Odds and Ends: Sexson, K-Rod, Halladay

Halladay does deserve better. In todays game, Halladay is a bit of rarity with his ability to pitch Complete Games.

The value of his ability to go deep in games is almost immeasurable to a team. With the price of Relief Arms going through the roof, Halladays arm is really worth that of an Ace, as well as that of a top middle relief arm.

If Halladay didn't pitch for the rest of 2008, the odds that he would finish with more complete games then any other pitcher would be pretty good.

He has 7 CG with Sabathia being the next closest at 4.

Rios/Wells have combined for just 13 HR's this year....Halladay pitching in front of a real offense would be great to see one day.

Why in the world would the Angels limit the years to 3? I can understand 4, but 3? The guy wont even be 30 yet. Just sign him.

"Halladay does deserve better. In todays game, Halladay is a bit of rarity with his ability to pitch Complete Games."

You know, it is not so much an ability, but a willingness. The "protection" of arms has gotten absolutely ridiculous.

"It's an ability. Other pitchers nibble, try to K batters, and whatnot. Doc just throws the same two-seamers over and over again and induces crap contact. It's the reason he is able to keep his pitch counts down and go deep into games, not because he has more "will" to do so than other pitchers."

Ryan pitched 222 complete games as a pitcher who K'd and BB'd most of the lineup and ran up huge pitch counts. He also pitched till he was 46 years old.

Sabathia pitches a relatively high number of CG's and is a huge K pitcher.

Carlton pitched into his 40s as a high count K pitcher and had 254 CGs.

Blyleven pitched into his 40s as a K pitcher who relied on the most arm taxing pitch known, a hard curveball, and had 242 CGs.

There are plenty of pitchers who could go deep if they wanted, but they don't.

In case anyone hasn't noticed, Halladay's K/G rate is up to 8.0 this season and he has one of the best k/bb ratios in baseball at 6:1. His K rate was down to 5.8 the last two years, but partly he had a bit of a sore elbow at times from throwing his cutter, so I think he adapted and pitched around it. But he's looking more like "old" Doc this year.

The list does go on because that's how it was done back then; there are more CGs and undoubtedly many more potentially great pitchers who never got a chance due to injury. What I'm saying is that if teams kept running all their starters out there for 250 IP seasons, you can take 20-25% of the current top starters and end their careers within a couple years. Teams have learned it makes sense to be cautious with their investments.

"Over the past several seasons, Roy Halladay has adjusted his approach to that of a ground ball pitcher with a good strikeout-to-walk ratio. This approach helps to keep his pitch count down (he regularly features among the league leaders in this category) so as to avoid fatigue later in the season. Halladay's arsenal includes a four-seam fastball which he can throw in the mid 90s, a two-seam (sinking) fastball which he throws at 92-94 MPH, a curveball which he throws around 77 MPH, a cutter which he throws at 90-92 MPH, and a changeup, which he added in 2006[4]. He generally can use any of these pitches in any count, which serves to make him even more effective, and keeps hitters off pace."

sounds more like a skill and being smart than some kind of willingness.

I am a big fan of Halladay but it seems like every few years of dominance creates a large period of injury. Honestly Halladay should have been the SP for the All-Star team because he has certainly put in the most work/dominance.

K-Rod is great, however I think the angels are too smart to fall into that trap. K-Rod is going to find a market of desperate teams willing to give him a ton of money/years that they shouldnt. I would sign K-Rod to a 3 yr deal tops, I would def pay him well but not too much. Many players can be closers, and with K-Rods violent mechanics you gotta wonder how long the dominance will last.

Richie Sexson hahahahahahaha I am a fan of his defense, but honestly I cant think of an easier out when facing a righty. Against righties with even mediocre skil Sexson is a very simple out. Sexson should be signed for very little as a reserve for a team that can afford expensive defensive upgrades AKA Yankees, Angels, Rays.

I really hope your not hating on my comment because I made no mention of "willingness". Halladay is a horse of a pitcher who goes the distance because he can with his dominant stuff.

Jays better not lose Halladay, he's our best pitcher. I doubt Halladay is gonna want a lot of money though, I think what he really wants is a team that will make it into the playoff.

In conclusion, re-sign Halladay no question, get a good DH, when I mean good I don't mean a veteran who starts the season slow, I mean a feared hitter, someone who will make the pitcher think twice about his pitch. Also, sign a better SS, one who can hit and one who can field, and try to get a better catcher (if possible).