Phillies Notebook: Phillies await results of Roy Halladay's medical exam

SAN FRANCISCO - A week from his 36th birthday, Roy Halladay sat in a doctor's office in Los Angeles and couldn't escape wondering about his future.

Halladay was examined by Dr. Neal ElAttrache at the offices of Dr. Lewis Yocum yesterday, a day after being placed on the 15-day disabled list with right shoulder inflammation. Before last night's game in San Francisco, the Phillies said there would be no update on Halladay's test results until today.

And so, they wait.

"I expect to hear something before we go home tonight," said a hopeful Charlie Manuel.

The Phillies manager obviously didn't want to worry about losing any more sleep, wondering about the severity of Halladay's injury.

Since Halladay is almost 36, and since he's thrown more than 40,000 pitches in his 16-year career, it's obvious why people are concerned. At some point, he might have no more pitches left to throw.

Former major league pitcher Rick Sutcliffe, an analyst for ESPN, sent shockwaves through Philadelphia when he became the first person to suggest that Halladay could consider retiring. On ESPN, Sutcliffe said that he spoke with Halladay on Monday, and that Halladay said he wouldn't continue if he couldn't pitch up to his capabilities.

Halladay's manager wasn't buying it yesterday.

"I think he definitely doesn't want to go out this way," Manuel said. "I know how much he want to pitch and that he loves to pitch. He definitely has always wanted to do his job."

Whether Halladay can continue doing his job in 2013 is the big unknown. The answer could come today, before the Phils leave AT&T Park following a matinee against the Giants and begin a four-game series in Phoenix on Thursday.

Following his start on Monday night in San Francisco, Cliff Lee spoke about the potential loss of Halladay. And his words were ominous, leaving the possibility that his teammate could be "gone forever."

"Obviously, we hope that it's not as big of a deal as I think everyone might think it might be," Lee said. "Hopefully, it's something minor and he's able to get back. If not, what can you do? You still have to go out there and grind and try to give the team a chance to win every time you take the mound, no matter who the guy is. Obviously, he's been one of the best pitchers over the past 10 to 12 years in all the big leagues. Missing a guy like that is definitely going to be tough on us, but injuries happen. You don't want it to happen. Definitely not him. We all know that.

"That's something that happens. He's pitched a long time, fired a lot of bullets. I hope it's not major and it's something minor and he's back in a couple weeks and jumps back on board. But until then, we just have to keep on grinding. Even if he's gone forever, there's nothing we can do. We have to go out there and continue to pitch and try to give the team a chance to win every time you take the mound. All of us."

Delmon Young's iron man streak is over at seven.

After starting in each of the first seven games since being activated from the disabled list a week ago, Young was out of the Phillies' lineup last night in San Francisco. Laynce Nix started in rightfield in his place.

Young entered yesterday hitless in his previous eight at-bats. He's hitting .150 (3-for-20) since coming off the DL.

"His hitting is starting to come around," Manuel said. "He's been getting some at-bats and stuff, but he's been in the minor leagues against young pitchers and things like that. He hasn't seen any command and the location like major league pitchers have got. That makes a difference."

Young entered the day 0-for-3 lifetime against Tim Lincecum, who started for the Giants. Nix, meanwhile, was 3-for-9 with a home run and five RBI.

The Phillies announced during last night's game that righthander Tyler Cloyd would start in place of Halladay on Friday.

Cloyd, 25, went 2-2 with a 4.91 ERA with the Phillies in six starts at the end of the 2012 season. He is 1-3 with a 5.40 ERA for Triple A Lehigh Valley this season.

In his most recent start, on Friday against Indianapolis, Cloyd allowed one run on four hits in eight innings, while striking out 10 without walking a batter.

Blog: ph.ly/HighCheese