The time may be nearing when Texas Rangers RHP Roy Oswalt takes his ball and goes home, then again, perhaps the Rangers will request that he do so.
Sunday in a 7-6 loss to the Kansas City Royals, Oswalt declined Rangers manager Ron Washington’s request to pitch another inning.
Oswalt had pitched the seventh and eighth inning , retiring the Royals in order, on 30 pitches.
When asked after the game, the Rangers skipper said “He said he couldn’t go any further,” manager Ron Washington said. “He said he had enough.” “To get any more, you have to ask (Oswalt),” he said, according to the Dallas Morning News.
Oswalt has let it be known that he isn’t happy about being moved to the bullpen to iron out his mechanics.
“I’m a starter,” Oswalt said. “I’m not really a bullpen guy.” However, Oswalt posted an ERA of 6.49 over 6 starts with the Rangers. Clearly Oswalt is not the pitcher he once was.
There is a big difference between saying couldn’t go further, and wouldn’t go further. That’s what Rangers general manager Jon Daniels has to decide.
“Roy prefers to start,” Daniels told multiple media outlets.”We had a call to make and did what we thought was best for the club. As we all know, things can change. Right now, we’re happy with how things set up, but we understand his point of view.”
Oswalt is the only one who can answer the question if he couldn’t or wouldn’t go further. It could be that Oswalt was gassed , or perhaps had a tender back and didn’t want to risk further injury.
It could be that his pride and ego convinced him to make a decision that he may soon regret. Be sure that Nolan Ryan, the guy in charge of all things baseball in Texas, will find out.
