Time to get Oswalt - Too late, he's a Ranger (pg 7)

[Popeye_Card]

what was it - 10 mil? so half a season would be 5 mil or less?

Supply and demand. I'd expect him to command at least $6MM for half a season.

That's an expensive insurance policy.

[docellis]

I'd think, if anything, the demand is less.

[Magneto2.0]

But this all assumes that Oswalt just waltzes in and is the great pitcher he was for the majority of his career. He's likely not that guy anymore. If he was anything near a sure-thing, he'd be pitching right now. But last year he posted very average numbers (on par with Vazquez's season, who no one is clamoring to sign). He has a bad back--something that never really goes away when you're on the wrong side of 30.

If the idea is that he can be better than Garcia or Wainwright, I just don't follow that logic. No one would have thought coming into the season that he'd be better than either of those two. Since then AW and JG look worse because we have some performance to go off of. Meanwhile, Oswalt has sat at home and looks no worse. Had he been pitching, it is entirely possible he could be worse than AW or JG.

Wainwright will get back in gear. So will Garcia. Lohse won't be *this* good all year, but he's been pitching very well ever since he's been healthy--he led the Cards in wins and ERA last season. Westbrook is capable of being an above-average pitcher. This rotation will be fine, and it will eventually get Carpenter back for that inevitable rough spot to come.

Ummm I would have. Oswalt is definitely better than Garcia.

[Popeye_Card]

I'd think, if anything, the demand is less.

We're sitting here talking about needing to run out and get Oswalt for insurance for *our* rotation--2nd in the NL. Demand is high for pitching throughout the league, and it will only get greater as the deadline rolls around.

Ummm I would have. Oswalt is definitely better than Garcia.

Really?

Sure, 10 years ago. But 34 year old, bad back Oswalt vs. 25 year old, entering his prime Garcia?

[docellis]

I'd think, if anything, the demand is less.

We're sitting here talking about needing to run out and get Oswalt for insurance for *our* rotation--2nd in the NL. Demand is high for pitching throughout the league, and it will only get greater as the deadline rolls around.

Considering he is only interested in pitching for 2 or 3 teams, and at least one of those he was interested in, is doing fine...

[Popeye_Card]

I'd think, if anything, the demand is less.

We're sitting here talking about needing to run out and get Oswalt for insurance for *our* rotation--2nd in the NL. Demand is high for pitching throughout the league, and it will only get greater as the deadline rolls around.

Considering he is only interested in pitching for 2 or 3 teams, and at least one of those he was interested in, is doing fine...

I'm sure that pool of potential teams expands when it is only for 3-4 months.

[docellis]

Maybe, but Berkman, Beltran and AW are Cardinals.

[fanforever]

From June 24, 2011:

http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/ ... -jeopardy/

You throw as long as you can and when you can’t throw anymore you don’t,” the 33-year-old pitcher said after the game. “Hopefully it’s not to the point where I can’t throw anymore. If it’s at that point, you just have to accept it.”

Oswalt said he will have an MRI on Monday – doesn’t that seem a little far off for something this serious? – and if the examination brings the type of news that puts his career in jeopardy …

“I’ve had a pretty good one,” Oswalt said with resignation.

Oswalt has been dealing with back issues for years, and told Salisbury that he has had “a lot” of cortisone injections over the years. An MRI “a year or two ago” revealed two degenerative discs. This season, Oswalt says, he has felt pain “when I sit down, stand up, walk, pitch, sleep,” and he already spent more than two weeks on the disabled list earlier this season.

Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said “he’s had trouble for quite a while. This started back in Arizona (in April). … I’m definitely concerned about it.”

[Magneto2.0]

I'd think, if anything, the demand is less.

We're sitting here talking about needing to run out and get Oswalt for insurance for *our* rotation--2nd in the NL. Demand is high for pitching throughout the league, and it will only get greater as the deadline rolls around.

Ummm I would have. Oswalt is definitely better than Garcia.

Really?

Sure, 10 years ago. But 34 year old, bad back Oswalt vs. 25 year old, entering his prime Garcia?

Last two seasons Oswalt had a better WAR (Even considering he pitched nearly 60 less innings than Garcia in 2011), better K:BB ratio, and better adjusted ERA.

I trust Baseball Reference's WAR more than Fangraph's.

[Popeye_Card]

I'd think, if anything, the demand is less.

We're sitting here talking about needing to run out and get Oswalt for insurance for *our* rotation--2nd in the NL. Demand is high for pitching throughout the league, and it will only get greater as the deadline rolls around.

Ummm I would have. Oswalt is definitely better than Garcia.

Really?

Sure, 10 years ago. But 34 year old, bad back Oswalt vs. 25 year old, entering his prime Garcia?

Last two seasons Oswalt had a better WAR (Even considering he pitched nearly 60 less innings than Garcia in 2011), better K:BB ratio, and better adjusted ERA.

I trust Baseball Reference's WAR more than Fangraph's.

WAR for pitchers is nearly useless, no matter where you get it from.