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To most people who were paying attention, Roy Oswalt looked finished in 2013. It appears Roy knew it, too, as the 36-year-old right-hander officially announced his retirement on Tuesday.
Oswalt posted an 0-6 record with an 8.63 ERA in 32⅓ innings spanning nine appearances for the Colorado Rockies last season. He was brought into the organization on a minor-league deal last June and made his way to the majors later that month, only to allow 14 runs in his first three starts with the Rockies before landing on the disabled list for two months.
His strikeout and walk numbers were as strong as ever, punching out 9.5 batters while surrendering only 2.5 free passes per nine innings, but Oswalt surrendered 49 hits and gave up line drives at an astonishing 29 percent rate. As was the case for Oswalt when he pitched for the Texas Rangers in 2012, when hitters were aggressive against him, they were too often rewarded. It also doesn't help that Oswalt's arrival pretty much coincided with Colorado's fade from contention, so it's safe to say that he won't be remembered in a positive light by Rockies fans aside from those who have an appreciation for what he accomplished elsewhere.
Oswalt pitched in the big leagues for 13 seasons, going 163-102 with 3.36 ERA and a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 3.56 for the Rockies, Rangers, Houston Astros and Philadelphia Phillies. He was selected to three All-Star teams and finished in the top five in Cy Young voting on five occasions.
Happy trails, Roy.
