Offense or Oswalt?
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Offense or Oswalt?
David Murphy, Daily News Staff Writer
The question is hypothetical, because we do not yet have an indication that the Phillies are serious players for Roy Oswalt, who is still back home in Mississippi gearing up to play some ball. But we know that the team has seen the veteran righthander pitch, and we know that Roy Halladay is headed for a doctor's appointment today, and we know that Roy Halladay does not tend to make doctor's appointments and leave games early for minor ailments. So there is plenty of reason to believe that Ruben Amaro Jr. might have interest in bringing Oswalt back for another go-around.
The tricky variable is the offense, which has shown some signs of life over the last month but still has yet to prove that it is anything more than a middling unit that does most of its damage against middling pitchers. And the two biggest variables for the future of the offense are Chase Utley and Ryan Howard, neither of whom are likely to have returned by the time Oswalt picks a team. All of that could be related if the Phillies have a limited amount of payroll that they can take on between now and the trade deadline.
Maybe the offense does not need any help. Maybe Utley gives you what he gave you after his return last season, and maybe Howard can at least get himself back to the point where he is the batting order's top power threat and RBI producer. And maybe Ty Wigginton rotates in at first base against left-handed pitchers and Laynce Nix and Juan Pierre rotate with John Mayberry Jr. in left field and all of it works to produce a cohesive unit. And maybe Jimmy Rollins breaks out of a funk that has been going on two months and maybe Shane Victorino and Hunter Pence get back to the levels they were playing at for the bulk of last season.
But that is a lot of maybes, very few of which will be sorted out before a decision on Oswalt is due. I don't get the sense that the Phillies will allow themselves to be hamstrung by finances at this point. But I don't know that for sure. Left field is the one clear opening where they can slot a potential difference-making bat -- think Josh Willingham of the Twins, although it is not certain that he will be available. Boston's Kevin Youkilis could also be available at third base. Point is, the Phillies need to have the flexibility to make such a move if July arrives and the jury is still out on the offense. Which is why I'm not sure that spending a sizeable chunk of money on Oswalt would be a prudent move.
Just. sign. Hamels.— filzfan- Conveniently the answer to the Phillies offense is one deal. The Padres are going NOWHERE and the Phils should do what it takes to get Chase Headley and Hard Hittin' Carlos Quentin. Dom Brown, Trevor May, and whatever else it takes to get it done. Then deal a young reliever for Brandon League to be the set up man for Pap.
I also don't understand why they haven't made a play for Adam Lind. He can platoon with Quentin, back up first base and PH with left handed pop.
1B-Howard, Wigginton
2B-Utley, Polanco
SS-Rollins, Galvis
3B-Headley, Polanco
LF-Quentin, Pierre, Nix
CF-Victorino
RF-Pence, Lind
C-Chooch, Schneid
— T-Money -
- This is sheer nonsense talking about bringing Oswalt back and hoping for a different result.
The guy has one main pitch - a fastball.
He has lost 5 to 8 mph off it.
He was getting shelled at the end of last season.
He has a very high opinion of his talent - not shared by knowledgeable people in this game. Confidence is a great thing, but in this case, it is misplaced.
Time to move on to something with a future in it.— candidly - I would not have an interest in Roy Oswalt unless its cheap, which I bet it's not. Dave Bush, Scott Elarton should be fine. The biggest thing is sign Cole Hamels 7 years 160-175 should do it. Also look for an alternative to Polanco at third at least some of the time. This is a snake bit team right now, but there is still time to turn it around.— tony bell
Comment removed.- I'd like the Phillies to do no moves at all. The Phillies will sink or swim this season based on whether Lee and Halladay can return (or come close) to 2011 form. If they don't then the Phillies are screwed and may not even make the playoffs. If they do return to form then we have Halladay, Lee, Hamels, Paps. We shouldn't need much else pitching wise in the playoffs. We just have to hope the hitters perform in the playoffs this time around. I think having a deeper hitting lineup will at the minimum be a tremendous advantage. Last year the Phillies had zero options off the bench.....Valdez.....Gload......barf. Using Mayberry, Nix, Wiggy, Pierre depending on match-ups will prove valuable. Let's leave this roster alone for now and hope everyone gets healthy. After all we're 11-5 in the last 16 games, so if it ain't broke why fix it— phillyfan880123
- FUHGEDDASBOUD Oswalt. He's a washed up pitcher with a history of back problems trying to hang on and hoping some team is badly in need of a guy and willing to take a chance. If Worley is able to come back within two weeks, I'd prefer going with Lee, Hamels, Blanton, Worley and taking a chance that Kendrick is for real. Then fleash out the pen with our best prospect.— 1republican
- I just posted on Sunday, go down to Mississippi and bring back Oswalt.— watsonmr
- Too soon to determine the needs and status. Check back at the All Star break......but would not bother w/Oswalt either way.— Northcountry
- Oswalt was falling apart last season. What makes anyone thing that he will be anywhere like his old self one year older and out of shape? Let it go!— gentian
- I don't understand why leaving the current roster alone for the next year or two while gradually trying to scout and work on building a farm team is such a complicated strategy. We're old, we're not getting any younger. We thought getting Pence was the golden ticket last year and that didn't work out. What makes us so sure if we add another hitter it'll prove the difference? The oldest regular is 33. In theory these guys should still have a couple good years left— phillyfan880123
- I don't see Oswalt as a difference-maker at this point in his career with recent back problems. I also don't see Utley as a difference maker with DEGENERATIVE knees.
What offensive production did Utley supply last year?? A .240ish BA with 44 RBI. Isn't that about the offensive production that Freddy is already supplying? Actually, I think Freddy is on a pace to surpass 44 RBI for the entire year. So where's the difference - and defensively Utley couldn't carry Freddy's jock!
— johnpaulcpa - This is irrelevant now anyway, Oswalt just signed with Texas— mjw1229
- Rangers got him, but if the PHils did move on Roy they better put a clause in the contract that his family has to move out of the trailer park in MO. First two times was a tragedy, now its just time to move, I'd imagine Roy's made enough money to not have his folks living in tornado alley— JuanSamuel4prez
