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NL notebook

Compiled from Times wires

© St. Petersburg Times,
published October 9, 2001

Oswalt throws again, is scheduled for start

HOUSTON -- Rookie Roy Oswalt, bothered by a sore right groin, threw 70 pitches in a simulated game Monday to test his strained right groin and could be ready to start Game 4 if the best-of-five series lasts that long.

"I wouldn't say it was normal, I just haven't been out there in a month and it's like coming into spring training," Oswalt said. "You haven't been against competition and you don't know until you get out there."

The Astros have lost Pedro Astacio and promising rookie Carlos Hernandez for the season. Getting Oswalt (14-3) back and healthy would be a big boost.

Oswalt faced several of his teammates to test the injury that knocked him out of a start on Sept. 18 and again Sept. 28.

"He came through fine," general manager Gerry Hunsicker said.

Wade Miller starts today against Atlanta ace Greg Maddux. Miller has the lowest ERA in the NL in day games -- 2.19. But he is pitching with three days rest instead of the usual four. Miller, who is in his first full season in the major leagues, could not recall pitching with three days rest.

Maddux will make his 25th postseason start.

OUT OF THE FRYING PAN: At least the Cardinals can be thankful for something.

Sunday's loss to Houston, which gave the Astros the Central title, deprived St. Louis of homefield advantage in the playoffs and forced a first-round pairing with Arizona -- a team no one wants to meet in a best-of-five series.

But St. Louis hitters won't have to face Randy Johnson in tonight's opener.

Instead of the intimidating left-hander, first-year Arizona manager Bob Brenly will call on right-hander Curt Schilling -- the other half of baseball's best 1-2 pitching combination.

Schilling (22-6) won one more game than three-time Cy Young winner Johnson, but there is no question which pitcher batters fear more to face. Johnson, who struck out 372, could have broken Sandy Koufax's season strikeout record if he hadn't skipped his last start Sunday to rest for the playoffs.

IN PAIN: Hunsicker confirmed Sunday that All-Star first baseman Jeff Bagwell has been playing the entire season with discomfort in his right shoulder but downplayed the extent of the injury until tests can be done during the offseason.

After Saturday's 10-6 loss to the Cardinals, in which Bagwell committed two throwing errors, Dierker disclosed Bagwell has had a torn labrum since spring training.

"We speculated internally that there could be some damage in there, but there's nothing we could do about it if there is," Hunsicker said. "It's something he's played with and played through the entire season. We'll address the situation in the offseason."

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