Christmas In July In Philadelphia

Ho Ho Ho Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and if u celebrate Kwanzaa that’s awesome too.  It could be a very happy "Christmas in July" for the Philadelphia Phillies. Roy Halladay could possibly be coming to town and not to enjoy a delicious cheesesteak, watch the eagles, or run the Art Museum steps he could be here to stay or at least here for 1 and 1/2 years.

With the trade deadline fast approaching, along with most other Phillies phans I like a kid at Christmas await to see whether Roy Halladay will be waiting under our tree.

So what if Santa decides to take some costly delicious cookies such as Kyle Drabek a young man who cannot be a certain winner. He is 21 and has already undergone a very serious Tommy John surgery.  Carl Pavano, Eric Gagne, and Adam Eaton are all examples of pitchers who were great and full of potential but their elbow troubles caused their games to suffer.  Minor league victories and major leagues wins are very different thing and no prospect is a guarantee.   

Those of you that speak of potential in young players like Drabek are neglecting the Phillies potential in the coming years if they are to attain Halladay.  The core of our team is in their absolute prime and this great group of hitters won’t be around forever.  Howard could be gone as early as 2011 and the rest of the NL will not continue to allow the Phillies to dominate.

Since 2006 Roy has not won less than 15 games per season while playing on a team that certainly lacks run support.  He has started over 30 games in each season since his injury and has been a clear cut Cy Young candidate in arguably the best division in baseball.  He averages 7 and 1/3 innings pitched per game and has an ERA under 3, and has only surrendered 10 home runs in a division full of power hitters making him perfect for the home run prone Citizens Bank Park.  

His losses can be blamed on lack of run support and are 5-4, 1-0, 4-1, and 3-2, imagine him with the phils run support.  He could be the first pitcher in over a decade to win more than 25 games in the 2010 season.  Not only would he succeed Cole, Joe, JA, could all benefit from his experience.

He could be an excellent replacement for Brett Meyers as he has a comparable salary, because Brett will very doubtfully be signed in 2010.

Therefore Reuben make it a Happy Halladay please.