Back in 2010, Cliff Lee wound up and excelled with the Texas Rangers, leading them to what was his second-straight World Series, against the Giants, while the Phillies sat at home. For me and my man crush, it was all very difficult to watch: Lee, blanking the Yankees in Game 3 of the ALCS and taking the mound for Game 1 of the World Series.
When Roy Oswalt signed with the Rangers a few months ago, I thought, here we go again. Another mercenary Phillie turned Ranger who we’d still love to have in the rotation.
Well, things aren’t going as well for Oswalt in the Lone Star State.
He’s pitched 38 innings, has a 5.82 ERA and what would easily be his career-high WHIP, 1.60. Last week, he was moved to the bullpen and, apparently, doesn’t like it there.
Oswalt and his agent have expressed as much to the Rangers. And the media. Allen Iverson Oswalt told reporters, "I'm a starter. I'm not really a bullpen guy." But it all really came to head yesterday, when Oswalt refused to pitch a third inning in relief: [Dallas News]
Roy Oswalt pitched two perfect innings in relief for the Rangers on just 30 pitches Sunday, three days after two solid relief innings.
And that apparently exhausted him.
Manager Ron Washington was ready to send Oswalt back out for the ninth inning of what was then a tie game, but Oswalt declined. Washington, who was operating down two relievers (Mike Adams and Alexi Ogando) and trying to protect a third (Tanner Scheppers) didn’t push the issue. It was the third time Oswalt had pitched in a seven-day span. By the end of his second inning, he’d pitched 9.1 innings in that stretch and thrown 150 pitches.
“He said he couldn’t go any further,” Washington said. “He said he had enough. To get anymore, you have to ask him.”
Yikes. Stuff like this makes it fair to question Oswalt’s motives. Before being traded to Philly, it was reported that he wasn’t too interested in pitching for a big market team in the Northeast. For the most part, though, things went well here and Oswalt won fans over when he played left field in an extra innings game in 2010. But, last year, his taking a week off to help his Mississippi community recover from the devastation of a tornado rubbed some folks (me) the wrong way. Oswalt’s family was unhurt and his home wasn’t damaged. And while he may have had the biggest tractor in his state, he was being paid millions to pitch for the Phillies. He came back with a back injury and was inconsistent the rest of the season. He later told reporters that – perhaps rightfully – baseball was third or fourth on his list of priorities.
Anyway, that brings us back to yesterday, when an unhappy Oswalt declined to pitch a third inning for the division-leading Rangers. Whether it was out of spite, or because Oswalt didn’t want to risk damage to his arm that might cost him if he decides to play another year, is unknown. But what’s obvious is that the whole thing was poor form by Oswalt.
25 Responses
ok
Crosby sucks
yes he does
I was thrilled when the Phillies let him go. He was a real prima donna and not a real teammate. My instincts about him were dead on.
You’d have to fight Halladay to get him out of the game…tells you a lot about Oswalt
Oswalt has become the closest thing to an internet troll baseball has ever seen.
I’m convinced he’s Screech from Saved by the bell.
I still pissed Rube ghave up Michael Bourn for that heart-less pu$$y
gave
Must of been on a bender with Josh and coming down from the high
^Chase – Do some research they traded Bourn for Lidge
^ No one named Chase on here…d-bag. Chance is cooked!
I was at the game when the Phils put him in left field, and it was, in a word, epic. The first putout of the inning was a fly ball to him and the place went bonkers when he caught it. I think he also pinch hit in that game (he did get an AB). I have to assume the move to the pen has hurt his ego, which doesn’t speak well for him as a “team first” guy at this point in his career.
Chance is literally the biggest pussy on the board. That hoe keeps ducking me cuz id whip his bitch ass.
Chance will never be president.
Squeal like a piggy, Roy.
Eh, kind of always had a love/hate with Roy. He HAS to be the biggest redneck in baseball, without a doubt.
@p- your like a pimple on my ass
P sounds like a pussy that probably has cricket wireless
LOL … sooo Oswalt who threw all those pitches in a short span and was exhausted is not a team player
but
Fag Ass Hamels openly states he doesn’t want throw more than 115 in a game is the cities darling… Oh and lets not forget he refused to pitch on short rest in the postseason also.
i really understand you people less everyday
I heard P is in the the dickie do club. P’s stomach sticks out more then your dickie do!!!!
you’re- I’m sorry grammar pu$$ies
Remember me, bitches?
jesus christ wtf is up w these off-topic comments from the idiot gallery.. go back to barstool and have your little internet comment fight. needledicks
Past experience, if not forgotten, is a guide for the future.
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