With Oswalt trade looming, should Braves worry about Philly?
Mad skills: Roy Oswalt can pitch and blow a bubble at same time.
If you’re a Braves’ fan, this would be a good time to pull for anybody other than Philadelphia in the Roy Oswalt trade sweepstakes.
While the Braves have gone through a relatively magical run this season, with unlikely subplots like Brooks “The Big Bambino” Conrad, it figured to be only a matter of time before the Philadelphia Phillies re-emerged as a factor in the National League East. And here they are.
The Phillies have won four straight to trim two games off the Braves’ division lead (down to five). That’s of some concern. But these are the bigger issues:
♦ The Phillies have struggled all year with injuries, most notably to shortstop and leadoff hitter Jimmy Rollins and shortstop Chase Utley. Rollins has missed over half the season (playing in 42 of Philly’s 98 games), but he is 9 for 21 (.429) in the past five games. Utley was 18 for 49 (.367) over 13 games before he had to go back on the disabled list after thumb surgery. He likely is out at least another month.
♦ Many expect the Phillies to be players before Saturday’s trade deadline. Philly must know now that they botched it in the winter when they traded starting pitcher Cliff Lee (acquired last July from Cleveland) to Seattle. (Lee was traded again two weeks ago to Texas.) They need a starting pitcher. Houston’s Roy Oswalt is the most likely candidate.
Former AJC comrade Joe Strauss, now of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, is reporting the Cardinals are unlikely to acquire Oswalt, who had made it no secret that the Cards were his first choice. That may leave Philly as the most likely buyer.
According to the Philadelphia Daily News, scouts from Houston and Tampa Bay both were in attendance at the Phils’ game against Colorado Sunday. Philly is said to be dangling Jason Werth in any potential deal.
If the Phillies get Oswalt, they’ll have Roy Halladay, Cole Hamels and Oswalt at the top of their pitching rotation. That’s pretty sick.
Combine that with Rollins and Utley coming around, and Philly could again look like the team that has won three straight National League East titles.
So what’s your level of concern? Should this increase the pressure on Braves general manager Frank Wren to make a deal, and if the Phils get Oswalt, do you think that gives them a leg (or arm) up in the division race?
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318 comments Add your comment
Road Dog
July 26th, 2010
10:50 pm
Hey, Jeff. Can you control this blog or not? This is getting completely out of hand here. Isn’t there some kind of filter, a webmaster. or something?? This kind of “free speech” will shut down every blog in the country eventually.Most folks here want to discuss sports. This kind of vitriol would never be published in the printed paper. What is the difference here? Free speech? This is hate speech!! And I thought there was a law against that in this country. I hope this is not the beginning of the end of your previously fine blog…………….
oh my god
July 26th, 2010
11:13 pm
anybody remember 72 year old former Braves and Hawks and now Yankees announcer John Sterling, born 7-4-1938, this will shake you up,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_5hK90Itwb8&feature=player_embedded
hmmmmmm
July 26th, 2010
11:41 pm
maybe Dunn,Chavez,KK, Cabrera and Lowe to LA, Kemp, Oswalt to Atl, and Medlen+ Dodger propects to Houton
Eli
July 27th, 2010
12:16 am
john d – If a HOF starting pitcher is not winning a ballgame, who is to blame? The HOF manager for sticking with his guy or the one throwing the d@mn ball.
You tried to make 3 different points, but none of them made any sense.
It is spelled you are (you’re), not your.
P.S. – didn’t mean to wake you so early…
chem
July 27th, 2010
12:19 am
Dear Schultz,
Your mind melt isn’t fully corrected, unless the Phillies are fielding two shortstops now:
“most notably to shortstop and leadoff hitter Jimmy Rollins and shortstop Chase Utley.”
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vermont 39
July 27th, 2010
8:12 am
Crying Wolf isn’t nice Jeff…
We HAVE a BETTER TEAM than they do!!!
Oswalt has been THAT impressive…or he would be gone already.
BC needs to keep deadwood out of the lineup.
LOYALTY should not trump non production.
Evan
July 27th, 2010
10:12 am
Why does everyone blindy assume the Phillies are going to make a strong push late. THEY ARE OLD (in baseball terms). And I dont just mean Moyer and Ibanez, Utleys 32 Werths 32 Rollins is 33 or 34 Polanco’s like 34 or 35 Hallady is 32 oe 33, even Howards 30 or 31. If they haven’t entered the twilight of their career theyve entered the twilight of their primes. This isn’t the steroid era anymore players dont get better going into their 30s, the Phillies window has shut.
Brave in NJ
July 27th, 2010
10:24 am
Wren needs to be proactive and creative and land an arm (preferably two and a bat). Sports radio in NJ/NYC area has the New Yuck Mess and their fans jumping ship while calling for heads to fall.
Brave's better watch out!
July 27th, 2010
10:40 am
Just so you guys know the Phillies are gonna trade Werth cause his contract is up. The reason their gonna trade him is so that they can get prospects to trade for Oswalt. The Phillies with a Halladay, Oswalt and Hamels rotation are even more dangerous. Hamels has been great for them and Halladay has been Halladay and Oswalt has a sucky record cause he is with the Astros.
hawesg
July 27th, 2010
12:56 pm
Lowe, Randall Delgado and a position prospect for Oswalt.
We get stronger, it’s revenue neutral and we block the Phils.
jeffreyh
July 27th, 2010
3:00 pm
C’mon Schultz; The Phills aren’t Defending NAtional And WOrld Champs because their mgmt is Stupid, THey Know what the need down the Stretch for 2010, and YES this is The Only Year that counts… it’s Right Now or Never…. Pitching is What Any Great Team Needs Desparately to WIN in Sept and Oct especially, yes all year but especially down the Stretch. Sorry for the folks who think Hitting is what Wins in Playoff and World Series… Sorry but your logic sinks to the bottom of the lake. Quality Pitching Wins Every Time !!!!!! Ask Washington NAtionals mgmt if they had hindsight to pick a Hitter over Strasburg????? Thats Totally IDIOTIC.
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