Halladay tosses 75 pitches in sim game without issue

WASHINGTON -- Roy Halladay threw 75 pitches in a simulated game on Saturday morning, taking another step forward as he continues to recover from right shoulder surgery.

Halladay threw five innings, each consisting of 15 pitches, against Gulf Coast League competition at the team's complex in Clearwater, Fla. Pitching coach Rich Dubee saw video of the session and spoke with Halladay afterwards. He said that the right-hander "feels great" and will throw a bullpen session in Clearwater on Monday.

"It went well today," Dubee said. "Actually, his last two sets were probably the best two, and he held his legs fine. I thought it went great."

Dubee didn't know whether Halladay would make a Minor League rehab start next week and said that the right-hander would be reevaluated after his bullpen session on Monday. The team's original timetable had Halladay returning to the Phillies in late August or early September.

Dubee said that Halladay's arm is getting stronger and that he has already seen the benefits of the surgery, which repaired his labrum and rotator cuff.

"I saw him after surgery, a week or so or two weeks later. His range of motion was so much different," Dubee said. "It's a lot easier for him to get his arm up, and there's no biting, grabbing. It was all good. When he first picked up a ball, his arm slot was tremendously good. All positive stuff."

Halladay is 36 years old and will be a free agent after the season.

"I'm not coming back to try to get a contract for next year, a bigger contract, anything like that," he said on Wednesday. "I just want to come back and pitch. After that, hopefully make a decision on where I can win. I hope that's here."