Roy Halladay refused my interview request.
And now I like him even more.
On Friday, I approached Roy at his locker in Oakland to float the idea of talking about Tuesday's start against the Yankees. Whether he likes it or not, Halladay can't defuse the intrigue surrounding his assignment opposite A.J. Burnett. Still, he graciously declined.
In three seasons as a Blue Jay, Burnett never seemed to warm to the customers. In Yankee terms, he was Alex Rodriguez to Halladay's Derek Jeter. One could do no wrong, the other no right.
Now, after evolving as a top-tier pitcher thanks to lessons learned observing Halladay, Burnett has taken the wisdom to New York. It's like Luke Skywalker becoming a Jedi Knight and then wandering off to the Death Star for a bag full of Novian Rubies.
There are two reasons Halladay politely declined my request to help publicize this game:
1. He doesn't like to draw attention to himself, and ...
2. He views Tuesday's game like any other: just another start in the early stages of a very long season.
If we're to learn anything about Halladay's indifference, it's that he's ardently focused. And he knows the score. Burnett left for more money, but he also figured he had a better chance at winning in New York. And though it's only May, the Yankees hardly look like a championship-calibre team.
Meanwhile, up here in good ol' Canada, Halladay is the ace of the American League's best team, and has every intention of rolling the Yankees like he rolled the Angels, Orioles, White Sox, Twins, Indians, and Tigers.
Sounds like a game worth attending. Or, at the very least, watching on Rogers Sportsnet. Here's hoping you choose either option.
