Oswalt pitched great through 6 innings Monday night .... so it was disappointing to everyone involved .... when Roy had to leave before the start of the 7th inning due to pain in his left hip. "It feels like a hop-pointer" Roy told me today,"But I don't think it is." No one will accuse Roy of being an orthopedic doctor ... but he does know something about his anatomy ....and he knows that part of it. His left hip doesn't feel quite right.

When I told manager Cecil Cooper that Oswalt felt better today than he did last night .... Coop was thrilled. Coop was going to talk with him later. Coop and his players are certainly hoping Oswalt doesn't miss a start with his hip problem. Despite his struggles this season ..... Roy is still The Man in the Astros rotation. He looked and felt great until the last pitch of the 6th inning. "The last pitch I threw in the 6th inning ... a curve-ball. I felt something on that pitch ....and I probably should have something before I batted in the inning." Oswalt is now 7 & 8 overall ... but he's pitched much better as of late. Cooper says,"He's our staff leader ....and he's our guy. It's very important for that to happen .....
"Ya know .. you hope it could happen every time he goes out there. But if he can give you that most of the time it's gonna be a big plus for us."

We'll have a better idea when Oswalt will able to pitch again, tomorrow.