Oswalt a no-show after loss
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Oswalt a no-show after loss
Matt Gelb, Inquirer Staff Writer
PHOENIX -- The Phillies say there is nothing amiss with Roy Oswalt, who allowed five runs in three innings and 57 pitches before Charlie Manuel removed him.
"His stuff wasn't good," Manuel said. "His velocity was down. I figured there was no sense in leaving him out there."
Oswalt says... nothing.
The pitcher had left Chase Field before reporters entered the visitors clubhouse. It was his second start since developing mid-back spasms in a game at Citizens Bank Park against Florida.
Ruben Amaro Jr. huddled with a team offical during the game and then was seen leaving the manager's office just as reporters entered.
Manuel was asked if Oswalt had indicated a problem with his back.
"I don't know," Manuel said. "He didn't say nothing about that. As far as I know, he didn't say nothing about that."
So what was wrong?
"His stuff wasn't good tonight," Manuel said. "He's usually much better than that."
Oswalt's average fastball velocity was around 91 m.p.h, just as it was in his previous start against San Diego -- the first one since the back injury. That is down from his normal 93 m.p.h. average. After the win vs. the Padres, pitching coach Rich Dubee said Oswalt was not 100 percent and had "gutted" it out.
Oswalt's next start is scheduled for Tuesday -- six days of rest because of two off days (Thursday and Monday).
Catcher Brian Schneider said Oswalt's stuff was fine, he just missed location more than usual. His off-speed pitches, especially, were up in the zone.
"He gave me no indications of [the back being an issue]," Schneider said. "It's something he's going to have to answer. Prior to the game, talking to him, his bullpen, everything was great."
But Oswalt wasn't around to answer it.
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He had some kind of back pain in last nights game. I noticed his demeanor was different last night like more time between pitches, slightly moving his back between pitches, several minor facial expressions of pain. Having had back problems while pitching one can easily pick up on these subtle changes. Larry Christenson used to be easy to diagnose whenever he was experiencing back pain on the mound.— miket47- Should have bought a bat with the money spent on Lee. They could have gotten two young healthy good bat for the amount he gets. This team is unbalanced. The offense is weak, even when Utley comes back it won't be steller.— outraged32340
- "He didn't say nothing about that." Technically, this means he did say something and Charlie Manual has never made a grammar mistake. So I must assume that he is hurt.— Mh225
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Run for the hills! This team is DOOMED! DOOMED! [/sarcasm]
thank god there is still PHAT JOE BLAN-EN!!!- thank god there is still PHAT JOE BLAN-EN!!!
- thank god there is still PHAT JOE BLAN-EN!!!
- thank god there is still PHAT JOE BLAN-EN!!!
- thank god there is still PHAT JOE BLAN-EN!!!
- Does appear as though Roy has some problem with his back. Still, no excuse for Francisco going up there with ducks on the pond and swinging at the first pitch! Where the hell is Charlie & GG reminding batters of the situation and pick out a good pitch. Arizona's pitcher was beginning to show some strain, so they should have put him away or at least tie the score. Once again no concept of situational hitting! When will they wake up?? Charlie needs to shake up the lineup and give Mayberry the LF position and keep Orr at second. Otherwise, we're wasting our good arms.— mad2002mad
- This is a team that can/will win and can/will loose. If they continue to play at their current pace, they would garner 100+ wins, not very realistic. Us Phans hold our collective breath everytime we see a grimace, a wince, or even "think" and injury is on the way. Starting with last season, the team seems to get the injury bug and it spreads through the clubhouse like a communicable disease.
Howard's HR's are down, but he is on pace to drive in 120+ runs. If/When Utley gets back into the lineup, the entire dynamic changes. Francisco is a free swinger (as was Werth) but he is has hit 4 bombs already and IS getting some hits with RISP. Time to get Gload some starts in LF against righty's. Against lefty's, Mayberry/Francisco. Cholly is always 2nd guessed (if you phans had it your way, Leyland would be the manager). Let the man who has led the Phighten's to FOUR (yeah 4) straight playoff visits and two WS appearances do his job. The way these posts are coming up, you'd think the Phillies were 7-15 instead of 15-7.— drhoffman - Is it too early to fire Greg Gross? Frankly, the hitting has been quite Gross.— jpgulli
- Why the hell is ibanez still playing?
— mbutley - we should trade him before it's too late— section707
