Roy Halladay Might Even Turn Phillies Fans into Believers

I planned to start this column with something witty about Roy Halladay and his incredible game Wednesday night. Couldn't do it. No matter how much of my charm and wile I tried to muster, I couldn't find any words that didn't belittle what Halladay did last night. And you know what, find me a writer that can and I will show you someone who has a shelf filled with Pulitzer's.

The things that happened at Citizens Bank Park on Wednesday night aren't supposed to happen. Not outside of a cheesy sports movie at least. And I can't believe I'm saying this, but right now, I don't care about the rest of the postseason.

Of course I want the Phillies to win. I want my playoff beard to get long and itchy, I want to spend the next month pacing around my living room like a meth addict, and I want to hang a Phillies 2010 Word Championship poster next to the '08 version I have in my basement. But for right now, I want to enjoy what I just watched.

In case you are living under a rock, I'm talking about Roy Halladay, who pitched the second no-hitter in postseason history Wednesday night, giving the Phillies a 1-0 series lead over the Reds and adding another chapter to his career novel, one that could be titled "The Greatest Right handed Pitcher in Phillies History".

I could bore you with the stats, (8 K's, 1 walk, 25/28 first pitch strikes), but they don't matter. What matters was the way Halladay pitched. He might be known as Doc, but on Wednesday he was an artist. It didn't matter what he threw, the ball was on a string. Its very possible that I'm way too close to the situation to have a rational opinion, but for my money it was the best pitched game I have ever seen.

There were no 99-mph fastballs to be seen, or any curve-balls falling off the table. Not that he couldn't be filthy, just ask Scott Rolen (3 K's) or Johnny Gomes (2), but Halladay dominated with a steady diet of pitches thrown so precise they would make a marine sniper jealous. 

Sitting next to my dad during the game, I turned to him after the 3rd inning and asked "Is it too early to mention that Halliday has a no-hitter going?". It's a joke I use often, only with Doc pitching, its not a joke.

In the 5th I sent a text to a friend to let him know that "the Don Larson watch is officially on". In the 7th he texted me back "Shhhhhhh...".

Considering the fact there had been just one no-hitter in postseason history, it would normally seem silly to make jokes about the subject. But that's the best part of the whole thing. The way Halladay was pitching, it would have been a fluke if someone on the Reds actually got a hit.

And they didn't. And now the Phillies have more momentum that Obama did during the last Presidential election, and as an added bonus they have Roy Oswalt and Cole Hamels waiting in the wings.

Of course, the Devils' advocate would tell you that the Phillies offense managed just five hits, Polanco is hurt, and its still unclear which Brad Lidge will show up.

(Can you tell I'm not thinking rationally about this team? Welcome to postseason baseball.)

Obviously, I have no idea how the rest of the playoffs are going to play out. On one hand, right now the Phillies look like the heavy favorites in the National League. On the other, this is the same team that has more losses than any team in baseball history.

Yet, knowing that Halladay is only three days away from taking the hill, its hard to not feel confident as a Phillies fan.

That's right, a Phillies fan feels confident.

Congratulations Roy Halladay, you just did the impossible.

Oh, and that no-hitter wasn't bad either.