It looks like the door is closing on Roy Oswalt(notes) as a member of the Philadelphia Phillies. As a Phillies fan, this comes as no surprise. Everyone was certain that the Phillies would decline their $16 million option on the pitcher after the 2011 season ended and the club did just that. But Ruben Amaro expressed his desire to retain Oswalt despite the option decline. However, that didn’t seem too likely to happen. Given what Oswalt’s agent recently said, the pitcher wants a long term deal. That shouldn’t and won’t happen with the Phillies.

Oswalt battled back injuries throughout the 2011 season and it looked like his career was coming to an end. But suddenly, the pitcher is saying he is healthy and is looking for a deal that will last several years. That’s fine for Oswalt, but there is no reason for the Phillies to make him that offer. At most, the club will provide Oswalt with a two or three year deal for a reduced amount of money. That probably won’t appeal to him. Oswalt likely will want either more years or more money. He shouldn’t get either from the Phillies.

I have nothing against Oswalt and would welcome him back provided the deal fit the needs for the Phillies. But I also don’t think the team needs to overspend to bring him back. The Phillies already have four really good pitchers on the roster. They could get a great fifth starter or hope for a healthy Joe Blanton(notes) without having to spend on Oswalt. The Phillies need money in other areas. It doesn’t make sense to spend too much on a guy with health issues and a reduced stat line.

I assume that there is a team out there that will give Oswalt at least a $10 million deal for a few years. Oswalt is still a good pitcher and he might have some things to offer to another team. But the Phillies have more to lose than they do to gain by giving Oswalt a big deal. It might be time for the team to move on from Oswalt and focus on other areas.

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AP Photo/Eric Risberg

San Francisco Giants’ Aubrey Huff, right, is tagged out at home plate by Philadelphia Phillies catcher Carlos Ruiz, left, during the fourth inning of their baseball game in San Francisco, Sunday, Aug. 7, 2011. Huff was trying to score from third base on a fielder’s choice after Giants’ Tim Lincecum bunted.

Roy Oswalt’s cranky back will have to be tended to with care the rest of the season. He hopes he can take the strain of a pennant race and still be going strong.
Oswalt went six quality innings in his first start since June 23 for the Philadelphia Phillies and called it a success despite losing 3-1 to the San Francisco Giants on Sunday, ending the Phillies’ nine-game winning streak.
Jeff Keppinger had four hits and the Giants spoiled Oswalt’s return from the disabled list. San Francisco avoided a four-game sweep in a matchup of NL division leaders.
“Keppinger is a tough out,” Oswalt said. “He doesn’t try to do too much. You don’t worry about the long ball with him but he’s always going to give you a pretty good at bat.”
The NL East-leading Phillies, with the majors’ best record at 74-40, hadn’t lost since dropping two of three to the Giants in Philly from July 26-28.
“Unless you win the World Series no one cares if you win the division by one game or 25 games,” Oswalt said. “It’s what you play for. I could have stayed in Houston for the rest of my career. But I came here because I want a ring.”
Tim Lincecum (10-9) allowed seven hits and one run, struck out five and walked one in 7 2-3 innings. The two-time NL Cy Young Award winner and four-time All-Star beat the Phillies for the second time in three starts.
Oswalt (4-7), facing Lincecum in their seventh career regular-season meeting, gave up a season-high 12 hits in his first start since missing 37 games with lower back inflammation. He is 1-7 since beginning the year 3-0.
“He’s still pretty good,” Phillies’ manager Charlie Manuel said. “He threw 93 pitches, gave up 12 hits but hung in there. He needed game competition and he got it today. He looks healthy, moved pretty good and threw pretty good.”
Phillies slugger Ryan Howard went 1 for 12 with eight strikeouts in the series and was 3 for 24 in seven games against the Giants this year. He struck out 12 times in 22 at-bats last October when San Francisco beat Philadelphia in the six-game NL championship series.
The Giants produced 13 hits and avoided their first four-game sweep by the Phillies since losing in Philly from May 13-16, 1982 — and at home since Aug. 6-8, 1943, while playing in New York.
Phillies catcher Carlos Ruiz took a third-inning foul tip by Lincecum in the facemask but stayed in the game after being examined by trainers. He had two hits.
NOTES: Phillies 3B Placido Polanco flew home to Philadelphia to undergo an MRI exam Monday on his sore left hip. He came out of Saturday’s game with the injury, which he said had been bothering him for some time and wasn’t a result of being tackled by Giants catcher Eli Whiteside during the fracas Friday. … Oswalt had his third hit of the year with a leadoff single in the third. … San Francisco INF Miguel Tejada will likely go on a short rehab assignment soon before returning from the DL with a lower abdominal strain. … The Phillies continue their 10-game road trip against the NL West at Dodger Stadium. Roy Halladay (14-4), who has won three straight starts, will start the opener. Philadelphia is headed into Game 18 of 20 in a row without a day off.

AP Photo/Matt Slocum

Los Angeles Dodgers’ Dee Gordon, right, celebrates with Andre Ethier (16) after scoring on a throwing error by Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Roy Oswalt in the third inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, June 7, 2011, in Philadelphia.

With his father watching from a front-row seat and his childhood hero in the opposite dugout, Dee Gordon made his first career start a memorable one.
So did Rubby De La Rosa.
Gordon had three hits, De La Rosa pitched five effective innings and the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Philadelphia Phillies 6-2 Tuesday night.
“It’s a great feeling,” said Gordon, the speedy shortstop and son of former major league pitcher Tom Gordon.
De La Rosa (2-0) allowed one run, constantly having to pitch out of trouble because he walked five and gave up four hits.
Matt Kemp hit a two-run homer for the Dodgers, who’ve won six of nine.
Roy Oswalt (3-4) lost his fourth straight decision. Oswalt allowed four runs and eight hits in six innings to remain winless since April 21.
The NL East-leading Phillies have lost five of seven.
“We didn’t deserve to win the game,” Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said. “We’ve got to play better.”
Gordon used to hang out in the Phillies clubhouse when his father played here from 2006-08. He made his major league debut as a pinch runner and scored in the ninth in a loss Monday night.
Gordon got some advice before the game from Jimmy Rollins. Then he went out and played like the old J-Roll, the 2007 NL MVP.
“He just told me to play hard, go up there and believe in yourself,” Gordon said. “That’s all I can do. It’s fun to go out there and compete.”
With his dad sitting behind the Dodgers dugout, Gordon led off the game with a single and singled in his next two at-bats. He scored a run, stole a base and finished 3 for 5.
“It was nice for him to get out of the gate with a couple hits,” Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said. “He’s going to be exciting. He’s a guy that’s fun to watch.”
De La Rosa made three relief appearances before getting his first start. He settled in after battling control issues in the early innings.
“I stayed back and focused on throwing strikes,” he said through an interpreter. “I was trying to throw every pitch on the black and the ball started cutting on me. I kind of started focusing on throwing to the catcher’s mask.”
De La Rosa got the Dodgers started in the third with a walk. After Gordon singled, Casey Blake’s RBI single gave Los Angeles a 2-1 lead. Gordon scored when Oswalt’s pickoff throw to first sailed wide for an error. Andre Ethier followed with an RBI single to make it 4-1.
Ethier saved a run when he threw out Raul Ibanez trying to score from second on Wilson Valdez’s single to right in the third.
The Phillies got within 4-2 on Chase Utley’s RBI triple off Scott Elbert in the seventh.
Kemp connected off Michael Stutes in the eighth, hitting an opposite-field shot to right. Kemp is tied with Cincinnati’s Jay Bruce for the NL lead with 17 homers. He finished the game leading the league with 50 RBIs.
Dioner Navarro’s RBI single in the second gave Los Angeles a 1-0 lead. Kemp led off with a double. He should’ve been doubled off second when Juan Uribe lined out to second baseman Utley, but his throw to shortstop Valdez was wide. After James Loney walked, Navarro lined a hit to left.
The Phillies loaded the bases in the bottom half on two walks and a single. After Oswalt struck out, Shane Victorino grounded into a fielder’s choice back to the mound. But De La Rosa walked Placido Polanco to force in a run.
Rollins missed his third straight start with a bruised right knee, but lined out as a pinch hitter in the ninth.
Notes: Former Phillies closer Brad Lidge got good news on his injured elbow after being examined by the team physician. Lidge has no serious damage and received a cortisone shot. Lidge has been sidelined all season, but hopes to return around the All-Star break. … A crowd of 44,721 was the 167th straight sellout at Citizens Bank Park, including the postseason. … Kemp was 0 for 8 against Oswalt before he hit a double. … A teenage girl made the defensive play of the night, reaching over the railing in the second deck to catch a foul ball with her left-handed glove in the top of the ninth. … The Phillies have not hit a homer in the last six games. … Uribe is hitting .375 (9 for 24) in his last seven games.

The poor run support that plagued Roy Oswalt in Houston has followed him to Philadelphia.

Rubby De La Rosa pitched five effective innings in his first career start and Dee Gordon had three hits in his first start, helping the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Phillies 6-2 Tuesday night.

Oswalt (3-4) lost his fourth straight decision. He allowed four runs and eight hits in six innings to remain winless since April 21.

The three-time All-Star has pitched well enough to get some wins, but he’s not getting much help from the offense. The Phillies have scored two runs or less in each of his last six starts. He’s allowed more than two runs just twice in 10 starts and has a 3.05 ERA.

“It’s not as easy at it looks,” Oswalt said. “I think a lot of the games I’ve been in, I put my team in a position to win. I’ve been through this before. I just have to go out and battle.”

Oswalt was just 6-12 despite a 3.42 ERA with the Astros last season before the Phillies acquired him in a trade July 29.

De La Rosa (2-0) allowed one run, constantly having to pitch out of trouble because he walked five and gave up four hits.

Matt Kemp hit a two-run homer for the Dodgers, who’ve won six of nine.

The NL East-leading Phillies have lost five of seven.

“We didn’t deserve to win the game,” Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said. “We’ve got to play better.”

Gordon, the son of former major league pitcher Tom Gordon, made his major league debut as a pinch runner and scored in the ninth in a loss Monday night. The speedy shortstop got some advice from one of his childhood heroes before the game, Jimmy Rollins. Then he went out and played like the old J-Roll, the 2007 NL MVP.

With his dad watching from a front-row seat behind the Dodgers dugout, Gordon led off the game with a single and singled in his next two at-bats. He scored a run, stole a base and finished 3 for 5.

De La Rosa, who had control issues on the mound, got the Dodgers started in the third with a walk. After Gordon singled, Casey Blake’s RBI single gave Los Angeles a 2-1 lead. Gordon scored when Oswalt’s pickoff throw to first sailed wide for an error. Andre Ethier followed with an RBI single to make it 4-1.

Ethier saved a run when he threw out Raul Ibanez trying to score from second on Wilson Valdez’s single to right in the third.

The Phillies got within 4-2 on Chase Utley’s RBI triple off Scott Elbert in the seventh.

Kemp connected off Michael Stutes in the eighth, hitting an opposite-field shot to right. Kemp is tied with Cincinnati’s Jay Bruce for the NL lead with 17 homers. He finished the game leading the league with 50 RBIs.

Dioner Navarro’s RBI single in the second gave Los Angeles a 1-0 lead. Kemp led off with a double. He should’ve been doubled off second when Juan Uribe lined out to second baseman Utley, but his throw to shortstop Valdez was wide. After James Loney walked, Navarro lined a hit to left.

The Phillies loaded the bases in the bottom half on two walks and a single. After Oswalt struck out, Shane Victorino grounded into a fielder’s choice back to the mound. But De La Rosa walked Placido Polanco to force in a run.

Rollins missed his third straight start with a bruised right knee, but lined out as a pinch hitter in the ninth.

Notes: Former Phillies closer Brad Lidge got good news on his injured elbow after being examined by the team physician. Lidge has no serious damage and received a cortisone shot. Lidge has been sidelined all season, but hopes to return around the All-Star break. … A crowd of 44,721 was the 167th straight sellout at Citizens Bank Park, including the postseason. … Kemp was 0 for 8 against Oswalt before he hit a double. … A teenage girl made the defensive play of the night, reaching over the railing in the second deck to catch a foul ball with her left-handed glove in the top of the ninth. … The Phillies have not hit a homer in the last six games.

WASHINGTON – Roy Oswalt was upset. Domonic Brown was stunned. The rest of the Philadelphia Phillies weren’t pleased, either.

A day after the Washington Nationals pasted Cliff Lee, Oswalt gave up just two runs, but it was enough for the Phillies to drop their second straight to Washington, 2-1 on Wednesday afternoon.

In the top of the sixth inning with the Phillies trailing by a run, manager Charlie Manuel decided to hook Oswalt. It was his fourth start after missing three weeks with a back injury, and it was a stifling afternoon with temperatures well into the 90s.

Oswalt’s mood wasn’t helped when Brown, who hit for him with the bases loaded, hit a sinking line drive to left that Laynce Nix made a diving catch on. In the bottom of the fourth, Nix hit a home run for the winning run.

Oswalt bristled when Manuel hit for him.

“That’s their decision. He’s the manager of the team. I don’t question too much of that, but that’s the first time I’ve been taken out at 79 pitches,” Oswalt said. “We’ll see how it goes next time.”

Oswalt (3-3) hasn’t won since April 21.

Manuel noted the heat and that many of his pitches were borderline.

Brown rarely starts against left-handers — not even against John Lannan — who won for the first time in 14 starts against Philadelphia.

He was sure he had a hit.

“That’s a great play, a Gold Glove-type play out there, especially in that situation. How they had me played, I thought it was gonna fall in,” Brown said.

“I was kinda watching Laynce the whole way and he had a good read on it. It was almost like I saw it in slow motion.”

Entering the game, Lannan had an 0-10 record with a 6.44 record against the Phillies.

“I thought we was gonna score some runs on him, if you want to know the truth,” Manuel said.

“We couldn’t get to him. In the past, we’ve kind of always caught up to him and hit him. If you be patient, make him get the ball up and throw strikes — especially on a hot day like today — that’s how you get to him.”

The Phillies had just five hits — four against Lannan (3-5) in 5 1-3 — and one against Todd Coffey, Doug Slaten, Tyler Clippard and Drew Storen in the final 3 2-3.

The Nationals scored in the bottom of the first when Roger Bernadina led off with a single. Ian Desmond bunted him to second and he scored on Jayson Werth’s one-out single to left.

Philadelphia tied it in the top of the second when Ryan Howard doubled, Ben Francisco drew a walk and, with one out, Carlos Ruiz hit a grounder to third. Alex Cora booted the groundball for an error and Howard came in to score.

In the top of the third, Lannan hit John Mayberry with a pitch. He stole second before Howard’s one-out single to short right, where Danny Espinosa had shifted. Mayberry tried to score from second, but Espinosa’s throw to the plate was in time for the out.

Nix homered to right center field with two outs in the fourth — his ninth of the season.

Oswalt allowed two runs and six hits in five innings. He walked two, struck out three and also hit a batter.

NOTES: Phillies SS Jimmy Rollins did not start for just the second time this season. He pinch-hit for Wilson Valdez in the sixth. … For just the sixth time since 1900, Philadelphia was in first place on May 1 and June 1. … The Phillies are off Thursday and begin a three-game series in Pittsburgh on Friday. … Philadelphia is 13-5 against left-handed starters. … Manuel is looking forward to having OF Shane Victorino (hamstring strain) return from the disabled list on Friday. “That’s gonna be good. That’s gonna make us better,” Manuel said. “Offensively, we’re gonna get better and of course, he plays an important position in center field.”

On a cold, February morning, I proposed 33 over-under proposition bets to keep the Philadelphia Phillies season interesting.

Truth be told, for baseball lifers like yours truly, baseball is always fascinating, and the Florida Marlins, the Atlanta Braves and the ever-busy Disabled List have all kept things quite interesting so far.

How interesting? With their 5-4 Memorial Day matinee win over the Nationals, the Phils stand at 34-20, which is the best record in baseball. They have done so despite a rash of injuries that may have buried a lesser team.

With 54 games in the books, exactly two-thirds of the season remains to be played. This seems like a fun time to re-examine  those 33 over-and-unders I proposed while awaiting Spring Training.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/605820-phillies-2011-preview-33-over-unders-to-keep-the-season-interesting

 

PITCHERS AND CATCHERS

 

1. Combined wins by R2C2 (Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee, Roy Oswalt and Cole Hamels):  71

With Halladay’s win over the Nats, R2C2 now has combined for 21 wins against 11 losses. That puts them on pace for 63 wins. This should come down to the wire, as an injury to Oswalt and very poor run support for—especially—Lee, have deflated this number a bit.

2. Combined innings by R2C2: 850

Halladay (a National League-leading 91.1), Lee (74.2) and Hamels (74.2) all rank in the top six in this category. Injuries have reduced Oswalt’s workload to 45 innings. Collectively, they have pitched 285.2 innings, which puts them on pace for 855.6. They’re just over the pace needed.

3. Combined strikeouts for R2C2: 800

The three healthy pitchers are all in contention for the strikeout crown; Oswalt has some catching up to do. Collectively, they have fanned 284 hitters, which projects to a most impressive 852. They’re striking out a man per inning, while yielding very few walks.

4. Combined complete games for R2C2: 20

Halladay looks like he’s going to lead the majors in this category again, and is setting a great pace with four. Lee and Hamels have one apiece, which puts R2C2 on pace for 18.

5. Wins by Joe Blanton in a Phils uniform: 6

I proposed this more as a nod to trade rumors than to concerns over Big Joe’s injuries and ineffectiveness. Blanton his the one-third pole with one victory in his six starts. This, of course, puts him on target for three wins.

6. Saves for Brad Lidge: 33

Ouch. Injuries have kept the—erstwhile?—closer on the DL all season; you do the math. However, Ryan Madson is on pace for 36.

7. Batting average for Carlos Ruiz: .285

Coming off a .302 season, this seemed like a compromise projection for the career .259 hitter. Ruiz is only batting .250 so far, but don’t count him out just yet.

8. Homers for Chooch: 11

Chooch is only on pace for six, but has missed a bunch of games. I still like this number.

 

THE REST OF THE LINEUP

9. Home runs for Ryan Howard:  44

Howard’s 12 homers—he’s already pushed Ruiz’s prop bet—has him on pace for 36.

10. RBI for Howard: 136

The Big Piece is vying for the league lead with 42, which projects to 126. He has done so despite being surrounded by an erratic, ever-changing lineup.

11. Whiffs for Howard:  180

Howard’s 65 whiffs—projects to 195—make 200 a possibility.

12. Games played for Chase Utley: 145

Oh well, this one’s down the drain. Utley has now played in seven of 54 games, Would you believe 100?

13. Homers for Chase: 28

Chase has launched one so far, but if he gets really, really hot…

14. HBP for Chase: 23

Utley led the league each year from 2007 thru 2009. He’s been plunked once already, and Phillies fans hope he does not even approach this number.

15. Games played for Jimmy Rollins: 145

Jimmy’s been healthy so far, only missing one game. I don’t think he’ll keep up this (159 game) pace, but he has a very good chance of hitting the over here.

16. Runs scored for Jimmy: 105

His 30 runs project to 90. If he stays healthy, and patient, he can do it. He is on pace for 69 walks, which would set a career high.

17.  Stolen bases for Rollins: 32

This looks like a good number. Rollins has swiped 12 bases, which projects to 36.

18. Placido Polanco’s batting average: .300

Polly has cooled off from his torrid start, but still stands at a very nice .317.

19. Will Polanco reach 2,000 career hits before or after September 15?

Placido has 66 hits and 1902 total. This one should be very close to the pin.

20. Games played for Wilson Valdez: 55

I think Valdez has this one cinched. His 45 games project to 135, and even if Utley and Rollins never sit out, he may get 11 more appearances as a reliever.

21. Will Raul Ibanez finish the season in a Phillies uniform?

At first glance, Ibanez’ detractors would ask “Who needs him?” On second glance, the Philies do, at least for 2011.

22. RBI for Raul: 90

Don’t laugh just yet. On May 1, Ibanez was batting .154. Now, he’s at a respectable .246, and on pace to knock in 87 runs. it’s been a great battle back for the for true professional.

23. Batting average for Shane Victorino:  .285

Yet another Phillie on the DL, Shane is hitting .284. 

24. Homers for Shane: 13

Although he’s already missed 15 games, the Flyin’ Hawaiian has popped six, which projects to his tying his career mark of 18, set last year.

25. At-bats for Domonic Brown: 250

That infamous Hook of Hamate injury has limited Brown to 29 MLB at-bats so far.

26. Homers for D-Brown: 14

He has not launched any so far.

27. Games played for Ben Francisco: 115

This one will be interesting. His 48 games project to 144, but will he play well enough to stay in the everyday lineup?

28. Ben’s batting average: .270

Francisco hit .268 last season, but carries a .229 BA thus far.

29. Homers for Ross Gload: 8

In limited duty, Gload has not put any in the seats so far. In fairness to him, I’m not counting foul balls, or homers rocketed in BP.

 

TEAM NUMBERS

30. Total Wins in 2011: 100

Somewhat amazingly, this collection of the walking wounded is now on pace to win 102 games.

31. Games ahead at the All-Star break: 4

The Phils are two-and-a-half games ahead of the Marlins (in action Monday night; this one also figures to be close.

32. Games the Phils will win the NL East by: 7

With that two-and-a-half game lead, they are on pace to win by seven-and-a-half games.

33. Games the Phils will finish ahead of the New York Mets: 13

In February, I wrote: It was a margin of 18 last year, but can the Mets be that bad again?

Well, the Phillies are on pace to win 102, and the Mets project to win about 75. So, I guess they can be that bad.

 

To summarize, other than the projections that were destroyed by injuries, a majority of these propositions will come right down to the wire. Would you have it any other way?