ryan Howard, making 20 million this season, is on the DL, and so is Chase Utley, who is making 15 million.
E-mail Jim Salisbury at jsalisbury@comcastsportsnet.com

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