Roy Halladay was once viewed as being the most-dominant pitcher in all of baseball. He strung together ten years of baseball dominance as he posted a 170-75 record between 2002 and 2011. During which time he racked up two Cy Young awards, threw a perfect game, a playoff game no-hitter, made eight all-star game appearances and struck fear into batters league wide. Halladay led the league in wins twice and complete games for an absurd seven season; five of which came consecutively.

At the peak of Halladay’s dominance, he possessed a 90-plus MPH cut-fastball that was near unhittable, while his control was pin-point and his command of the game was unmatched. Sadly those days appear to be in the rear-view mirror for Halladay. The now 36-year old is showing signs of arm fatigue as his fastball now tops out in the high-80’s while the action and arm-delivery on the cutter has diminished greatly. The change-up is still working, but is not nearly as effective as hitters need not worry about that mid-90’s fastball any longer.

Last season was a particularly low-point for Halladay as he struggled with his control, battled through injury and ended up with a disappointing 11-8 record with a ballooned 4.49 ERA. Many were prepared to write off that year for the great pitcher; however, the early indications out of spring training this season lend one to believe that there is cause for concern among the Philly faithful.

In five spring training games Halladay has pitched a total of 12 innings; during which time he has faced fringe major league talent and Triple-A players. Despite the inferior level of competition, Halladay has struggled mightily as he is limping around with a 6.75 ERA, 9 earned runs surrendered, 3 surrendered homeruns and a 1.667 WHIP. Project these numbers out over a nine inning game and they look even worse; 9.8 hits, 2.3 home runs, 5.3 walks and 7.5 strikeouts per are a far cry from the Halladay-esque numbers that we are accustomed to.

With opening-day 2013 mere days away, Roy Halladay is nowhere near ready to take the mound for the Phillies. Albeit Halladay projects as the Phillies number three starter in a rotation that already boasts Cole Hamels and Cliff Lee, he doesn’t look anything like the pitcher that once anchored the rotation. Halladay should get another start in prior to opening day and depending on whom he faces and how well that outing goes, that should dictate how Halladay opens the season.

The optimists and faithful fans in Philadelphia are clinging to the hope that a 36-year old pitcher, who has shown himself to be in decline since last year, can rebound and defy the hands of father time for another season. In reality, Halladay is likely headed for a trip to the disabled list to start the season as the Phillies will want Halladay to regain his arm-strength prior to taking his regular starts in the rotation. The baseball season is too long to worry about wins in April and May; particularly now that two wildcards are awarded.

This season the Phillies will pay Halladay a whopping $20 million regardless of how he pitches. The interesting side-note to this is that the Phillies have a vested salary option on Halladay for the 2014 season at another $20 million hit. For Halladay to trigger that vested option he must pitch in 225 innings this season and he cannot finish the season on the disabled list. I think the Phillies have an ulterior motive in placing Halladay on the disabled list as any stint would severely impede his ability to get his 225 innings of work.

Not only are the Philly fans seeing a Roy Halladay in decline, they could very well be watching him in his last season in Philadelphia. The next contract that Halladay signs won’t come close to his current pay as he is likely going to have to accept a huge pay-cut to continue his big-league career; given the choices Halladay may very well decide to hang up the cleats.

There is no doubt that Halladay will toe the rubber for the Phillies this year and he will earn his 200th career win to put him in that illustrious group of hurlers. If this is the tail-end of Halladay’s career then it has been a great one. His career accomplishments will earn him serious Hall of Fame consideration. Sadly for those who weren’t privy to the Halladay of yesteryear, the days of dominance are gone and they are bearing witness to a former great who is slowly fading into the baseball’s history books.