UPDATE! As we guessed, it was to tend to his family, after a number of severe storms have hit Mississippi. Here's the official release:
The Phillies issue the following statement regarding Roy Oswalt's decision to leave the team for personal reasons:
"There has been a tremendous amount of tornado activity near Roy's home in Mississippi resulting in several tragic deaths and significant devastation to the area. Because of this, Roy is concerned about his family's well-being. He has chosen to take time to make sure there wasn't significant damage to his home, but more importantly, to make certain that his wife and children are okay.
It is almost a year to the day that his parents' home was destroyed by a tornado which has heightened his concern about the current situation.
We are hopeful that he will rejoin the team for his next start, but will take that day by day."
Ruben Amaro Jr.
Senior Vice President & General Manager
Earlier, we told you that Roy Oswalt left the clubhouse last night before he could speak to the media. The beat reporters thought it could be an issue with his back, but it turns out he left for "personal reasons."
A team official confirmed to me that pitcher Roy Oswalt has left the team for personal reasons. No return date yet has been determined or announced.
However, his departure from Tuesday's game was not related to his reason for leaving the team, the same team official said.
Ruben Amaro did say that Oswalt's health is fine.
Last year, Ryan Lawrence reported that Oswalt left the team to see his parents' new home, after their old one was destroyed in a tornado.
This is guessing, but there was just a whole bunch of severe storms in Mississippi, where Oswalt lives. I'm going to go with that as the reason why he left.
David Murphy used this as an opportunity to fire one across the bow of the Phillies PR staff: [Philly.com]
I wouldn't mistake the Phillies' vagueness for evasiveness. That's just how it sometimes comes across when you deal with an organization who doesn't understand the value of coherent communication with all you peons on the outside.
Quite honestly, I agree with that sentiment. Well, the incoherent communication part. Not the peons part.
16 Responses
If that is the case then more power to him and that is exactly what he should do
Ok….2 people in Roy’s home town of Weir MS were killed in the recent tornadoes. Perhaps he is just going home to help out his family. If that is the case, then he is doing the right thing!
family comes first, I hope all is well with Roy and his fam and hope to see him back with the Phils soon
Anyone know how long he was out last year?
It was actually an off day last year. I may have worded that wrong,,,
They have now released a statement stating he did return home due to storms. I guess David “smug asshole” Murphy will now recant his statement.
^ thumbs up to Josey. Murphy has really been out of control with the attitude lately.
You know what David Murphy? Some of the official slow medical and personal reports may be because…okay ready get this…its PERSONAL. I understand that they are public figures. I know health, injury and personal events that lead to missing games can be relevant news and effect the sport. However taking a couple days to get the story straight, be accurate and not invade privacy is more damn important then I NEED TO KNOW NAOW SO I CAN PUBLISH IT IN MAH PAPER FIRST! You know what? The world will turn for me if I have to wonder about OZ for a day. It may not for his friends in harm’s way. Have some fricking perspective.
But David Murphy is a very important person so he must know. I love how he acts like he is an advocate for the fans. Shut your mouth jerkoff, you probably got snubbed by Amaro and took it personal. Everytime I see that smug look on his face on daily news live I want to smash my TV in. All of these reporters in philadelphia are a bunch of dicks.
Murphy and Eskin should simultaneously shoot each other in the face.
LOL Danooo one can only wish
Wow, that’s real vagueness right there on the part of Ruben Amaro Jr. We still have no idea what’s going on with Oswalt, only that he’s gone for an indeterminate amount of time.
Murphy for the BIG FAIL. Toad.
Good karma to the Oswalts and everyone affected in the area.
The Finger of God spares no man.
Best wishes to Roy, his family, and anyone else affected by the disasters.
“‘I wouldn’t mistake the Phillies’ vagueness for evasiveness. That’s just how it sometimes comes across when you deal with an organization who doesn’t understand the value of coherent communication with all you peons on the outside.’
Quite honestly, I agree with that sentiment. Well, the incoherent communication part. Not the peons part.”
READING COMPREEHENSHUN FAIL!
“incoherent” is the opposite of “coherent”
Although Murphy must’ve taken down that post on the philly.com site, cause I couldn’t find it.
Failure for you anyway, blog-boy.
I don’t understand the hate of Murphy. If it goes back to his spat with Gonzo, all you haters are idiotic. Gonzo is a jerk and an awful writer to boot. Not a good combination.
Furthermore, with Oswalt leaving, clearly that is concerning. Yes, it’s easy to say, “it’s personal, it’s his choice”, but at the end of the day it would be much better to just say he is worried about his family instead of all this insinuation about possible health problems.
This all goes back to how private superstars lives should be. The rules change from “normal” people when you consider that millions of people are counting on you. It might suck, but hey, I’d deal with it if I made 7 figures.
I think if the team had said “he left the team to attend to a personal matter” it would have been perceived differently than their “he left the team for personal reasons.”
Slight difference in wording, but considering the circumstances with his recent back strain and how he was pulled early and then not available to answer to questions, a good reporter who is doing his/her job has to assume a)it might be an injury he’s getting checked out, or b)maybe there was an argument about getting pulled so early and he left the team over it temporarily.
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