The Doctor is in...

Roy "Doc" Halladay has to be the starter for the All Star game. This guy is way too good.

The reason why I missed my first daily post since I opened this blog is because I went to the Skydome and saw Halladay make the Yankees look like minor leaguers. He pitched a two hit shut out and Derek Jeter called him, "the best starter in baseball".

The big right-hander has some gaudy stats:

1. 7 Complete Games (more than any other TEAM in the Majors)
2. 146-1/3 IP (leads MLB, next closest in the AL is 17-1/3 behind)
3. 2 Shutouts (tied for MLB lead)
4. 121 Ks (leads the AL now that CC is gone)
5. 2.07 Ground out to air out ratio (leads AL by 0.23)
6. 1.00 WHIP (second in the AL)
7. 5.76 K/BB ratio (leads MLB by 0.46)
8. 1.29 BB/9 (tied for MLB lead)
9. 14.06 Pitches per Innings Pitched (Third in the AL)

(If you heard a loud bang it was probably your jaw hitting the floor.)

Still the Blue Jays ace has never started an All-Star game. In 2003, his Cy Young year, former teammate Esteban Loaiza started. He was in line for the honour in 2005, but right before the all-star break, now teammate Kevin Mench lined a ball off of Doc's shin and ended his season.

This year Terry Francona has the chance to right a wrong that has been long overdue. Halladay deserves the start so the entire baseball audience can marvel at one of the greatest pitchers of our era.





By the way, if you're wondering why I have not put in my two cents about the Brett Favre situation it is because I am waiting for something official to happen. Then, and only then, will I rant.