Roy Oswalt going to Phillies, and Braves need to respond (UPDATED)
Roy Oswalt joined a Phillies' starting pitching rotation that includes Roy Halladay and Cole Hamels. (AP photo)
(UPDATED: 4:45 p.m.)
When rumors began to heat up the other day that the Philadelphia Phillies were pursuing Houston pitcher Roy Oswalt — the gem of baseball’s trade deadline — I mentioned that such a deal could put pressure on the Braves to make a move.
Well, it just happened
After reports surfaced late Wednesday that the Phillies and Astros had specifics of a trade in place, ESPN and Fox Sports now are both reporting that Oswalt has waived his no-trade clause and signed off on the deal. The Astros will get pitcher J.A. Happ and two prospects in return.
Oswalt will start for the Phillies in Washington Friday night.
What does this mean for the Braves? Simple. They need to do something.
The acquisition of Oswalt doesn’t guarantee Philly will overtake the Braves in the National League East. But it’s a significant and aggressive move by a three-time defending division champion, one that should madate a response by Braves’ management.
General manager Frank Wren said the other day he was uncertain if the team needed to make a move before Saturday’s non-waiver traded deadline, but can there be any doubt now?
Everything Wren has done of late has been about setting the Braves up for a pennant run in Bobby Cox’s final season as manager. Most notable: The recent trade of shortstop Yunel Escobar to Toronto for Alex Gonzalez — a deal more about this year than the future — and the demotion of center fielder Nate McLouth to the minors.
With Oswalt joining the Phillies, it would be risky, at best, for the Braves to settle for what they have. The team needs offensive help, preferably somebody who plays center field. They also may need a reliever, with Eric O’Flaherty on the disabled list, Jesse Chavez just plain awful and Kenshin Kawakami having apparently been lost in a black hole.
Is it panic time? Not at all. But worry time, maybe.
The Braves lost to Washington today. They’re 6-7 since the All-Star break and their lead over Philadelphia in the East is down to three games (pending the Phillies’ game tonight at Arizona). The Phillies are only 8-6 since the All-Star break, but they have won seven straight and scored 41 runs in the last six games. They’ve hung around despite being wrecked by injuries most of the season (second baseman Chase Utley and center fielder Shane Victorino currently are on the disabled list).
Now, Philadelphia has Roy Halladay, Cole Hamels and Oswalt at the top of its starting rotation.
If Wren doesn’t respond with a deal, he will be playing a dangerous game.
♦
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♦
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501 comments Add your comment
BuckheadBrave
July 29th, 2010
4:59 pm
i don’t get it though, he was shaking things up early in the year. It seemed to be a new, rejuvinated Bobby, but one half season of success has made him content and lazy again. Why not put Hinske and LF and Diaz in CF. Nobody can come up with any legitimate reason not to except Bobby. They are 2 of your best hitters right now. Diaz is incredibly misused this season its sickening.
KerryB
July 29th, 2010
5:00 pm
sorry guys. I am an idiot.
Mableton Jacket
July 29th, 2010
5:00 pm
Damn I agree with Dawg in Lex.
FactsAreFacts
July 29th, 2010
5:01 pm
All,
I most certainly did afford the Braves proper respect. You may want to read my post again, geniuses. I said ” the Braves have certainly been a pleasant surprise this year, for sure” I also said that the Braves may take it in the end”, but that I do not think so. The Phillies are starting to play ball, despite all of their injuries, and will be getting guys back over the course of the next month or so. Why is it disrespectful to state that my team is a better team? We’ve proven that is the case. As for your contention that all Philly fans are obnoxious, ignorant, etc., etc., blah, blah, blah, it is SO tired. And you are so very clueless. I gave the Braves props and attempted to have an intelligent conversation here. But you choose to attack me…who’s being obnoxious in this regard? Keep it above board, boys!!
Tweets that mention Roy Oswalt going to Phillies, and Braves need to respond | Jeff Schultz -- Topsy.com
July 29th, 2010
5:01 pm
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by behind the numbers and Alex Ramati, Jeff Schultz. Jeff Schultz said: Busy day. Blog on Oswalt-to-Philly deal posted. My view: Braves can't sit back now. http://bit.ly/9oNotG [...]
JRW7
July 29th, 2010
5:02 pm
Frank Wren, what do we do now??????? Are you still STANDING PAT??????
Nacho Daddy
July 29th, 2010
5:03 pm
Look out guys, Philly fan will puke on you if you get him mad.
Ray Ferraro's Bobble Head Doll
July 29th, 2010
5:03 pm
Jeff – what is the deal with Smoltz? Is he still hoping to pitch for somebody this year?
Dr. Stating the Obvious
July 29th, 2010
5:05 pm
If the Braves don’t get a bat before the deadline, they are playing for the wildcard.
Chippers Daddy
July 29th, 2010
5:05 pm
I wish our lineup looked like this.
1) Prado 2nd
2) Heyward CF
3) Jones 3rd
4) MAC C
5) Freeman/Glaus 1st
6) Diaz RF
7) Infante/Hinske LF PLATOON
8)Gonzales SS
Also If there is one name I would pee my pants to have: it is Lance Berkman who is under contract through 2011 and could be resigned if need be. he can play corner OF. Big switch hitting bat with power. Astros are already conceding this season. and a young arm would be worth his power potential/versatility.
o-me
July 29th, 2010
5:05 pm
Sorry, FactAreFacts, didn’t mean to hurt your feelings. sorry man. Oh Gosh I’m sorry. forgive men man. Please!
Agree with Robert.
FactsAreFacts
July 29th, 2010
5:06 pm
Nacho Daddy – First of all, nice handle/screen name. Very intelligently devised. In your case apparently, ignorance is bliss…..
dcp
July 29th, 2010
5:06 pm
Illini Brave – no one would ever debate that the Philly fans can be obnoxious; let’s just relax on the generalizations. There are idiots in every fan base. They have sold out a bunch of games in a row and they are not all jerks – many families, kids, etc. They have over the top fans for sure. If we want to compare fan bases, their fans do show up, night in and night out – consecutive sellouts are normal up there. What matters is that the coaches and players respect the Braves and the Braves will have chances down the stretch to prove they are the better team. I could care less if the Braves win the series (thanks to Truth Seeker – woohoo the Braves won the season series last year – who cares – the Phillies won the NL and we watched on TV). And we lost the last series 2 of 3 when we could have made up ground. It isn’t where you start, it is where you finish. This is going to be a tough stretch – Braves cannot win if they don’t play better on the road – you can’t play all the games at home. It’s just a rough patch for now – let’s hope they can bounce back.
Ryan
July 29th, 2010
5:06 pm
They Braves need to make a move for a big bat or they are screwed. If they can’t hit the Nationals how do they expect to hit Halladay, Oswalt and Co. when they play the Phillies in two late crucial series? They cannot even hit bottom-feeders in their division that are hovering around or well below .500. With another road series coming up at Cincy, I think we’re entering the final few days in the division lead.
Our pitching needs an upgrade
July 29th, 2010
5:06 pm
We have2 legit starters right now in Hudson and Jurrjens. Medlen is doing really well, but he’s a rookie and you’re not sure how well he’ll hold up. Lowe is mediocre, and Hanson seems to be emulating him with about the same record/ERA.
I think we need to look at dealing Hanson (because nobody wants Lowe/Kawakami), possibly looking at a more experienced and seasoned pitcher in return, or an OF. Wren ain’t the only GM who overrates Hanson and his “I hang it everytime” curveball. Maybe trade Hanson/McLouth for Matt Kemp and a reliever?
We keep giving away games to weak teams like Fla and DC, losing 4 of 6 is awful!!!
Chippers Daddy
July 29th, 2010
5:07 pm
BTW yes diaz is the everyday RF in that lineup.
alberto
July 29th, 2010
5:08 pm
Well it was a fun spring and summer.
Ain’t it bizzare that the whole damn team goes on a frikin slump at the same time? Only Huddy proves spectacular.
Can anyone get that damn Russian NBA owner to buy this team?
Mark Cuban?
Tyler Perry?
Oprah?
o-me
July 29th, 2010
5:09 pm
Trade Hanson..you crazy!
FactsAreFacts
July 29th, 2010
5:09 pm
I sincerely wish the Braves luck the rest of the way. We will see who has the better team, and may the best team win. I’ll come back for a visit in a couple of weeks. Then we can discuss what’s what. Oswalt is starting for us tomorrow at home against the Nationals! WooooHoooo!
PMC
July 29th, 2010
5:09 pm
I wonder if they could get Johnny Damon now that everyone else in Detroit is injured.
912 Dawg
July 29th, 2010
5:09 pm
I sure hope that the Braves make a deal today. We’ll need all the help we can get against the Reds.
Chippers Daddy
July 29th, 2010
5:10 pm
By young arm I dont mean one that is in the majors already too. Hanson will not be and should not be traded any time soon. but delgado? sure throw him to Houston with young and timmons or whoever they want. lol.
o-me
July 29th, 2010
5:10 pm
Diaz is nothing more than a bench player. Come on Daddy get with the program.
Our pitching needs an upgrade
July 29th, 2010
5:11 pm
BTW I agree with the others…..we sure could’ve used Podsednik in the OF, either in CF or LF. He didn’t cost much, hits more than .300, 30 steals, lots of RBIs from the top of the lineup. I think he has as many HRs as all of our OFs minus Heyward.
dcp
July 29th, 2010
5:12 pm
Our Pitching….Maybe Podsednik was picked up so Kemp could be dealt to get them pitching. You may get your Hanson for Kemp deal.
READ THIS JEFF:
July 29th, 2010
5:13 pm
Let’s get the righty bat we need from the AL! I’ll bet we could easily secure a bat from LAA angels now. Howie Kendrick is a big righty bat native to GA and they have lots of depth in the outfield, and pitching options as well. Even though they aquired Haren, that’s a move for next season now as they lost a pitcher to the dl. (forgot his name) The angels will be big sellers if they like what they hear from us. What do ya think Jeff?
Einsteindawg
July 29th, 2010
5:14 pm
The Braves will get better by subtraction…not this year, but 2011. They’ll have a new manager, hitting and pitching coaches, the Kamakazee twins will be long gone, McOut will be history, as well as the greatest thief in MLB, Chippah. You’ll see young talent from our farm clubs that have energy and want to play to win, as well as passion and sound strategy from our coaching staff. We had a good run in May/June, but there’s a reason Bobby’s only won one WS…with all the HOF talent, too. Just my opinion.
o-me
July 29th, 2010
5:14 pm
He had 7 homers I believe and yes the Braves should have got him…Podsednik (sp.) right on UPGRADE.
Our pitching needs an upgrade
July 29th, 2010
5:15 pm
Tommy Hanson won’t be traded…..he’ll continue his mediocrity here, and will be one of the reasons the playoffs will come down to the wire. A .500 pitcher with an ERA of 4 does not excite me. Lowe is the same thing, and gets crapped on but Hanson is some kind of untouchable. He’s overrated, and his stats prove it. When was the last time he threw 7 innings? That’s what a stud pitcher does, not give up 10 runs about 5 times in 20 starts!
Since I know he’s staying, SOMEONE TEACH TOMMY HANSON TO STOP HANGING HIS CURVEBALL EVERY TIME! You’re not Charlie Liebrandt!
Mableton Jacket
July 29th, 2010
5:15 pm
How about adding an outfielder for a player to be named later depending on how he plays for us? A deal with a team wanted to cut salary.
912 Dawg
July 29th, 2010
5:15 pm
I would love to have Matt Kemp in our lineup. He could bat third and we could move Chipper to sixth.
Raleigh Dog
July 29th, 2010
5:19 pm
Braves dropped three games late since the break that they had in the bag nd could have easily won a couple more with a couple of singles with men on. I don’t think they’re for real. They’ve come back to earth in a hurry losing their spark at home and still stinking it up on the road against lesser lights. They’ll be out of first place by next Wednesday or sooner. I blame Bradley and his ridiculous “tempting the fates” column. It’s been deadly ever since. Talk about creating a curse. Bradley will never live that one down. His hubris doomed the Braves. How can a guy so often wrong in such big ways keep a column?
amicusterrae
July 29th, 2010
5:20 pm
I’m in Denver and watched Podsednik when he was here. There were lots of rumblings toward the end and after that he was a jerk. Yeah he’s hitting, but that may be why Braves didn’t get him. We could have beaten what the Royals got, easy.
CHall
July 29th, 2010
5:20 pm
What’s with not having Diaz lay down the sac bunt in the 8th? Double play was a killer. By the way, do not trade. GM’s have to smell our desperation now. We’ll lose too much.
Skeezix
July 29th, 2010
5:20 pm
Yeah–the Yunel trade has really backfired to date, no doubt about it; but it is still too soon to draw a conclusion. I hope FW gets some help for the offense. When your offense stuggles to score against the Nats, you have problems.
ReddJonn68
July 29th, 2010
5:20 pm
Does aynone want to take a stab at the 8 reasons we will not win the division ???
1. No speed on the basepaths ( not you J-Hey )
2. No real power in lineup ( Glaus leads with 14 hrs )
3. No true regular outfield lineup
4. Chipper is not leading this team ( no fire being shown )
5. Bobby will before seasons end revert to his old managerial ways ( handing in loyalty lineup cards )
6. Prado should be in the # 2 spot behind a real leadoff man
7. J-Hey should be in the # 3 spot nuff said
8. This is the wildcard after McOut gets going down on the farm their gonna bring him up & Bobby will give him one last chance to prove himself
tvsportscaster
July 29th, 2010
5:20 pm
Listen I know, the Braves are not playing well right now, but they’re in the middle of a 9-game road trip at three venues they don’t play very well in. If they can avoid a sweep in Cincy and tread water, then 14 of their next 17 games are at home, where they are unbelievable and the three road games are at lowly Houston. So brighter days are definitely ahead.
ArkyTech
July 29th, 2010
5:21 pm
I cannot believe there are people saying with a straight face (I assume, anyway) that Podsednik was the answer. Amazing. And just goes to show how little is available.
Kneecap
July 29th, 2010
5:22 pm
Our pitching…….
you are right about Scott Pod. So wonder what K.C. wanted from Braves for him?
How can Frank hold all these pitchers when there is no room this year,and next?
Are we gonna trade KK and Lowe so these rookie pitchers can come up?
Well who the hell wants them?
KK,JJ,D Lowe,Huddy have signed contracts.
Where we gonna pitch these minor league guys next year?
hmmmmmmmmmm
July 29th, 2010
5:26 pm
Its not that you need to RESPOND, its that the team broke camp with holes that were never filled, played over their head for a while, and now the holes are hurting them.You don’t build a team to respond, you build one to win their games, and if you do that nothing any other team does or doesn’t do will matter…
RollTide86
July 29th, 2010
5:26 pm
The braves NEED BAUTISTA!!!! He is a power hitter that can play outfield and 3rd base. We have so much pitching depth in the minors that can can make the move. The only players that should be off limits are teheran,minor, and freeman. We have the prospects and depth to make some big deals without selling the farm.
Bautista for- Dunn,Resop,Melky, and another prospect
Then we could trade Medlin, McClouth (eat some contract), Tim Collins, another prospect for Kemp!!!
Call up Minor for the 5th spot and we will be good to go!!!!! Its Bobbys last year we cant build for the future forever!
bob
July 29th, 2010
5:26 pm
Today was the same as the past.
Number 3 hitter (chipper) and number 4 hitter (troy) went 1 for 7.
Look at their July numbers….batting average around 225…2 home runs…15 rbi’s.
These are the power corners….except there was no power in July.
Is there any reason to believe that August will be different?
But…..DO NOT, I repeat DO NOT trade youth for a two month rental. Promote from within…Freeman for example.
Phillyson
July 29th, 2010
5:27 pm
beat by the nationals twice with no strasburg, your right you guys have nothing to worry about.
Chuckie
July 29th, 2010
5:28 pm
What about runners at second and third with one out and the number eight batter at the plate. The pitcher on deck? Why not walk him to load the bases for the pitcher? The eight batter had already hit an HR? Also, remember McClouth would not have been the batter the other night with bases loaded. Cox subbed him in for Hinske.
Great moves!!!
What about Uggla???
912 Dawg
July 29th, 2010
5:29 pm
Chipper retire! You are old and an easy out
bvillebaron
July 29th, 2010
5:30 pm
Our pitching needs an upgrade:
I think you need a reality check with your comments that the Braves need to look to deal Hanson. Seriously dude, have you lost your mind? Admittedly he has been inconsistent at times this year (3 rotten starts has made his ERA just under 4.00 when it would otherwise been just over 2.00), but he is what 23 years old?
This is precisely not the time to panic and make a Len Barker or, worse yet, Texeira trade. IMHO the Braves have an excellent shot to still win the division or the wild card even as presently constituted. The last thing I want the Braves to do is to trade one of their premium pitching prospects, Teheran, Delgado, Minor and Vizcaino, Freeman for a “RENTAL” player who, like Texeira, isn’t going to be the difference for this team this year any way (e.g. Willingham, Cody Ross, etc.).
I also disagree with many of the posters who feel that the proper response to the Phils getting Oswalt (if one is to be made) is to get a bat. I realize the Braves’ offense is struggling now (it happens folks) and could use a right handed power bat. I just don’t want to see that at the expense of giving up the future of this team because it is very bright with lots of quality prospects (unlike the Phils and the Mets who have mortgaged their future to win now).
IF Wren responds and I said IF he does, my dream scenario would be to see if Zack Greinke is actually available (there have been recent reports that Tampa Bay was “kicking the tires” to see if he was). As a subscriber to the “you can never have enough pitching theory”, if he was, I would try to acquire him even if it meant giving up Medlen and one of those 4 pitching prospects (preferably not Teheran). Who knows maybe Dayton Moore would give the Braves the same “gift” that Ed Wade gave the Phillies in shipping Oswalt to them for a No. 3 starter at best (Happ) and 2 A level prospects (i.e. basically nothing).
Greinke, Hudson and Jurrjens, Hanson and Lowe would not take a back seat to Halladay, Oswalt, Hamels, Blanton and Kendrick and the Braves’ top 3 would be a match for the Phils’ top 3 if they both made the playoffs. Just my opinion folks, fire away with the criticism as you feel warranted.
Phillyson
July 29th, 2010
5:30 pm
Note to Kerryb, still have our best triple A prospect in Brown and we didnt even have to trade our best A ball prospect Singleton who’s hitting .320 with 20 homers.
Kneecap
July 29th, 2010
5:31 pm
Actually the Fish and the Nats beat up on us all the time. Its not that suprising really.
Its the Muts and the fill-wees that cant beat us.
RollTide86
July 29th, 2010
5:31 pm
1. Prado
2. Heyward
3. Larry
4. Bautista
5. McCann
6. Kemp
7. Glaus/Freeman
8. A Gon
SP:
Hudson
Jurrjens
Hanson
Lowe
Minor
ReddJonn68
July 29th, 2010
5:31 pm
@ hmmm Yes & that means not trading away young talent the Braves are not the first team to ever deal with poor effort & bad attitudes & they won’t be the last.