GatewayRedbirds.com

I really didn't see the need to get Oswalt, and that's even counting on Carp not coming back at all. I thought that the current group would be fine. I'm becoming less inclined to believe that about Westbrook, I guess, but I still think it would have been a tough fit. I guess with Philly and LAA now needing SP, the ante for Oswalt went up enough that he got an offer he wanted from the team he really wanted to go to. Good for him.

coming off TH.

Rangers' rotation woes mount with Oswalt, Lewis

The Rangers have scratched Roy Oswalt from his scheduled start Monday because of stiffness in his back, and Colby Lewis will have his forearm examined by Dr. Keith Meister on Monday before the Rangers decide if he can start Tuesday.

That seems unlikely, though the Rangers still have him listed as their starter against Boston. Martin Perez would likely be the choice in Lewis can't go. Oswalt, who is in Houston for an exam, will be replaced by Scott Feldman in the opener of a three-game series at Rangers Ballpark.

The Rangers do not believe Oswalt's injury is serious, though both he and Lewis could wind up on the disabled list. Oswalt felt discomfort on the last pitch of his bullpen session Friday.

Oswalt has had back problems the past few seasons, and the health of his back was a concern as he went unsigned through the free-agent period over the winter and didn't sign on with a club until the Rangers agreed with him in May in light of an elbow injury to Neftali Feliz.

http://sportsblogs.star-telegram.com/foul_territory/2012/07/rangers-rotation-woes-mount-with-oswalt-lewis.html

So apparently the Rangers want to move Oswalt to the bullpen and he's reportedly not happy about it. Wonder if he'd ask for his release?

His performance this season and injury questions about his back aren't very inspiring though. The K and BB numbers are there but his pitches are getting hit pretty hard.

This is the key for me. If it was almost any other injury he went thru last year, I'd be inclined to say that since he was really good at the end of the year then his problems are over.

But the injury was a sore lower back. For pitchers, that region is always a concern, ESPECIALLY with guys Oswalt's size. He generates most of his power from the legs and the lower back and the back gets all the strain. The only treatment for this is rest, and the older you are the more severe the inflammation becomes and the longer rest periods are needed. His injury problems are only going to get worse IMO.

So I think that spending the 10 on him actually makes the team worse by the end of the year, especially if you have to move a JW to make it work, because I think Oswalt will need the backup for injury, not that he'd be the one to help be a backup.