Win covers up blunder of yanking Oswalt
SAN DIEGO — As Roy Oswalt walked off the field having retired 13 Padres in a row, Carlos Ruiz made a prediction.
Win covers up blunder of yanking Oswalt
Matt Gelb, Inquirer Staff Writer
SAN DIEGO — As Roy Oswalt walked off the field having retired 13 Padres in a row, Carlos Ruiz made a prediction.
“You’re going to finish this game,” his catcher said.
But as soon as Oswalt entered the dugout, Charlie Manuel told the righthander he was done. Oswalt was due to leadoff the ninth inning and Manuel wanted to extend the one-run lead. Plus, Manuel said, he had Brad Lidge to pitch the ninth.
“Oswalt had already done good,” Manuel said.
Lidge, of course, loaded the bases with by hitting Ryan Ludwick on the hand with an 0-2 count. Then, one strike away from winning again, he balked in the tying run.
In the end it was a blunder erased later by Jimmy Rollins’ fantastic slide and Chad Durbin’s fine relief as the Phillies won in 12 innings, 3-2.
But Manuel’s decision to remove Oswalt was a head-scratcher — and this is hardly second-guessing.
Oswalt needed just 11 pitches to finish the eighth. He was at 102 and had cruised past the Padres, his only mistake a solo home run to Yorvit Torrealba in the third inning. He had retired 13 San Diego hitters in a row.
If that’s the other Roy — Halladay — does Manuel do the same thing? He’s had a long leash on Halladay all season. Oswalt, apparently, has yet to merit the same trust.
“I wanted to go back out,” Oswalt said. “I feel like I probably could have finished the game.”
Oswalt said he lobbied his manager. Twelve times this season, he has thrown more than 102 pitches in a game. Manuel didn’t budge. He wanted a pinch hitter to begin the ninth with the top of the order due up. He sent Domonic Brown up for Oswalt. The rookie popped out in foul territory behind third base on the second pitch he said.
“But I understand,” Oswalt said.
It very nearly cost the Phillies their chance to gain ground on the Braves for the first time since Aug. 14. Incredibly, the Phils stand just two back of Atlanta despite not having scored more than three runs in five straight games.
Oswalt has pitched at least seven innings in each of his last four starts and has a 1.24 ERA.
“My mechanics have come around after the first start,” Oswalt said.
He was robbed of a fourth consecutive victory Friday. Oswalt has played every bit the part of ace the Phillies expected when they acquired him. He struck out six and walked none against the Padres on Friday.
He threw 78 of his 102 pitches (76.5 percent) for strikes. He wants to pound the strike zone with regularity. Consider that done.
“Actually,” Oswalt said, “I looked down there one time and I had like five balls in the fifth inning or something.”
It wasn’t good enough for an Oswalt victory Friday, but the Phillies still won. And Oswalt has played every bit the part of ace so far.
Maybe it's time for Manuel to start treating the Roys equally.
Cliff Lee knows he is a Yankee next year. He is stealing money from bankrupt Texas, although he went into a little slide with the Phillies at this point last season as well.— road515
Am I the only one who sees Lidge as a mental basket case out there? The guy is wrapped as tight as a drum. In last night's meltdown he: 1- bobbled the bunt and just barely made the play, 2- nearly threw the 1st intentional ball right down the middle of the plate, 3- hit a batter in a clutch situation to load the bases, and 4- committed an inexplicable balk with the bases loaded to tie the game. And all that is on top of his actual pitching. This guy needs a shrink.— bobby
The question is not whether Charlie made the right choice because either one could have led to a win for Oswalt. It's a matter of percentages because baseball is a game of chance. All of the factors need to be weighed and that is where I believe Charlie could have done better. Oswalt was going great and at that point, although it's typically time for the closer, it would not have been my choice.— anotherjoe- After reading all these posts I feel a little better....I too was about to crucify CM for taking out Oswalt....I too was stunned as Lidge balked in the tying run....and I too was elated to see the incredible JR slide and then watch Durbin nail it down....I guess that's the beauty and the mystery of the game and of being it's fan....Go Phils!— ajp
- Oswalt was pitching GREAT, he retired 13 batters in a row and is a Cy Young caliber pitcher....Manuel needs to leave in there and stop over managing.....Oswalt is better than Lidge, so leave Oswalt in there to get his win that Oswalt earned.— Bill20
- He had brad lidge to pitch in the 9th?....HAH?...Doesn't that make you even more nervous?...get rid of Mole— rocuall
- Just like the bats, Charlie is in a slump too.— Dull
Comment removed.- Hey PhillyboyinNYC - Howard, underachiever? Hmmm, Rookie of the Year, National League MVP, World Series bling, the most home runs in the last five years than any player. Sure, he's having a bad stretch right now. That's the price you pay for only having one rehab start before returning to the club and for playing on a still sore ankle. Of course your boyfriend Chase Utley isn't exactly setting the world on fire, either but you seem to avoid calling him out. He must make you coffee in the morning.— phillyfandc
Maybe Howard should trade that useless bat for a Subway foot long and Jared should be the new batting coach. He has already proven that he knows how to lose. Lidge is a mistake at any time in the game.— Phil Lee- Comment removed.
- Howard stinks and we are stuck with him for another 100 years. They played better with him out of the line-up. Im looking forward to seeing Worthless hit the streets after this year! Watch him swing! He is trying to up his home run numbers for a fat check next year! Balking in a run with 2-outs in the ninth. What a joke! Probably never done before! This team is painful to watch right now except for that awesome slide by Rollins.— Air Force 1
- Comment removed.
- Comment removed.
- FLYING PIG, I talk about LEE every chance I get, and Lee was the odds on favorite to win the AL CY Young until 2 weeks ago and I REMEMBER what LEE did for us in the posteason. I dont know about you but I would rather have LEE than Blanton. THats what it came down to ya know,right? The RYAN HOWARD,the 2nd quickest player IN 150 years of MLB TO REACH 1000 strikeouts. Thats a pretty amazing statement. NO, the Phils have one of the most prolific strikeout artist this world has ever known and Werth cant hit a fastball. Teams are daring him to try and he fall to one knee or falls backward like yesterday. Werth and Howard are stealing money and in my opinion the Phils are a better "team" with Sweeney and Gload at first. HOward may be the worst defensive 1st basemen I have ever seen. HE throws so slowly, and Bourn made Howard look stupid,Howard hesistated on both throws. HE is an automatic,easy out and the Phils beat the Padres in spite of Howard,Werth,and VIctorino, VIctorino is the most undisciplined hitter on team,might be dumbest player,but WErth and Howard are right there with him. This team has no fundamental,couldnt move runners if their lives depended on it and ReFELCTS the intelligence of their BUMBLING MANAGER who has cost the team countless wins with is idiotic decisions. OSWALT retired 13 straight hitters,he dont take him out of one run game for LIDGE,who always seems to find new ways to lose. HITS Ludwick on 0-2 count,dumb. Throw your stupid slider in the dirt. Charlie refuses to hit and run or move runners. He just does the same dumb thing everytime the Phils have 1&2 no outs,or 1st&3rd one out. BE AGGRESIVE,your offense is having trouble string hits together. BE Manager and plot a plan to help the offense. MORe baserunning,hit n runs to stay out of DP's,squeeze plays to get runner home etc!! WHat is Manuel getting paid for? THe Phils should have 5 game lead if it werent for Manuel's dumbness, COX is going to make Charlie want to retire. SHAKE UP THIS LINEUP!
