Last winter, Roy Oswalt was a free agent.
Rangers’ Roy Oswalt Wins 2012 Debut
In his first major-league outing since last season and his first-ever as a Texas Ranger, Oswalt pitched effectively for 6⅔ innings and beat the Rockies.
Roy Oswalt was a picky free agent. There seemed to be only a few teams he would consider joining, but none of those teams -- including the Texas Rangers -- seemed to have any real need for Roy Oswalt.
Things change, and sometimes quickly. When the season began, the Rangers seemed to have six or seven qualified starting pitchers. But with first Alexi Ogando and now Derek Holland on the Disabled List, the Rangers suddenly have a real need for Roy Oswalt.
Fortunately, the Rangers signed Roy Oswalt a few weeks ago. And after making four tuneup starts in the minors, Oswalt made his 2012 major-league debut Friday night against the Colorado Rockies.
It went well. In 6⅔ innings, Oswalt gave up nine hits, but just one walk and one run, while striking out six Rocks. Even better,
1. Oswalt was routinely throwing his fastballs in the low 90s, just like last season, and
2. the Rangers beat the Rockies 4-1, with Joe Nathan picking up his 16th save.
Oswalt probably won’t ever be one of the best pitchers in the majors, like he used to be. But as long as he’s healthy, he should be plenty good enough to help the Rangers reach the postseason again.
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