http://www.yardbarker.com/rss/player/479 Recent articles about Roy Oswalt en-us More photos » by Dino Vournas - AP Roy Oswalt, in a rare good mood Browse more photos » To lead off the starters section, I wanted to focus a little on Roy Oswalt. The soon-to-be 32-year old had his worst season as a professional, but was that a sign of aging and decline, or just a bump in the road? His BABiP shows he wasn't unlucky in 2009 and was right in line with his career average. He also didn&#... Thu, 29 Oct 2009 16:49:44 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Astros_Roster_Breakdown_The_Starters/1460585 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Astros_Roster_Breakdown_The_Starters/1460585 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Astros_Roster_Breakdown_The_Starters/1460585 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/4/7/47a756103718df7474b93a5ecf3a2d960d09cdad/small/Astros_v_Royals_936c.jpg More photos » by Al Behrman - AP Browse more photos » Richard Justice asks a pretty valid question in his most recent blog post: Can Roy and Lance still be elite players? Richard cites declining power stats for Lance and a rising ERA for Roy as proof of their possible demise. Of course, there are better stats to evaluate these two players. Taking a deeper look at Lance, we can see that a lot of his numbers are similar ... Fri, 18 Sep 2009 06:00:54 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Whats_eatin_Roy_Oswalt_and_Lance_Berkman/1193845 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Whats_eatin_Roy_Oswalt_and_Lance_Berkman/1193845 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Whats_eatin_Roy_Oswalt_and_Lance_Berkman/1193845 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/b/9/b91c2ee40b4aa1e2b5807a1f8735ef1d1c0d0459/small/Houston_Astros_v_3fa6.jpg by David J. Phillip - AP View full size photo uploaded September 5, 2009 Yes, Roy Oswalt left with lower back pain after 6.1 IP, even though he was over powering the Philies.  Yes, LaTroy Hawkins couldn't hold the lead.  But does any of it really matter when you see the following? via www.fangraphs.com Phillies vs Astros coverage ; Phillies vs Astros boxscore ; The Good Phight Sat, 05 Sep 2009 21:07:02 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Kaz_Matsui_turns_Lidges_lights_on_Phillies_4_Astros_5/1121468 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Kaz_Matsui_turns_Lidges_lights_on_Phillies_4_Astros_5/1121468 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Kaz_Matsui_turns_Lidges_lights_on_Phillies_4_Astros_5/1121468 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/4/7/47a756103718df7474b93a5ecf3a2d960d09cdad/small/Astros_v_Royals_936c.jpg Balls went all over the place in thbe first, and the Cards managed to plate 3 runs. Uncle, for once, wasn't the main cause of the trouble, although he DID contribute. Roy pitched out of trouble all night, leaving bases loaded in the 4th and 5th, and leaving 2 on in the 6th by getting Uncle to pop out. Hehhehheh. The Astros scored 2 runs on 4 singles in the 4th, then Miggy GIDP and Keppinger got out. Best Astros play of the night? With Pujols on first and 1 out, Holliday hit a ball into ce... Wed, 26 Aug 2009 22:18:45 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Roy_Oswalt_Gives_Up_3_In_The_First_And_Loses_To_The_Cards/1051628 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Roy_Oswalt_Gives_Up_3_In_The_First_And_Loses_To_The_Cards/1051628 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Roy_Oswalt_Gives_Up_3_In_The_First_And_Loses_To_The_Cards/1051628 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/4/7/47a756103718df7474b93a5ecf3a2d960d09cdad/small/Astros_v_Royals_936c.jpg I could tell from the very beginning that Roy was FAR from his old self. For one thing, he wasn't doing his usual thing of getting the ball and throwing, He hemmed and hawed around between pitches and batters. These Marlins hitters are VERY different from most hitters - they take a LOT of pitches and will NOT swing at borderline pitches or unhittable pitches. amusement I'm sure what is said is that they don't strike out, they put the ball in play. But that is besides the point. Wh... Tue, 11 Aug 2009 18:58:50 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Roy_Oswalt_Gives_Up_6_Runs_But_Gets_A_ND_In_Astros_Loss_To_The_Marlins/971751 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Roy_Oswalt_Gives_Up_6_Runs_But_Gets_A_ND_In_Astros_Loss_To_The_Marlins/971751 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Roy_Oswalt_Gives_Up_6_Runs_But_Gets_A_ND_In_Astros_Loss_To_The_Marlins/971751 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/4/7/47a756103718df7474b93a5ecf3a2d960d09cdad/small/Astros_v_Royals_936c.jpg Oswalt Credits Catcher Transition With Improvement Buster Olney's blog at ESPN interviewed Roy Oswalt about the Astros' second half runs, as well as Roy's improved pitching in recent weeks. Oswalt says it took time to learn to work with Pudge, particularly since he was a late signing, and they are a good combo now.. Oswalt says that other people don't understand the importance of the relationship between the catcher and pitcher. Roy also says that a catcher from the Amer... Mon, 20 Jul 2009 13:18:55 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Oswalt_Credits_Catcher_Transition_With_Improvement/843816 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Oswalt_Credits_Catcher_Transition_With_Improvement/843816 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Oswalt_Credits_Catcher_Transition_With_Improvement/843816 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/4/7/47a756103718df7474b93a5ecf3a2d960d09cdad/small/Astros_v_Royals_936c.jpg More photos » by Jae C. Hong - AP Browse more photos » I can't remember the last time I watched an Astros game and they managed to beat a good team while making it look easy.  Maybe that's just because nothing seems to ever really come easy for this team, in my mind, but tonight was one of those rare occasions where my blood pressure remained steady throughout the game. After an improbable three run two ou... Sat, 18 Jul 2009 00:14:43 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Roy_Oswalt_pitches_likeRoy_Oswalt_Astros_8_Dogers_1/829932 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Roy_Oswalt_pitches_likeRoy_Oswalt_Astros_8_Dogers_1/829932 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Roy_Oswalt_pitches_likeRoy_Oswalt_Astros_8_Dogers_1/829932 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/3/6/368d672cb72f67e4edc68aa694b61dcda88c6c9d/small/Astros_v_Royals_956e.jpg At 3 PM in Houston Texas in mid-July, it is HOT and even with ceiling fans, it is still HOT. So when we sat down to watch the game, we noticed that the fans were wearing jackets and long sleeve jerseys and we just might could have felt a leeeetle envious. So I knew I was gonna hear a bit of grumbling from Husband. I reassured him that Randy Johnson wasn't exactly Tim Lincecum these days and Roy has been rounding into his second half form. And besides, if the Astros got shutout AGAIN, it ... Sun, 05 Jul 2009 19:45:44 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Roy_Oswalt_Pitches_A_Super_ACE_Game_To_Beat_Giants/773291 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Roy_Oswalt_Pitches_A_Super_ACE_Game_To_Beat_Giants/773291 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Roy_Oswalt_Pitches_A_Super_ACE_Game_To_Beat_Giants/773291 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/3/6/368d672cb72f67e4edc68aa694b61dcda88c6c9d/small/Astros_v_Royals_956e.jpg More photos » by Dino Vournas - AP I didn't mention that Oswalt also collected two RBI today. Well, I guess I did now. Browse more photos » Isn't this what an ace is supposed to do- stop losing streaks? Albeit the Astros had a modest skid at only two games, it felt like much, much more. Roy Oswalt took the ball and tossed a beatiful eight inning performance in which he allowed a scant three hits, w... Sun, 05 Jul 2009 19:16:08 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Astros_offense_helps_power_Oswalt_to_victory_over_Giants/773139 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Astros_offense_helps_power_Oswalt_to_victory_over_Giants/773139 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Astros_offense_helps_power_Oswalt_to_victory_over_Giants/773139 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/a/3/a337ed642b7bc77215005636ab127eb09ddd9e35/small/MLB_JUN_01_77e0.jpg More photos » by Tom Gannam - AP Roy makes his "HR Allowed" face. Browse more photos » Roy Oswalt gives up home runs. All pitchers do, but it's been well chronicled 'round these parts that Roy does so a little more frequently than Astros fans would like. It's not like he's a fly ball pitcher, either. On the contrary, he has a history of being adept at getting ground balls much mor... Tue, 30 Jun 2009 07:00:20 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Roy_Oswalts_HR_Allowed_if_he_were_a_San_Diego_Padre/755816 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Roy_Oswalts_HR_Allowed_if_he_were_a_San_Diego_Padre/755816 (with apologies to Rod Temperton) It's close to midnight and Roy Oswalt is dealin on the moundUnder the floodlight, the fans hear only swishing soundsYou try to hit, but that fastball has some wicked movementYou start to freeze as curveballs seem to be right at your eyesYou're paralyzed'Cause this is Roy-O's thriller nightAnd no one's gonna save you from his throwing yet another strikeYou know it's thriller, thriller nightYou're fighting for your hits inside a kill... Mon, 29 Jun 2009 20:06:15 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Roy_Oswalt_Pitches_A_Thriller/756204 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Roy_Oswalt_Pitches_A_Thriller/756204 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Roy_Oswalt_Pitches_A_Thriller/756204 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/3/6/368d672cb72f67e4edc68aa694b61dcda88c6c9d/small/Astros_v_Royals_956e.jpg Tejada, Berkman, Lee and Pence were all ofer. Erstad, of all people, was 2fer 2, raising his BA to a stunning .145 and Bourn drove in 1 run and Keppinger drove in the other with a solo homer. Roy had given up 3 runs through 7 and I was surprised to see Coop send him out for the 8th. Then with 2 out, he gave up a single, then a walk. He was already losing by 1 run and I guess Roy decided to stay in all the way, in case the meat of the lineup managed something vs Joe Nathan, but he gave up a 2 ... Fri, 19 Jun 2009 22:57:13 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Roy_Oswalt_Pitches_His_First_Complete_Game_Of_09_And_Loses/747363 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Roy_Oswalt_Pitches_His_First_Complete_Game_Of_09_And_Loses/747363 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Roy_Oswalt_Pitches_His_First_Complete_Game_Of_09_And_Loses/747363 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/a/3/a337ed642b7bc77215005636ab127eb09ddd9e35/small/MLB_JUN_01_77e0.jpg Last night Roy Oswalt and Team USA got the TKO from Tokyo, as Dice-K (miraculously) gave up only two runs to the Americans — leading Japan to a 9-4 victory and a ticket to the finals vs. Korea. Tonight Japan and Korea wage war at Dodger Stadium for the WBC finale, as Japan defends it’s title [...] Mon, 23 Mar 2009 12:54:23 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Korea_and_Japan_Wage_War_Tonight_in_LA/561775 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Korea_and_Japan_Wage_War_Tonight_in_LA/561775 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Korea_and_Japan_Wage_War_Tonight_in_LA/561775 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/0/0/0070ef9dbae19ef94d2f59e578f1234fa33d3b0d/small/85557089.jpg