Sometimes It's Painful to Be Right

I can't tell you  how many comments I received from angry Mets fans over the past two years when I lobbied for the Mets to go get Roy Halladay. I wanted to give up prospects. Give up every day players. Give up pretty much anyone to get a Halladay/Santana tandem at the top of the rotation.

The arguments I heard included comments about Halladay's age, he's never been to the playoffs,  you're wasting the future of the franchise on a small market pitcher...yada, yada, yada.

And here we have proof positive: Roy Halladay is the best pitcher in baseball. Period. It's not just the fact that he pitched a no-hitter last night. Or that it was his second no-no of the year. It's the fact that he's a winner. Every time he steps on the mound you're guaranteed 8+ innings of 3 runs or less (most likely less) and the guys a fighter.

Omar could have saved his job if he got Halladay. I'm not saying the Mets would have been World Series champs, but they'd be a heck of a lot better.

So I leave you with a post from July 2009...
http://metslifers.blogspot.com/2009/07/mets-have-to-get-roy-halladay.html

...and a confession...I was cheering for Halladay...and the Phils...

The Importance of Pitching

On a night when the Mets had anything but good pitching, the top pitcher of the National League proved just how important an ace in the hole can be.

Roy Halladay threw a perfect game for the Phils on Saturday night in a game where he got one mere run of support. Meanwhile in Milwaukee the Mets scored 6 runs but lost 8-6 thanks in most part to a 4 spot by Nieve in the first and typical pitching from Oliver Perez.

Over the last year and a half Bryan and I have been a broken record about Roy Halladay and how the Mets needed to get a guy like him. I was shocked at some of the responses and comments from other Mets fans saying he was "too old" or "too much money" or that the Mets didn't "need" him.

I offer Saturday's performance as proof of the error of these thoughts. While the Mets scramble to find a decent pitcher on the closest street corner, the Phillies have a guy that didn't just throw a perfect game but has been lights out from Opening Day. He doesn't need run support. He doesn't even have to worry about the bullpen blowing a lead because Halladay pitches complete games as often as John Maine walks the leadoff batter.

In only 48 hours, the Mets have gone from sheer dominance over the Phils and sending them packing with their tails between their legs to being a measly one game over .500 and the Phils riding high.

The difference? Pitching. The Mets felt success when their pitching overachieved, but now fall from their cresting wave of victory as their arms on the mound come back down to earth.

Until a reliable rotation can be reconciled, Mets fans should break out their wet suits because the ebb and flow of this season will continue to ride the current tide of victories followed by crashing defeats.

Mets Starting Rotation in One Word: Shambles

The Mets starting rotation is in complete shambles.

John Lackey is off the table as it appears he's signing with the Red Sox. Roy Halladay is evidently in Philadelphia talking contract extension with the Fightin' Phils. And who are the Mets eyeing? The fearsome combo of Joel Pineiro and Jason Marquis.

While Omar and team have been busy signing every catcher born in the early 70's, the top two pitching options on the market are quickly being taken off the table. So where does that leave the Mets rotation? Absolutely nowhere.

The Mets will open the 2010 with the same disarray of arms that started the stellar season that will be remembered as the 2009 campaign. So what if we sign Pineiro or Marquis? We just dropped Tim Redding and here are two guys of equal talent. Okay, they're a step up from Redding, but still #4 or #5 starters at best.

I hope and pray that I'm wrong, but the Mets starting rotation next year will be Santana, Pelfrey, Maine Perez, & #5 starter that we'll probably overpay for.

This is not rocket science. You play in one of the most cavernous parks in the league. Your starting pitching lacks anyone who can support Johan Santana. You have 3 starters who are as inconsistent as Dunkin' Donuts coffee. But yet the first item on the docket is to secure a catcher?

The only good thing that will come from this is Omar's early exit. Start looking forward to 2011.

Halladay for Pelfrey and Tejada? Do It.

In a post on Metsblog.com this morning, Matt Cerrone wrote about the Mets chances of trading for Roy Halladay. According to Cerrone's sources the pieces the Mets would have to part with to get Halladay included Mike Pelfrey and up and coming minor leaguer Ruben Tejada.

I say, "where do I sign?"

Seriously. If that's a legitimate request and a realistic offer, I say do it and throw in Luis Castillo as a bonus.

Pelfrey was a guy that I thought had the potential to be a real stud for the Mets well into the future, but his lack of mental fortitude and total inconsistency over the last two seasons have made me think otherwise. Tejada is a potential All Star, but the key word is potential.

What surprised me the most was there was no mention of FMart, Flores or even Niese, but a Pelfrey/Tejada of Halladay deal should be a no-brainer as long as the Mets workout a contract extension to lock up Halladay for more than one year.

Now these rumors are here today and gone tomorrow, but this could be the best deal the Mets could make and set the team on the right track for 2010.

The Mets and Holliday and Halladay

The playoffs have only just begun, but those who follow the Mets are already dreaming of what changes can be made to the ball club to better themselves for next year.

The two names you will hear most this offseason is Holliday and Halladay. Besides being a pronunciation nightmare, these two players are the dream of Mets fans and management and the media loves to buzz about these two high price talents.

It's highly unlikely that the Mets will be able to get either or both of these guys. But since conjecture is an accepted art form in the blogosphere, let's say the Mets are able to get both Holliday and Halladay. Would that be enough to set the Mets on the right path in 2010?

It would absolutely help with their need for a #2 starter. Roy Halladay and Johan Santana would be potentially the best starting pitching tandem since Johnson & Schilling. Holliday would help with an extra bat in the lineup and give some protection to Wright and Beltran.

But is it enough? It might be. The Mets would need to make some minor moves to get some backup infielders. And of course you have the debate about what to do at first base, but I think it might be enough to help the Mets get back on course.

I would still sign Delgado to a one year incentive laden contract, which would allow we to have Murphy and Pagan come off the bench or start once a week. But what this gives you is an interesting lineup of Reyes, Castillo, Wright, Beltran, Holliday, Delgado, Franceour, "Catcher."

That to me is a very interesting lineup to watch if everyone is healthy and returns back to normal (ahem, David Wright). Then your starting rotation would be Santana, Halladay and 3 other goons. But the good part is you've now pushed Perez/Maine/Pelfrey down in the pecking order to only be a #4 or #5 starter.

Ah, to dream. That's what the off season is all about. Instead we'll probably end up with Adam LaRoche and Randy Wolf.

Fixing the Mets: Starting Pitching

The final week of the 2009 season is here. I've never looked forward to the end of baseball as I have this season. So it is only appropriate that at Mets Lifer we focus on what needs to be done beyond the 2009 campaign to position the Mets to compete, not just next year but in the years ahead.

Over the course of the next week, we will take a look at the different aspects of the Mets that need to be addressed and debate about what should be done to improve this team in the future.

And so we begin with the most important aspect of the Mets, starting pitching.

At this point the 2010 starting rotation looks like this: Johan Santana and four other guys who aren't really that good. Oliver Perez has us dreaming about the days of Victor Zambrano. John Maine's health is a question mark. Pelfrey is a nut job. And Tim Redding can pitch really well in September when you're out of a pennant race but not so good any other time of year.

But talent isn't the only need the Mets have. A new teacher is a necessity.

Dan Warthen has to go. Warthen's tenure started smoothly when he briefly "fixed" Oliver Perez after Rick Peterson's zen philosophy had Ollie P in fits, but since then Warthen has done little to warrant him sticking around. Pelfrey's utter decline does not bode well for Mr. Warthen. Before Maine got hurt, his performance was also on the decline.

I'm sure Warthen is a nice guy, but with so many question marks in the starting rotation and a number of younger arms that could potentially get a lot of starts next year (i.e. Niese, Nieve, etc.) a solid, proven pitching coach is exactly what the Mets need.

Enter Dave Duncan.

Duncan is known for working extremely well with young arms and being able to mold pitchers into solid, reliable arms. Any guy who can turn Adam Wainwright into a Cy Young candidate is worth a look. Duncan's contract with the Cards expires in the offseason and he should be the #1 target for the Mets.

Solid pitching never goes out of style. I don't care what size the stadium is or how many power bats you sign through free agency, starting pitching makes or breaks a ballclub. The Mets have succeeded when they had starting pitching and I truly believe Duncan is a guy that can help develop the young arms and instruct the weaker ones that need tweaking.

After signing Duncan, the Mets have to make a play for Roy Halladay. The Santana/Halladay tandem would be unbelievable and would almost guarantee the Mets to have a fighting chance in almost 40% of their games.

Halladay will not come cheap, but I am convinced he's worth every penny. A lot of people whine about the Mets having to give up all their prospects for him, but look at how that worked out with Santana. Other than Carlos Gomez can you even remember what other prospects were involved?

Jon Lackey will be a name that's tossed around but when it comes down to it Lackey isn't on the same plain as Halladay, and if Halladay is available via a trade the Mets absolutely should make every effort to get him.

Those two moves, Duncan & Halladay, would be a fantastic starting point for the Mets. With Santana and Halladay as your top 2 starters, the Mets would then be able to explore having an all out battle royal for the final 3 spots between Perez, Maine, Pelfrey, Niese, Figueroa, Nieve and others. I wouldn't mind the Mets pursuing another reliable arm as a #5 starter, someone like Randy Wolf, but I'd be pleased if the Mets only get Duncan and Halladay and move on from there.

But if the Mets start spring training with Mike Pelfrey and Oliver Perez as their top starters after Johan Santana, I'm afraid come September 2010 we'll be in much the same situation as we find ourselves today.

Trying to Fix the Mets for 2010

There's more than a month of season left, but I'm already looking for hope in 2010. However, there is work that can be done in 2009 to set the stage for a better shot at returning to prominence in the years ahead.

I don't have all the answers and it's unlikely all of these elements will fall into place, but if even half of these suggestions come to fruition I think the Mets will be better off in 2010 because of it.

In my opinion, here's what the Mets need to do:

• Get a new training staff - Come on. No brainer.
• Trade Sheffield, Delgado, and Wagner before the 2009 season is out - Obviously the key to this is that Delgado & Wagner come back off the DL, but even if they can get some low level prospects for them the Mets have to try and get something for them before they just let them go to free agency. I'm not for keeping Sheffield in 2010. Two words: Moises Alou. I've learned my lesson.
• Try and deal J.J. Putz in the offseason for a first baseman - I don't believe Daniel Murphy is the long term solution for the Mets at 1B. I think Putz is worth something to a lot of teams out there. The money will be the issue for many of them, but even if the Mets have to pay a portion of Putz's salary and can in turn get a major league ready 1B, I think it would be well worth it. If the Mets have to package Murphy or a Sullivan to make it work, so be it.
• Go after one of two Roys - That would be Roy Halladay or Roy Oswalt. Halladay is the prize catch, but I think Oswalt in a new situation might be just as worthwhile. The Mets obviously need a #2 starter to follow Santana. The best option is Halladay and I'm willing to trade Parnell or FMart and others to get him for the next 4 years. If Oswalt can be had for cheaper than what's being asked for Halladay, that might be the best fit. But at some point in the next four months the Mets need to cover for the mistake they made with Oliver Perez last season.
• Fire Omar Minaya and Jerry Manuel - I really like Jerry Manuel. I think he's been unlucky with all that has happened, but I think the Mets need to cleanse themselves and start fresh. The past two Septembers and this year's debacle is the writing on the wall that the Mets need to go in a new direction and the simple way to do that is with a new manager and a new vision in the front office. You want to go get LaRussa, bring back Bobby V, or whomever, the end result is that a change is needed.
• Focus on pitching and fundamentals- Unless you sign a big bopper like a Prince Fielder or Adam Dunn, the Mets should build around sound minds and sound arms. We've seen how badly a team can be when they don't have fundamentally sound guys in the field and Citi Field is built for good pitching. This is who the Mets should be.
  

Mets Trade Rumor For Roy Halladay Is Bogus

All my angst and ajida is now subsiding. It appears that the rumor about the Mets turning down a trade for Roy Hallady is most likely bogus.

Via Keith Law's Twitter feed, he posts: "Mets-Jays trade report (Jays offered Doc for Martinez, Tejada, Niese, Parnell) is bogus. Shot down by multiple sources."

(Thanks to Brad of Bugs & Cranks for pointing me in this direction and saving me from self-mutilation.)

I know I'm not exactly Bob Woodward with my journalistic sources, but this sounds about right. I'm hopeful the true story will come out in due time, but this deal was too good to be to true. It's hard to imagine why the Mets wouldn't jump on a deal like this for Roy Halladay, but then again the Mets have done dumber things.

So I will calm myself down and hopefully this stirs the pot in the Mets front office about their need to get Roy Halladay.

Mets Blow Deal For Roy Halladay

This is idiotic.

Jon Heyman of SI.com is reporting that the Mets turned down (that's right, the Mets turned it down) a deal for Roy Halladay (that Halladay; you know, the second best pitcher in baseball?).

Want to hear who the Blue Jays were asking for? The Blue Jays wanted Fernando Martinez (injured), Bobby Parnell (okay, sure), Jon Niese (reasonable), and 17-year old SS Ruben Tejada (who?).

FMart, Parnell & Niese are all reasonable requests for the current leading contender for the Cy Young. Tejada is a kid everyone hopes becomes great, but he's 17 years old and still a long ways from getting an answer to that one.

The Mets and Omar Minaya haven't confirmed or denied this rumor, but if it's true this will be possibly the worst move of the season.

Why?

Because the Blue Jays are going to head down the parkway and go trade Halladay to the Phillies who will then sign him to a 5-year deal and we'll have to face this guy five times a year for the next half decade.

This trade would have energized the fan base. The fans would have forgiven the Mets for this season's debacle and start looking forward to next year with a healthy lineup and the most devastating tandem in baseball.

I don't even care that the Mets won last night. I'm so infuriated that the Mets had the potential to get Roy Halladay and didn't do it. Where are all those "experts" who said the Mets didn't have the pieces to get Halladay?

Omar, hit redial on the bat phone and get the Blue Jays GM. Get this done and you'll save your job.

Insult to Injury for Mets Fans: Mets Reject Jays' Offer For Halladay

As if this 2009 season wasn't bad enough...I nearly jumped through the screen when I saw that John Heyman reported that the Mets rejected the Jay's offer for Roy Halladay. I can't even believe Halladay was a possiblity for the Mets let alone, they turned down a proposal for him. According to Heyman's report, which apparently was not denied by Omar Minaya, the Blue Jays asked for Fernando Martinez, Bobby Parnell, Jon Niese and SS Ruben Tejada. If I'm Minaya, I'm like, where do I sign? I can't beleive we have the chance to get the best right hander in the sport and we're just gonna pass on him. For what? So he can go to the Phillies? Somehow, some way, Minaya and the Mets need to get back on the phone and make this happen. I don't care what it takes, just get it done.

Having Santana and Halladay at the front of the rotation might possibly be the greatest 1-2 punch in the history of the game, let alone in 2009/2010. And listen, I'm not thinking this move would get us back in the race this year, but I no doubt would be dreaming about the 2010 season like tonight if they pulled this off. The Mets could tank the rest of the games this year for all I care, I'd still be fired up knowing we have Halladay going into next season.

I never actually thought the Mets would even be at the table so I never really considered Halladay as a real option. I know Dave has been pulling for a deal and rightfully so, I just can't believe Minaya said 'no.'

Look, with Santana and Halladay pitching 40% of the Mets' games next season, we can realistically have a chance at winning 33% of our games with just two guys. Think about that! Plus, if we ever find a way to get back to the post season, and how could they not get in (I know, they are the Mets), think about those two guys in a short series? It would be ridiculous. We all know pitching wins games. Go get him! What are we really giving up anyway? Prospects? Come on, the fact is, this organization produces just about 2 good ball players a generation. I want to win a championship and I want to win now (or next year). Guys like Halladay don't come around often, and when he's made available to you, you go get him. Period.

I mean what are we really talking about? Niese? Let's face it, he's not a can't miss prosepect, he's projected probably as a #3 at best - in fact, we'd probably sign for him to be just that and be happy about it. F. Mart? He looked pretty overmatched this year, I know he's still young, but come on, he hasn't exactly lit it up in the minors either. Besides, you can always find an outfield bat. Ruben Tejada? 17 years old. 17! He's at least 3 years away from the big leagues and...well...he's only 17. Oh, and by the way, we do have Jose Reyes at short, one of the two really good players this franchise has produced in a generation. Parnell? I like him, he throws gas, and I do think he'll be a good major leaguer. In fact, he might be the toughest one for me to give up in the deal. He has the potential to be a good closer but, we already have one, a very good one actually. Look, I'm a huge fan of letting the kids come up and develop into good home-grown NY Mets, but it so rarely happens, and I'm so tired of losing, that I, like Dave, would do whatever it takes to make this happen.

Again, Omar has to pull the trigger on this deal. He cannot let this go. If Halladay ends up going to Philly, the backlash would be so harsh on this franchise, that I truly believe it will take a long time to recover. Plus, if we can't beat the Phillies now, and the last two season for the matter without Halladay, then how are we going to beat them with him? Tell me, just how are we going to get to the post season with Roy Halladay on the Phillies?

And I really hope this isn't about money. Delgado and Wagner come off the books after this year. That's $24 million right there. Halladay I believe is due to make $14 million in 2010. That gives them $10 million to work with. If they don't do this, I will lose all faith in the future of this organization. If they don't know enough about the game, and the business for that matter, to get Roy Halladay when he's right there in front of you, then I don't know that they'll ever get anything. Memo to the Wilpons: Halladay is not Victor Zambrano.

Let's hope the movement becomes so big on this deal, much like the Mike Piazza trade in '98. We cannot let this die down. Blogs, the media, Boomer & Carton, even Francessa have to get on the horn and force the Wilpons' hand on this. Please make this happen!

Mets Need to Sink or Swim

And now back to our regularly scheduled programming.

The hoopla and disappointment that was the All Star festivities is now over. It's time to get back to baseball that really matters, and the pain and suffering that comes with it.

The Mets have the luxury of opening up the second half of the season in Mordor. The rival Atlanta Braves play host to the Mets for a 4 game series starting tonight. Nothing like jumping in head first.

I'm ready for the Mets to either sink or swim. I don't want to this season to be drawn out and the questions of "wait til Delgado/Reyes/Beltran return" to be looming over our heads. I want the Mets to either come out of the gate with some fight or to just quickly fade into oblivion.

Just don't string us along only to have our hopes crushed in another September disappointment.

I'd rather have the Mets 10 games back at the end of this weekend than still be 6 games back at the end of the month. All that will do is give us hope that when our injured players return we'll make a run. It will give the front office the luxury of not dealing with trade talks or making tough roster moves because they're "waiting."

A series in Atlanta is the perfect litmus test. The Mets are notoriously awful in Atlanta. If this team can win 3 out of 4 games there, it would be miraculous and spark a fire in this club and the fan base heading into the second half.

If this team gets swept, it will be painful, but we'll be better off for it because we'll finally realize this team is going nowhere.

But in spite of all this, we still need to get Roy Halladay.

Quit Being Short Sighted About Roy Halladay

Ever since I started on my Roy Halladay soap box I've got Mets fans telling me that I'm ignoring the real issue which is lack of hitting, I've got Phillies fans mocking me thinking that Halladay will make us a contender & I've got my wife telling me that Roy Halladay is my new girlfriend.

Well you're all correct, sort of.

You can't think of adding Roy Halladay as a short term fix to the Mets woes this season. Without a doubt our offense is atrocious. We lack any sense of clutch. We hit into more double plays than Julio Franco did. We need to fix our offense. But honestly there's not much that can done to fix it until (a) some of our best offensive players are off the deal and (b) we get to the offseason and can unload some contracts and sign some free agents.

Oh and by the way, if you think offense is our only issue did you happen to see Livan pitch last night? Or what about his start before that? Or the one before that? Or perhaps Oliver Perez at any point this season? Or Redding last night? Or Redding the start before that? Or Pelfrey's last start? Catch my drift?

Getting Roy Halladay is not a short term fix. If the Mets traded for him this season, I still believe that we'd fall short of the playoffs. He's not a fix for this season. There is no fix for this season unless there's a witch doctor who can heal muscles, bones and slumping bats.

Halladay is a fix for the next several seasons when you have healthy players, some maturing youngsters, and few offseason moves. The Mets absolutely, positively have to upgrade their offense, but it probably won't be done until the offseason when they'll have Delgado & Wagner off the books and can look at addressing their needs at first base and in the outfield.

But for the first time in a long time, the Mets won't have to worry about pitching as much as they have in the past. Our starting rotation would consist of the two most dominant pitchers in the NL (if not both leagues). Our bullpen would be solid with KRod & Putz still around. So the focus can then turn to the offense.

If you don't get Halladay you still need a starting pitcher this offseason unless you feel that Maine/Perez/Pelfrey/Livan is the rotation you want to go to the mattresses with for the next 3 seasons.

Acquiring Halladay drastically improves the Mets rotation, prevents the Phillies from acquiring a dominant ace, and allows you to not worry about your pitching staff in the offseason so you can focus on the offense.

Forget about the 2009 season. No moves made this year will send this team to the playoffs. The Mets need their injured players to return and for their existing players to be more consistent.

Halladay will not solve our 2009 problems, but he will absolutely help the Mets in the years to come if they can sign him to a multi-year deal.

A Post A Day for Roy Halladay - Reason #1

I've decided to make it my mission to be obnoxious about the Mets need to sign Roy Halladay. There are an infinite amount of reasons why the Mets need to go out and get this guy.

I could be commenting on last night's debacle, but why bother? It would be the same type of post I wrote on Tuesday or Wednesday or Friday of last week or Thursday of the week before. You catch my drift.

So instead I'm starting a series of posts for Roy Halladay. Here's reason #1 why the Mets need to get Halladay -  Oliver Perez becomes your #5 starter.

The Mets right now have a rotation of #5 starters. You got Livan. You got Redding. You got Nieve. You got Perez.

Adding Halladay adds another stud to your rotation that then looks something like this (when everyone's healthy): Santana, Halladay, Pelfrey, Maine, & Perez.

No more relying on Perez to be a #2 or Maine to be a #3 or even Pelfrey to be a #2 type of starter. You have to horses you can bet on day in and day out. When's the last time the Mets had something like that? Think about it and you'll find that when the Mets make the playoffs, it's because they have two reliable starters they can count on.

Prepare for More Pain and Sufferring if the Phillies Get Roy Halladay

I'm warning you, Omar. If the Phillies get Roy Halladay, you are out of job and Mets fans are in a world of hurt for years to come.

People keep telling me that Roy Halladay will not fix the Mets problems this year. You're absolutely right. Forget this year. Let's focus on the years to come.

If the Phillies are able to trade for Halladay, they will have 1-2 punch in their rotation that can't be matched in the NL with Halladay as their #1 starter and Cole Hamels as #2. Add to that the potential that J.A. Happ is showing and the Mets will have to face at least one of these 3 guys every time they play.

Meanwhile the Mets will still have the best pitcher in baseball, Johan Santana, but we're then left with our potluck of Pelfrey, Perez, & Maine as #2 guys.

Halladay is the best investment you're going to find east of Albert Pujols. It's not like the Blue Jays are asking for Wright, Reyes & Beltran for him. They want prospects who may or may not pan out. We're talking guys who are in double A right now.

Remember how untouchable Lastings Milledge was? Now look at him. There are no guarantees when it comes to prospects. Chances are they won't become the next Manny Ramirez, Josh Beckett or Mariano Rivera.

Give me Roy Halladay for the next five years and the Mets will have the best pitching tandem in baseball. It's the smartest, safest investment in these troubled times. Pitchers like Halladay don't come around very often.

Grab Roy Halladay while you can or else we'll be dealing with his complete game shutouts during the heart of a pennant race for the next several seasons.

The Mets Have to Get Roy Halladay

I'm telling you right now the Mets have to get this done. They HAVE TO.

Via Metsblog.com, according to Jon Heyman of SI.com "a deal for Blue Jays RHP Roy Halladay will certainly cost some combination of Holt, Mejia, Davis or Martinez, and so a deal with the Mets is not likely to happen." That's just ludicrous. Plain vile, egregious thinking.

If Roy Halladay is seriously available the Mets need to let go of their coveted prospects and go get the second best pitcher in baseball. Can you imagine a Halladay/Santana tandem? I just got chills.

I hear the argument about his age, and how the Mets always give up on prospects to soon. Understood, but this isn't a chance the Mets are taking. This is a lock it up, guaranteed win.

Look at all the prospects we gave up for Santana. So far looks like we're on the winning end of that one. FMart may turn out to be a great player. Same can be said for Flores. But then again they might not. Halladay is already a great player and will be for the next several years.

The Mets are a franchise that has proven success when they have a stellar starting pitching tandem. Koosman & Seaver. Gooden & Darling. Leiter & Hampton/Reed. This is a franchise (not to mention a ballpark) that is built and succeeds with pitching.

The alternative? The Phillies sign Halladay. That's what is going to happen if the Mets don't get on the phone right now and make this happen.

Santana/Halladay for the next 5 years will give you 30+ wins a season, rest your bullpen and give you 18 innings of quality pitching when you throw in the fact that KRod/Putz are there for the 8th & 9th.

This has to be done. FMart, Murphy, Evans, Flores, Holt, or whoever they want (how 'bout Castillo?). Omar Minaya better be on the phone with the Blue Jays right now. If Halladay is a Phillie this year, we'll be hating ourselves for the next half a decade.