Pastime Baseball League
In the same boat
Louisville's Oswalt suspended 10 games after brawl
LOUISVILLE - As if the pennant race between Louisville and New York didn't have enough tension, Racers ace Roy Oswalt has now been suspended for 10 games, just as was handed down to the Heroes' Jim McCormick three days earlier. So with the tightest pennant race in PBL history down to its final week, the two men with the most wins in PBL history are on the sidelines.
On Sept. 21, McCormick allowed a home run to Victor Martinez before hitting John Anderson of Philadelphia, igniting a bench-clearing brawl.
Last night, Oswalt - also facing Philadelphia - allowed a 2-run homer to Dan McGann in the 7th inning. The next batter, Reed Johnson, took one in ribs. Johnson took to the mound, another brawl ensued.
"I had no choice," commissioner Matt Hendricks explained. "It was exactly the same situation as with McCormick. I couldn't make the penalty any different."
But it is different. Louisville ventures to New York for a four-game set to conclude the season in what looks to be a division-deciding matchup. McCormick loses a start leading up to that series, but his suspension expires on the last day of the season, meaning he could conceivably start the season finale. For Oswalt, his suspension carries through the end of the regular season.
Oswalt was livid, calling the suspensions - including McCormick's - "pure idiocy." But Oswalt couldn't help but wonder if the common denominator here has a part in the situation.
"Philadelphia's accomplished nothing, they're finished," Oswalt fumed. "Is it coincidence that in the final two weeks of the season, they start brawls with the two teams in the hunt?"
"Perhaps," Louisville skipper Ned Hanlon said when told of Oswalt's assertion. "All I know is this is a huge blow to us as a team, and to Roy personally. He's the ultimate competitor. At least McCormick might get a chance to have a say in this race. Roy's done."
In the other locker room, Philadelphia manager John Ward scoffed at Oswalt's conspiracy theory.
"My guys were thrown at twice, that's the story," Ward barked. "That those two put their teams' playoff chances in this position is a reflection of them, not my guys."
"Bull****," New York manager Pat Moran answered when the happenings in Louisville were relayed to him, as well as Oswalt's assertion regarding Philadelphia. "They're second class, and this is a reflection of that."
The Oswalt loss is an extra blow to Louisville. Not only will Oswalt not be able to pitch again this season, but the loss comes on top of news that back spasms have sidelined slugger Dan Brouthers. Now, the Racers must fight to the finish without their ace and their only true slugger.
Hanlon bristled when a reporter asked if this means Louisville will find out what it's made of.
"I know what we're made of," he said glaringly. "You take a well-made house and strip the support beams from it, it's damn hard to stay upright. That doesn't mean the house isn't made right."
He bowed his head for a moment before looking up.
"But we're gonna win this damn thing anyway."