Oh no! Not Roy Oswalt! This video just shows how close these guys are to disaster with every pitch! This is scary stuff! As you’re probably aware, Roy’s one of the Phab Four for the Phillies this year and expectations are high for them and also for the Phillies. Back in the old days, dad always said a pitcher was supposed to be ready to field after the delivery. Get yourself right back in position with your mitt in front of you to protect from this very thing. But back in the 40’s and 50’s, I doubt very much the pitchers were throwing with the same intensity and velocity they are today. Who has time to do that; get back into position I mean? Baseball’s changed. They may have thrown just as fast back then, but the players now are huge in comparison and my thought is their reflexes are not as fast as the smaller pitchers. I don’t know, I’m just saying, there’s a reason those old fashioned rules don’t seem to apply anymore. Pitchers now aren’t expected to play the entire nine innings like they routinely did back in the old days. They give it their best shot, and a reliever comes in to continue where the starter left off. And then in comes the closer! So I doubt very much dad’s thinking would apply now.
Last reports are that Oswalt is doing well, and except for the baseball-sized welt on the back of his neck he should be able to start the regular season as scheduled. He’s lucky. His teammate Chase utley is facing surgery after his bout this spring with tendinitis in his knee, and most likely will miss a good part of the season, after missing a majority of 2010. Heartbreaking for the players and heartbreaking for the fans.
Spring training! A must for getting back into shape and letting the players gel with each other. But what a price to pay for these guys! The Giants closer, Brian Wilson, suffered a strained oblique muscle, and is looking at possibly sitting out just the first couple of regular season games, if he’s lucky. It could be much more and Cody Ross caught what appeared to be a routine fly ball yesterday, only to limp off the field with a calf strain. A visit to an MRI center resulted in a walking “boot” and crutches for Ross. It’s anyone’s guess how long he’ll be out. Here’s a list of a few other incidents this spring:
- St Louis Cardinals starting pitcher, Adam Wainwright had Tommy John surgery last week and will most likely miss the entire 2012 season.
- Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher, Shaun Marcum, suffered a “tight shoulder” after his last outing. Whether he’ll be sidelined for the beginning of the season is questionable.
- Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher, Zach Greinke, broke a rib in a “basketball game” and remains on the disabled list this spring training. (Okay, okay, probably not entirely related to spring training!)
- Los Angeles Angels First Baseman Kendry Morales was sidelined with a broken foot for the majority of 2010, and spring training hasn’t been able to help Morales get back on “foot” still. Looks like more rehab time for him before he’s back in the regular season.
- Yankees lead-off hitter, Brett Gardner, is back in the line-up after suffering a bruised shin during spring training.
The list goes on and on. But wait! Believe it or not, there’s actually some good news for the rest of us. The 2012 Regular Baseball Season begins next week! So it’s time to clean up the barbecue, get out those scorecards, stock up on popcorn and hotdogs, and get out the gear. Makes me all emotional just thinking about it.
And cross your fingers for all those guys on the disabled list so they’ll be able to join us soon. Let’s face it. It’s just not the same playing a game with one or more of your guys sitting on the bench with a disability! Too bad we can’t just go from post season to regular season and skip the Spring Training! Save us all some headaches!
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