DAVID MALINSKY
4* PHILADELPHIA/FLORIDA Under
Whereas the 0-3/7.20 of Roy Oswalt since the All Star break could be a sign of future struggles to some, we instead see opportunity. There is absolutely nothing wrong with his stuff (he went into the break off of back-to-back shutouts), and even in those three defeats it has been a 4:1 ratio of K’s to W’s. His own take on a sloppy outing in his first start as a Phillie was that he had a little too much adrenaline, and took time to settle into a flow, and tonight we expect to see the Oswalt that Philadelphia dealt for, a steady veteran that can have an impact in the pennant race, and one that has worked to a 2.97 on the road this season. But with questions about the offense behind him sans Ryan Howard, Chase Utley and Shane Victorino, we will let the total be our path.
Yes, the Phillies have scored 13 runs in the first two games of this series. But a big part of Tuesday’s output came from Marlin defensive miscues. A misplayed fly ball by Cody Ross in CF had to be ruled a hit, which made unearned runs show as earned; Dan Uggla committed multiple errors, but was only charged with one, because of that “you can not assume a double play” scoring rule; and Hector Luna had two different balls go off of his glove at 3B that were ruled hits. Last night the seven runs came via a lone extra base hit, with the Marlin pitching staff giving up seven W’s. So let’s grade the Phillies as who they are, a team that does not bring a lot of sock from the bottom of the order, and until Jimmy Rollins finds his game (still mired at .243), not all that much at the top either.
Chris Volstad has worked to a 3.65 at home this season, with his only start from this mound since the All Star break a solid outing vs. Atlanta, and he is one of those idea “value” fits, a guy that does not generate market excitement, which helps to keep those 8’s in play, but brings more than enough for our purposes.
