Jerome Solomon weighs in with Roy's newest opinion:
Prior to a 6-2 loss to the Marlins, some players seemed to be fretting in the clubhouse that the Rodriguez trade is a sign that Astros management is giving up on the 2009 season.
One player wasn't fretting at all. Roy Oswalt was all but celebrating.
He pretty much told Chronicle baseball writer Jesus Ortiz that he would help the team load up the truck and work the counter at the flea market if it wanted to do some astute bartering.
In what might one day be remembered as a foreshadowing moment, Oswalt stated clearly that the Astros need to start acquiring players who could help the team next season.
“I'm not looking for two years down the road,” he said. “I'm looking for next year.”
Oswalt wasn't calling for an all-out fire sale. But to get the players he wants to play with next season, he says the Astros should be open to trading some of his current teammates. The righthander didn't name any names, but he said the time is now to make moves that many throw-in-the-towel fans were calling for before the trade deadline.
But Easy Eddie doesn't buy it:
“This is absolutely a stand-alone, isolated move."
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
