Doc

Well, Roy Halladay is gone.

It had been a foregone conclusion for some time now. Roy had, on two prior occasions, signed discounted deals to stay with the Jays, and what with him turning 33 next year and the Jays being nowhere close to the playoffs (again,) it was clear he wasn't going to do it again. Halladay wants a chance to win something while he's on top of his game.

Alex Anthopolous did well for himself, trading Halladay's 2010 season to Philadelphia for some quality prospects, but it still hurts. Since Delgado left, Halladay has been virtually my only reason for tuning into Jays games. I would literally build my schedule around his starts. Go to the gym today? Maybe, who's starting? Tallet...okay, gym it is. Halladay? Screw the gym, I'm staying home and watching the doctor operate.

I cannot predict how my Blue Jays fandom will fare next year. It seemed every year I found myself becoming less a Jays fan and more a Halladay fan. With the team slashing payroll left and right this off-season, it looks to be a woeful season next year for Toronto. Not only have they lost Doc, but they have made several "additions" that just say "we're not trying." John Buck, Alex Gonzalez, and Joey Gathright? Alright, 100 losses, here we come!

The pitching is somewhat exciting for next year, with a lot of young (cheap) starters. I am interested in seeing what we'll get from Ricky Romero, Mark Rzepczynski, and Brett Cecil. I do wonder how Jesse Litsch, Shaun Marcum and (maybe even) Dustin McGowan recover from their injuries. But without Halladay -- I just don't know.

We will never again have another guy like him. It was such a treat watching a starter who had a chance at a complete game almost every time out. A starter that worked so quickly I sometimes would go to the washroom and miss his entire inning. As much as I'm excited about Romero, Cecil et al, none of them will ever be Roy Halladay.

Maybe I'll just buy MLB.tv and follow the Phillies...