World Baseball Classic: A pitcher's nightmare?

Is the World Baseball Classic harmful to pitchers?

Don’t ask the Boston Red Sox about Daisuke Matsuzaka.

Don’t ask the San Diego Padres about Jake Peavy.

And maybe you shouldn’t even ask the Houston Astros about Roy Oswalt.

Coincidence or not, two of the three pitched in the WBC and are now out for long periods of time. And the third, Oswalt, hasn’t been the same this year since pitching in the WBC.

Red Sox Manager Terry Francona has gone so far as to suggest Matsuzaka’s ailing right shoulder – which could keep him sidelined the rest of the season, -- is likely the result of pitching in the WBC.

And to think this is a guy Boston invested more than $100 million into …

Peavy had perhaps his worst year ever in an injury-plagued 2006 (11-14, 4.09 ERA) after pitching in the WBC. This season, he pitched in the WBC, is 6-6 with a 3.97 ERA and could miss a couple months with a bum ankle.

So much for a guy the Padres are trying to trade away along with his $50-plus million contract ...

As for Oswalt, he seems to be OK physically. But what’s with his sub par 3-4 record and 4.48 ERA?

So much for a guy who’s supposed to be the ace of the Astros ...

All told, maybe the WBC should take place after the season, when pitchers are in top form.

Otherwise, you might expect some top pitchers to take a fall every three years after the WBC.

Roy Oswalt, Jake Peavy share lack of results

Roy Oswalt and Jake Peavy are the best of buddies.

This MLB season, they also share something else in common … lack of success.

Oswalt is having a subpar season for the Houston Astros. Peavy is performing even worse for the San Diego Padres.

So? Don’t expect to see them as teammates on the National League’s All-Star team.

Oswalt is 1-2 with a 4.50 ERA; his only win coming in a 12-5 decision over the hapless Padres last Sunday.

Peavy is merely 2-5 with a 4.30 ERA.

For Oswalt, a slow start typifies not himself; but the way his Astros have performed the last several years. They always seem to be slow starters who make a move toward the top too late in the season.

Peavy’s fate could be even worse for the Padres, who are trying to rid his $11 million salary this season to go from a $43 million payroll to below a team-mandated $40 million payroll.

The primary trade partners are considered to be the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs. As Peavy struggles, each team must also struggle in determining just how much it is willing to surrender for Peavy and a three-year, $52 million contract.

It just so happened that Peavy pitched Tuesday in Chicago, so his status was a hot topic after his 6-2 loss to the Cubs. He told respected writer Chris Jenkins of the San Diego Union-Tribune:

“With all the speculation, yeah, I thought I might be pitching in Chicago. Obviously, I approved a trade, so I thought about it and certainly felt this was a place that would be fun and interesting to play. I've been coming here six, seven years. Great atmosphere. Great city. Great team. So I thought about it over the winter.”

As the Padres continue to plummet, Peavy better start thinking again about where his next address will be.