Today’s big Houston Astros news comes by way of the Harris County Family Courts where sources are reporting that Astros ace, Roy Oswalt, has filed for divorce from the Houston Astros citing irreconcilable differences as the cause for the failure of the union. In support of his filing, Oswalt pointed out that Kazuo Matsui was the final out with runners on base on Saturday and Sunday. Oswalt also pointed out that he surrendered only two runs on Saturday, yet lost the game 2-1 to the Giants.
Oswalt was clear that he and the team had tried to iron out their differences, but ultimately, there was just nothing that could be done to repair the damage done by an offense so inept that former shortstop Adam Everett, long known for a stellar glove and an ability to ground into double plays, was now longingly seen by the pitching staff as an offensive savior.
“I knew I needed to probably throw a shutout, you know, maybe we can get one [run], he said on Saturday. “A pitch backed up on me on a slider. I was trying to go down and away, and it backed up over the plate.”
That pitch that backed up over the plate ended up being a two-run home
run — the only runs the Giants scored on Saturday. But it was enough.
The Astros were able to score one run — Michael Bourn led off the game
with a walk, stole second base, went to third on a Lance Berkman
groundout, then scored on a wild pitch. The Astros had plenty of chances
off of Giants ace Tim Lincecum, however. They just couldn’t get it done
when it mattered as they put the leadoff batter on base in six of the
nine innings, but were a stellar 0-for-11 with runners in scoring
position.
“I feel pretty good,” Oswalt said of his start. “My
mechanics wasn’t as good as it was last start, but good enough to lose.”
The loss dropped Oswalt’s record to 2-5 on the season while he
lowered his ERA to 2.62. Oswalt is putting up all-star numbers. His
teammates just aren’t producing. And they apparently aren’t happy with
Oswalt’s inability to pitch shutouts every time out.
“We’re a
team, you know what I’m saying?” Lance Berkman said when informed of
Oswalt’s statements. “As much as you want to cry for a guy not getting
run support, it’s a team game.
We win as a team, we lose as a team, and we lost today. I certainly
understand his frustration, but it’s not like we’re not trying. We’re
out there grinding them out and trying to score some runs, and it hasn’t
happened.”
But while the offense may be out there grinding, the
evidence fully supports Oswalt’s contention that they suck, and that he
has to be perfect every time out. The lineup that manager Brad Mills
started on Sunday, when the team lost 4-3 to the Giants despite Brett
Myers pitching a complete game, didn’t have a single starter with an
average over .262. The team’s offensive catalyst, Michael Bourn, who
despite a major slump has continued as the team’s main weapon, was
benched yesterday. It’s almost as if Mills was deliberately trying to
lose the game, a move furthered by his pinch-hitting Kazuo Matsui with
two men on base and two outs in the ninth inning.
The end
result of the three-game series in San Francisco was that the Astros
were swept by the Giants for the second time this season, and in none of
the six games has the offense been competitive. At 13-24, the Astros
once again have the worst record in the National League, and once again
have only the Baltimore Orioles to thank for keeping them from having
the worst record in the majors.
The Astros will play the Los
Angeles Dodgers, in Los Angeles, tonight and tomorrow. The Dodgers are
one of the hottest teams in baseball, having gone 9-1 for their last 10
games. And you just know that they’re licking the lips at the thoughts
of facing an offense so anemic that even anemia is attempting to
disassociate itself from the Astros.
It’s still early in the
Oswalt/Astros divorce proceedings, but word is that the rest of the
Astros starting staff is eagerly anticipating the outcome. Seeing as the
how the Astros offense is the absolute worst in the majors — they’re
dead last in average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, hits,
homers, RBI, runs, and walks — the rest of the staff is hoping that
they, too, can gain their freedom should Oswalt prevail.
Only
time will tell the final result. But be assured this, if the offense
continues as is, then things are going to get ugly between the Astros
and Oswalt.
This article appears in May 13-19, 2010.
