Offense or Oswalt?
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Offense or Oswalt?
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.
Oswalt was no more than an average starter last year. A difference making bat would be great. Third base would be the spot to target. No way Polanco stays healthy all year. And do we really want a corner infielder to cap out at about 3 HR's? Earlton looks great in AAA & stuff looked fantastic in the spring. He'll get the 1st crack at the rotation.— FetchDixon
Comment removed.- Can't ever have enough pitching. I'd sign him.— PhillyfaninMD
- I love the "can't ever have enough pitching" phrase. Can I start a new one? How about "can't ever have enough hitting"?
— Sam Crow - Comment removed.
- I've always loved the "can't ever have enough pitching" phrase. Can I start a new one? How about "can't ever have enough hitting"? — Sam Crow
- Cant ever have enough pitching? How did that turn out for the Phils last year in playoffs? Seems we were missing hitting much more than pitching, like this year — crohnkiller
- I don't trust Os' back.— Warhound
- Oswalt is washed up. Dave Bush can do the job if needed better than old Roy. The Gwinnett Braves hitting coach told Brian Jordan on the telecast last night that Bush was getting them out with the two seammer into the lefties and they needed to make him get his pitches up. Last three starts for the IronPigs Bush has given up one earned run and no walks in 22 innings.— Dull
- Have some baby aces left, give the young arms a tryout now, no pressure. We NEED BADLY a leftfielder that can field and has power. Two homers from the leftfield position is unacceptable. We also need gross to be fired andhire a real hitting coach that knows how to teach situational and fundamental hitting. If the Phils execute their record would be the best in the division.....THAT IS A FACT!!!— Trot
- What you said in your article? Well duh!— Jiminfl
- Sign him. He is the best unsigned player out there. When Halladay and Worley are healthy, trade Oswalt for some O— mikeyhigs
- Comment removed.
- I thought Oswalt was going to the Rangers. The Angels might make a play depending on Weaver's injury. As for the Phillies offense, I'm not a baseball scientist, but I don't think any team can generate any offense with a .220 leadoff hitter. Drop Rollins in the order. If he sulks, bench him. He'll find that hitting 6th or 7th is better than sitting on the bench. Take whoever has the highest OBP and bat him leadoff. Since the Phils don't have anybody to hit 3rd or 4th, you could draw names out of a hat. Just joking there, but not by much. Try that for a week or so and see what happens.
— TexColorado - Sign Oswalt to one year, low risk/high reward. The bats will be fine when Utley and Howard come back. Right now they are only 1.5 back of a playoff spot with all these injuries and lack of offense, so I think they will be just fine once Howard and Utley get back.— robm0202
