Batter's Box Interactive Magazine - Doc Does It!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Doc fries the fish to perfection!! Roy Halladay has thrown a perfect game against the Florida Marlins! Congrats, Roy!!

Halladay struck out 11 and recorded 8 groundouts as the Phillies beat the Marlins 1-0 at Land Shark Stadium Saturday night. Pinch hitter Ronny Paulino was the final out as he grounded out to third to end the ball game. The Marlins sent three pinch-hitters to the plate in the ninth inning. Mike Lamb gave one a good ride to the warning track in centre but Shane Victorino was able to flag it down. Wes Helms then struck out before Paulino became the answer to the trivia question, "Who was the final out in Roy Halladay's perfect game. Doc threw 115 pitches, 72 for strikes, and lowered his earned run average to 1.99. That Cy Young award is not yours yet, Ubaldo Jimenez!!

Posted by #2JBrumfield on Saturday, May 29 2010 @ 09:32 PM EDT.

Doc Does It!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! | 32 comments | Create New Account

The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.

ayjackson - Saturday, May 29 2010 @ 09:34 PM EDT (#215760) #

Does Dave Van Horne still call Marlin games? El Doctoro, el perfecto!

uglyone - Saturday, May 29 2010 @ 09:34 PM EDT (#215761) #

1st of many no-nos for Roy in the NL, I think.

good stuff.

greenfrog - Saturday, May 29 2010 @ 09:44 PM EDT (#215763) #

Historic start in what is fast-becoming a legendary career. Only the 20th perfect game in MLB history. Fabulous!

Schad - Saturday, May 29 2010 @ 09:47 PM EDT (#215764) #

I'm grinning like an idiot, twenty minutes after the game ended. Almost twelve years after his first close call, he goes perfect. I'm just glad to have witnessed it.

Parker - Saturday, May 29 2010 @ 09:49 PM EDT (#215766) #

Outstanding!

It was only a matter of time, really. I'm just sorry he couldn't have done it in a Jays uniform.

Shrike - Saturday, May 29 2010 @ 09:52 PM EDT (#215767) #

Twenty perfect games in MLB history. I forget what the denominator is, but suffice it to say that a perfect game is a pretty rare feat. I would wager Doc is one of the top four or five pitchers to have ever pulled off the feat, after Randy Johnson, Cy Young, and Sandy Koufax.

Doc will hopefully wear a Blue Jays cap when he goes into the Hall.

Timbuck2 - Saturday, May 29 2010 @ 09:53 PM EDT (#215768) #

Ditto the "wish he could have done it for Jays" sentiment.

Fantastic accomplishment for Roy. I was at that game where he almost pitched a no-no against Detroit. It was heartbreaking but I'm glad he finally got it done.

King Ryan - Saturday, May 29 2010 @ 09:57 PM EDT (#215770) #

I was so thrilled to have watched that. I got MLBtv to start the season for the sole purpose of watching Doc and after missing his last couple starts had to tune in tonight. Just fantastic; I am so happy for him. I couldn't care less that he's not a Jay. The best pitcher in the world, no question.

.....and it won't hurt my fantasy team either! ;)

StephenT - Saturday, May 29 2010 @ 10:09 PM EDT (#215771) #

I just saw parts of the game.

I saw Halladay's 1st inning. He went 3-2 on the 1st batter, and the next pitch looked outside and the batter started walking to 1st-base, when the ump called strike three.

The Phillies announcers thought it really was a strike, and the batter was just trying to buy the call. They also thought the catcher Ruiz did a nice job of framing the pitch. Obviously, this turned out to be big. :-)

On the Marlins post-game, they were saying that Halladay actually had a lot of close calls, including seven 3-ball counts, and twice almost hit a batter.

There were lots of Jays references. Tommy Hutton was one of the Marlins announcers. (And his partner, Rich Waltz, also has done a few Jays games, I think on CBC.) They mentioned that Carlos Tosca (now the Marlins' bench coach) was Halladay's manager when he won the Cy Young in 2003. Hutton said the previous standout no-hitter he witnessed was Nolan Ryan's vs. the Jays in Texas.

Halladay was interviewed on the field after the game by Sarge Matthews (another former Jays announcer (on the radio), and one of the Phillies TV announcers this night). The interview was originally for Phillies TV but later replayed on the Marlins post-game. Halladay said by the 5th or 6th inning he was just going with whatever his catcher (Ruiz) called.

Thomas - Saturday, May 29 2010 @ 10:11 PM EDT (#215772) #

Congrats Roy. I couldn't be happier for him.

I do wish he could have done in a Jays uniform, but that's tiny potatoes. I'm one happy panda.

Thomas - Saturday, May 29 2010 @ 10:13 PM EDT (#215773) #

I only saw one inning, but I agree that it didn't seem - based on that and some of the aforementioned stats - that it was the best game he's ever thrown, or perhaps even thrown this year. However, a perfect game is a perfect game. I'm sure Halladay could have gone to a 3-ball count on all 27 batters for all he cares.

#2JBrumfield - Saturday, May 29 2010 @ 10:13 PM EDT (#215774) #

I was at that game where he almost pitched a no-no against Detroit.

Damn Bobby Higginson! I was at the one where Doc came close to a no-hitter against the Tigers in 2003 before ex-Jay/traitor Kevin Witt broke it up!

Mick Doherty - Saturday, May 29 2010 @ 11:01 PM EDT (#215778) #

Saw the last three innings on MLB network -- same deal with the Braden gem earlier this year.

I've probably only seen 20 or so Halladay starts, and all just on TV, but I tell you what, he didn't look nearly as dominant as I expected him to be when MLB switched over to the game in the seventh inning.

When I was a kid, my favorite player was Tom Seaver. Halladay is the first pitcher I remember since the late '70s about whom I think, every start, this will be a brilliant, low-scoring game. And I want to watch him make it happen.

And hey, a brief round of applause for Josh Johnson. Seven innings, seven hits, one (unearned!) run, one walk, six strikeouts. Is that, seriously now, the best pitching performance ever by the "loser" in a perfect game?

dan gordon - Saturday, May 29 2010 @ 11:13 PM EDT (#215779) #

Thare have now been 6 perfect games where no earned runs were scored by either team. The loser with the hardest luck was Bob Hendley, who was the opposing pitcher in Koufax's perfect game. Handley only gave up 1 hit. The only run scored on a walk, stolen base, stolen base and error as the catcher threw the ball into left field trying to get the runner at 3B. There were only 2 baserunners in the entire game, the run, and the hit that Hendley allowed. Same guy both times.

dan gordon - Saturday, May 29 2010 @ 11:24 PM EDT (#215780) #

In other interesting mlb news today, Angels' Kendry Morales hit a walk off grand slam in the 10th inning. As he came in to home plate he was mobbed by his teammates and broke his leg in the celebration!! Wow.

TamRa - Sunday, May 30 2010 @ 12:18 AM EDT (#215781) #

I read that and my first thought was "Overbay to the Angels!"

I'm not as down on him as a lot are but with the potential for playing one of the other hot bats at 1B (albeit giving up some defense) striking while the iron is hot would be worth looking into.

Magpie - Sunday, May 30 2010 @ 02:48 AM EDT (#215782) #

Well done, Doc.

I was also there for the Bobby Higginson game, but even better I was in the house for his masterpiece against the Twins back in 2005 - a two hit shutout, with 10 Ks and no BB. Both hits were infield singles - a bunt by Punto and a slow roller from Stewart. A better third baseman than Shea Hillenbrand probably gets the out. Only three balls were hit to the outfield all night long. Reed Johnson and Gabe Gross could have stayed in the dugout rather than go into the field while the Twins were hitting. Doc didn't need them...

rtcaino - Sunday, May 30 2010 @ 05:10 AM EDT (#215783) #

Bittersweet. Try to focus on the sweet.

But jeeze; Our Roy Halladay, finding all the success and happiness he could ask for in another jersey. I knew these situations would occur; but it is kind of like a dream girlfriend breaking up with us, and then realizing all her dreams with someone else. Even if they did all in their power to make things work. Meanwhile, we just wonder what could have become of our humble franchise with THE BEST PITCHER IN BASEBALL.

Bittersweet indeed.

FYI: this is the first of many depressing posts to come, as Roy reaches many personal and team milestones. If anyone can recommend some resources that help cope with loss or setbacks, that might be beneficial to our community's well-being.

rtcaino - Sunday, May 30 2010 @ 05:13 AM EDT (#215784) #

Even that picture, with Halladay and the championship banners...

Try to focus on the sweet,

Dave Till - Sunday, May 30 2010 @ 08:42 AM EDT (#215785) #

Meanwhile, we just wonder what could have become of our humble franchise with THE BEST PITCHER IN BASEBALL.

Especially since it turns out that the Jays' offense is actually competitive this year; whoda thunk it? Imagine what the Jays would be like right now with a front four of Halladay, Marcum, Romero and Cecil.

I think I might need to lie down now.

Congratulations to Roy; now, everybody in baseball will know what we knew all along: this guy is an ubermoundsman.

uglyone - Sunday, May 30 2010 @ 10:24 AM EDT (#215787) #

Especially since it turns out that the Jays' offense is actually competitive this year; whoda thunk it? Imagine what the Jays would be like right now with a front four of Halladay, Marcum, Romero and Cecil.

Our offense was pretty dang competitive last year as well, even though we dumped a bunch of good players halfway through the year. matching up nicely with what the likes of the Twins and Rays had, though a solid notch below what the Yanks/Sox/Angels had.

Imagine what we could have done LAST year with a front five of Halladay, Marcum, Romero, Litsch, Cecil/Rzep/McGowan.

vw_fan17 - Sunday, May 30 2010 @ 11:09 AM EDT (#215790) #

Not sure about perfect games, but in terms of no-hitters, I believe Harvey Haddix Jr. and someone else (from reading Guiness a LONG time ago as a kid - memory may be faulty) both had no-hitters through 12. HH Jr. allowed a hit in the 13th and lost..

StephenT - Sunday, May 30 2010 @ 11:11 AM EDT (#215791) #

The Jays are just half a game behind the Phillies in the standings.

Sports fan overload: A lot of Phillies fans actually missed watching the perfect game on TV because the Flyers were playing in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final.

Halladay's next start (Fri June 4) is at home, and the Flyers are also at home that night for Game 4 of their series.

Another Halladay gem that I haven't seen mentioned: Sept 6, 2003, Halladay took a no-hitter into the 8th inning and ended up throwing a 10-inning shutout with just 99 pitches. Some links on that game:

http://www.battersbox.ca/article.php?story=20030906035246999
http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/2003/B09060TOR2003.htm
http://www.cbc.ca/sports/story/2003/09/06/jays_tigers030906.html

Spifficus - Sunday, May 30 2010 @ 11:29 AM EDT (#215793) #

Meh. Enough of the morose what-ifs. It's time to celebrate this historic accomplishment, not to have a wake.

I agree with the sentiment that Halladay didn't seem to be his most-dominant, the command was just a bit off, and he was helped with a few calls down and in.

Then, you sit back and think, there were what, 3 balls hit hard all night? The closest thing to a hit was a ground ball to short that Maybin almost beat out? 11 Ks? Just how much am I expecting out of Halladay if this isn't his most dominating? I don't think I'd hold deities to such standards.

Pure awesomeness.

zeppelinkm - Sunday, May 30 2010 @ 11:59 AM EDT (#215796) #

Coming online last night and seeing a headline on the first ball site I went to "Perfect Roy!", was one of the most pure feelings of unbridled joy i've ever experienced.

My gf was trying to tell me something and I just started, essentially, freaking out. She slowly stopped trying to tell me whatever it was and started going "What?! What is it!? Would you tell me what's going on!" as I sat and stared at what I was reading in a stupor.

What an unbelievable feel. What a night!

Hat's off to Roy H! as my favorite band liked to say.

Moe - Sunday, May 30 2010 @ 03:27 PM EDT (#215801) #

Congrats to Roy. What an amazing feat. I was in the camp of those who thought he would never do it. Not because he is not great but because of all the balls in the strike zone, all those groundballs that so easily sneak by a defender.

And just on the day after Ricky Ro throws the 2nd shut-out in less than a month. Small consolidations for seeing Roy do his feat in a red jersey.

Gerry - Sunday, May 30 2010 @ 04:16 PM EDT (#215804) #

Hey #2.... only 19 exclamation marks. You need 8 more for a full 27.

Jeremy - Sunday, May 30 2010 @ 05:30 PM EDT (#215808) #

I would think Bob Hendley's performance in Koufax's perfect game was better. Eight innings, one hit, one unearned run, one walk and three K's.

And then five days later, he outdueled Sandy 2-1 in the rematch.

Jeremy - Sunday, May 30 2010 @ 05:32 PM EDT (#215809) #

Oops. That was supposed to be replying to Mick's comment, about the best losing performance vs. a perfect game.

92-93 - Monday, May 31 2010 @ 02:56 PM EDT (#215897) #

We're all very happy for Roy. Now please change the banner, this is getting ridiculous.

#2JBrumfield - Monday, May 31 2010 @ 04:40 PM EDT (#215921) #

Really, 92-93? You have to come in here and piss on the parade!?! If you don't like the banner, no one is forcing you to visit here. Maybe other sites appreciate this kind of bitchiness but we don't! Smarten up or take your act elsewhere!

zeppelinkm - Friday, June 04 2010 @ 12:50 PM EDT (#216183) #

I, for one, enjoy coming to this site and seeing Roy at the top.

I will be disappointed the day I come and he's gone (although I do accept that this is a reality).

He's one Doctor I can't get enough of!

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The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.