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Monday, August 06, 2012

Roy Oswalt declines to pitch third inning of relief

Manager Ron Washington planned on sending Roy Oswalt out for the ninth inning Sunday. Oswalt had just thrown two perfect innings in his second relief appearance, and was stretched out to the point that his 30-pitch count wasn’t worrisome.

But Oswalt declined to work a third inning.

“He said he couldn’t go any further,” Washington said. “He said he had enough.”

Oswalt wasn’t available to discuss his situation after the game.

“Ah Bartleby! Ah humanity!”

Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Griffin (Vlad) Posted: August 06, 2012 at 11:28 AM | 27 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
Tags: general, rangers, texas

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1. Cris E Posted: August 06, 2012 at 01:20 PM (#4201540)

Money quote from the article:

"Roy prefers to start," general manager Jon Daniels said.

2. RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: August 06, 2012 at 01:24 PM (#4201542)

Remember the bidding war for him? That was fun.

3. phredbird

Posted: August 06, 2012 at 01:36 PM (#4201552)

“He said he couldn’t go any further,” Washington said. “He said he had enough.”

is that even legal?

4. Gern Blanston Posted: August 06, 2012 at 01:42 PM (#4201561)

“Ah Bartleby! Ah humanity!”

Positively Repozian.

"I'd prefer not to."

5. Crispix Attacks 2: Swag Airlines Posted: August 06, 2012 at 01:49 PM (#4201570)

I guess Oswalt isn't on board with the whole "utility pitcher" concept that seemed to work so well in 2009.

6. KT's Pot Arb Posted: August 06, 2012 at 02:10 PM (#4201590)

He should be able to tell his skipper when he's not able to pitch longer.

And his skipper should be able to tell him if he can't go longer than 2 innings in relief than he's obviously not ready to start.

7. Gamingboy Posted: August 06, 2012 at 02:15 PM (#4201598)

I look forward to Oswalt being released and then then joining the Orioles or somebody in the stretch run.

8. Tripon Posted: August 06, 2012 at 02:17 PM (#4201599)

Oswalt brought this on himself. If he wanted to start, he should have signed in the off season with a team.

9. rconn23 Posted: August 06, 2012 at 02:19 PM (#4201603)

Roy Oswalt has had a great career. He really has.

Still, I've always had this (I realize) irrational thought that he wasn't really that great. He always seemed to me to be a guy that would be chewed up and spit out in the American League.

10. zonk Posted: August 06, 2012 at 02:27 PM (#4201610)

Oswalt brought this on himself. If he wanted to start, he should have signed in the off season with a team.

Well, or he shouldn't have pitched like Sidney Ponson when he did start.

11. Bitter Mouse Posted: August 06, 2012 at 02:37 PM (#4201615)

I am not much for pyschoanalyzing literary characters, but Bartleby pretty clearly had depression. Dude needed some therapy and pills. Good story though.

12. Xander Posted: August 06, 2012 at 02:44 PM (#4201625)

As big a pitching diva as you will ever see. Oswalt learned well from Clemens.

13. Swoboda is freedom Posted: August 06, 2012 at 02:48 PM (#4201631)

Someone should bring Oswalt some ginger nut cakes to eat.

14. The Good Face Posted: August 06, 2012 at 03:06 PM (#4201648)

Well, or he shouldn't have pitched like Sidney Ponson when he did start.

Pretty much this. When you're rocking a ERA+ of 78, you shut up and pitch when and where you're told.

Of course, there's reason to believe he's not as bad as his ERA. His K rate is strong and his BB/9 is very low; he's just giving up a ton of hits and more HRs than usual. 38 innings is too soon to give up on the guy.

15. andrewberg Posted: August 06, 2012 at 03:25 PM (#4201669)

I am not much for pyschoanalyzing literary characters, but Bartleby pretty clearly had depression. Dude needed some therapy and pills. Good story though.

I'd be depressed, too, with a job like that.

16. Tricky Dick Posted: August 06, 2012 at 04:18 PM (#4201709)

I get this feeling that Washington has been throwing players under the bus recently. Why does Washington need to say this publicly...if it's not to stir the pot with the fans? This seems like something which should be addressed privately with Oswalt. And if he is going to leave the impression that Oswalt gave up on his team or something, he should be more direct really. For all I know, Oswalt may have told him that he can't pitch more because his back tightened up. Maybe this is a situation where the Rangers want out of the contract and they are trying to create a situation that will get them out of it.

17. Everybody Loves Tyrus Raymond Posted: August 06, 2012 at 05:12 PM (#4201778)

Oswalt's been bombed three times and pitched very well three times. Two nice relief outings now. Given his K/9 and K/BB ratios and the unsustainably high number of hits allowed, I'm inclined to think he still has some petrol in the tank. The home runs are a bit concerning, but otherwise I think he'll level out and pitch reasonably well if they give him the ball every five days. He apparently agrees.

18. Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Griffin (Vlad) Posted: August 06, 2012 at 06:27 PM (#4201863)

The question isn't just whether or not he'd do "reasonably well" going forward, though. It's whether or not he'd be one of their five best starters going forward.

19. Pat Rapper's Delight Posted: August 06, 2012 at 09:25 PM (#4201975)

When you're rocking a ERA+ of 78, you shut up and pitch when and where you're told.

ERA+ of 78 or not, that's my crotchety reaction to any pitcher whining about his "role." Your role is to get batters out whenever the manager puts you in the game.

20. TerpNats Posted: August 06, 2012 at 09:51 PM (#4201998)

As big a pitching diva as you will ever see. Oswalt learned well from Clemens.

As much as I consider the Boston media a bunch of drama queens, this is one time I wish there were a Shaughnessy in the Metroplex.

21. Boxkutter Posted: August 07, 2012 at 12:47 AM (#4202075)

Well, or he shouldn't have pitched like Sidney Ponson when he did start.

Who are you to judge? You oughta be punched!

22. Gonfalon Bubble Posted: August 07, 2012 at 01:05 AM (#4202080)

Don't hate the scrivener, hate the game.

23. The District Attorney Posted: August 07, 2012 at 01:16 AM (#4202082)

Good story though.

It's not an easy read.

24. Everybody Loves Tyrus Raymond Posted: August 07, 2012 at 04:42 AM (#4202093)

The question isn't just whether or not he'd do "reasonably well" going forward, though. It's whether or not he'd be one of their five best starters going forward.

"Reasonably well" by Roy Oswalt standards is better than Scott Feldman at a minimum.

25. Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Griffin (Vlad) Posted: August 07, 2012 at 06:40 AM (#4202106)

"Reasonably well" by Roy Oswalt standards is better than Scott Feldman at a minimum.

This year to date, Feldman's carrying a 100 ERA+. That's not bad.

26. ecwcat Posted: August 07, 2012 at 07:34 AM (#4202109)

More Texas drama. For a team that looked like the best in baseball in April, they sure have jumped the shark due to all the personalities and frustrated media.

27. TerpNats Posted: August 07, 2012 at 08:20 AM (#4202120)

More Texas drama. For a team that looked like the best in baseball in April, they sure have jumped the shark due to all the personalities and frustrated media.

The Rangers are pursuing their third straight AL pennant, have a good chance of getting league home-field advantage, and are almost a certainty to make the playoffs. If that's "jumping the shark," a lot of teams would gladly strap on the water skis. It's simply a team whose real season likely won't come until after Oct. 3.

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Monday, August 06, 2012

Roy Oswalt declines to pitch third inning of relief

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