Questions Remain for Halladay as Phillies Head North

    Roy Halladay and the Philadelphia Phillies wrapped up their Grapefruit League schedule this afternoon.  The Phillies topped the Blue Jays by a final score of 7 to 2 with the help of home runs from Chase Utley and Laynce Nix.  Halladay pitched mediocre in the game, after struggling for much of the spring.  Halladay struggled with command yet again, while his velocity was slightly up from previous starts.  In four and one-third innings pitched this afternoon, Halladay allowed two runs on eight hits while walking two and striking out six.  The Phillies now head north to play two more exhibition games against the Blue Jays before opening the season on April 1 in Atlanta.  After a disappointing 2012 for both Halladay and the Phillies, both will be looking for rebound seasons in 2013.
    In 2012, Halladay struggled as he fought through injuries for most of the season.  At the end of May, he took his first trip to the Disabled List since 2009, and struggled upon his return.  It was Halladay's worst season since 2000 when he amassed a 10.64 ERA, which resulted in him being sent all the way back to Class A ball to start 2001.  After changing his mechanics and his approach to pitching, Halladay became one of the best pitchers of the past decade.  Halladay returned to the majors and began racking up the accolades.  In his career, Halladay has been an All-Star eight different times, while also winning two Cy Young Awards, one in each league.  In the past decade Halladay has been possibly the best pitcher in the league.  A tenacious competitor with a legendary work ethic, Halladay could always be counted on the pitch late into the game and keep his team in the game even on the night's when he did not have his best stuff.  After a stellar first two seasons with the Phillies, things went awry for Halladay in 2012.
    After an early season injury, Halladay's command and velocity were never the same for the remainder of the season.  It was the worst season of his career since 2000, and he accounted for a 4.49 ERA, atrocious by Halladay's standards.  Halladay pitched less than two-hundred innings for the first time since 2005.  Since the end of last season, multiple questions have emerged about Halladay.  Speculation began that the 35 year old has simply begun to wear down and is no longer the same pitcher he once was.  Halladay altered his legendary off-season routine to be less strenuous on his body, which only added to concerns.  Spring Training came around, and Halladay has done little to quiet his doubters thus far.  After today's start, he finished Grapefruit League play with a 6.06 ERA, as he again struggled with diminishing velocity and lack of command. 
    The Phillies and Halladay now head north for their final exhibition games before Opening Day, both facing numerous questions.  Both will be searching for rebound seasons, and to get back on the successful track they were once on.  Halladay will need to regain his control and pin-point accuracy, especially with his diminished velocity, otherwise he may begin to fade into the distance as Cole Hamels takes over as the staff ace.  The Phillies will need to do their part too, and provide much more offense to back up their pitchers this season if they wish to return to their winning ways.  The time is coming in which fans will receive their answers to many questions that have been lingering during the off-season.  As Opening Day approaches, the anxiety builds as we wonder if 2012 was just a blip on the radar for Halladay and the Phillies, or an ominous sign of things to come.