Don't Underestimate Oswalt, Polanco

By Amy McCormick

There has been a lot of hype about our starting rotation for months now.  It worried me in the beginning that Joe Blanton would be easily forgotten; it seems that he is getting plenty of attention (both positive and negative).  It actually seems that the middle of our outstanding rotation, Roy Oswalt, gets overshadowed by Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee.  Granted, Roy Halladay is superhuman and Cliff Lee is the most beloved man in Philadelphia; however, Little Roy is a quiet powerhouse who deserves some attention.  In addition to Oswalt, we have another Phillie who seemingly flies under the radar.  Placido Polanco shows a combination of skill and talent that cannot be manufactured.  His defense at third base and his offense make him virtually unstoppable. 

Roy Oswalt seems comfortable in his role as our #3 starter, because thus far, he has remained out of the limelight. Halladay and Lee are easily the fans’ favorites.  Hamels (my personal favorite) garners attention for reasons such as his infamous lack of run support.  Blanton, at the back end of the rotation, has created a buzz because he’s the fifth wheel with two bad starts.  In the middle, we have Oswalt.  It’s no secret that he feels uncomfortable with media attention; he’s a good ol’ boy from Mississippi who just wants to hurl the ball and do his job. 

And what a job he’s doing.  The righty has a 3-0 record, and it’s still April.  His ERA is 1.88 after 24 innings.  My favorite thing about watching Oswalt pitch is his tempo.  He fires pitch after pitch with little time in between.  He throws a lot of fastballs (92-94 mph), usually one after another in the strike zone.  In addition to the fastball, though, he throws a curveball, changeup and a mid-80s slider. 

Another thing I love about Oswalt is his toughness.  We all remember the sixteen-inning game last August when Charlie was low on options and Roy volunteered to play left field in the fifteenth.  We all saw Manny Ramirez (before he not-so-gracefully bowed out of baseball) nail Oswalt behind the ear with a line drive in March, knocking him to the ground.  What did Roy do? He got up and fixed his hat, insisting he was fine.  Little Roy is all business, and he plays to win. 

At third base, we have Placido Polanco.  He has appeared in an All-Star Game (2007) and has earned two Gold Gloves (2007 and 2009).  Even with issues from an elbow injury, Polly’s defense is quick and consistent.  At the plate, wearing what I'm sure is a custom-made helmet, he has had seven .300+ seasons (not including 2011).  Currently, after nineteen games, he’s batting .359.  This includes 28 hits and fifteen RBIs.  With a team offense that seems to be dwindling these days, we should all be sending Polanco thank you cards.

So, why is it that Polanco isn’t the talk of the town?  I think a lot of fans are busy talking about the rest of our infield.  Will Ryan Howard hit 40 homeruns this year? (Yes.)  Is Chase Utley coming back soon? (No.)  Will Jimmy Rollins swing at the first pitch? (Yes.)  Polly, much like Oswalt, seems to do his job aggressively but quietly.  He allows his performances to speak for themselves.

I realize that not every Phillie can be the town favorite.  Roy Oswalt didn’t snub the Yankees and their money, and Placido Polanco isn’t a heartthrob.  Neither of them seems to want a lot of media hoopla, which is fine with me.  As long as the two of them continue to post numbers consistent with what they’ve been producing, I’ll be happy.  I look forward to a fantastic season from both of them.