Via Bob Elliott -
A no-decision in what may have been [Roy Halladay's] final start in a Jays uniform, his 274th since breaking into the majors in September of 1998. He had worked what seems like his customary nine innings, allowing two runs — one earned — as the Jays fell 4-2 to the Tampa Bay Rays in 10.
“I don’t think J.P. blamed me for the trade talk,” Halladay said.
The 24,161 fans had other thoughts. The crowd gave Halladay one standing ovation after another, from the time he made the solitary walk, at a purposeful pace, from the bullpen at 7 o’clock, to when he left the mound after the eighth, again after the ninth and again when the big screen in centre field showed manager Cito Gaston slide alongside him.
A “Keep Doc, Trade J.P.” banner hung from the second deck in left.
Another sign read: “4 out of 5 doctors agree, trading Halladay causes sadness.”
Late in the game, either after a Vernon Wells fly ball or an Alex Rios strikeout, the chant went up from behind home plate in the 500 level: “Trade J.P.! Trade J.P!”
The 500 level, like the greys at Maple Leaf Gardens, are not filled with corporate types. There sit the true fans, or so we’ve heard. And the voices of reason continued the chant: “Trade J.P.! Trade J.P!”
We never heard that before, for Pat Gillick or Gord Ash.
Ricciardi said on Thursday, for the first time, that it was Halladay who informed the Jays he would test the free-agent market after the 2010 when his contract expires. Is this the same exit strategy as when the Jays attempted to portray Carlos Delgado as the bad guy?
And, as one scout asked early this week: “Why take out an ad on the guy? Why not try to keep it quiet?”
After all, the Jays have not announced that they were shopping Wells and Rios, but they are.
The scouting frenzy, meanwhile, tailed off last night. Charlie Kerfeld of the Philadelphia Phillies and Ricky Williams of the New York Yankees were the only scouts around.
The Phillies have been on Halladay since, oh, about spring training. The Jays have asked for prospect Kyle Drabek, who Jays assistant GM Tony LaCava watched at double-A Altoona, plus outfielder Michael Taylor or Dominic Brown and shortstop prospect Jason Donald.
The Yanks could be if right-hander Chien-Ming Wang needs season-ending shoulder surgery.
…Charlie Kerfeld of the Philadelphia Phillies and Ricky Williams of the New York Yankees were the only scouts around…
The Yankees are using a pot-smoking, baby-mama collecting, football player, to scout at the major league level? Well, that explains a lot…
And, yes, I’m just kidding. I know it’s not that Ricky Williams…
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