Oswalt Will Open for Astros

So what’s the big deal about these two guys, considering that neither Roger Clemens nor Andy Pettitte will pitch the season opener for the Houston Astros?

Manager Jimy Williams announced to his pitchers and the media even before the club’s pitchers and catchers worked out for the first time Sunday that Roy Oswalt would be the starter in the opener.

Oswalt was 10-5 last year while hampered by a groin injury that put him on the disabled list three times

“He’s a kid out of our system who won 19 games the year before and didn’t pack it in last year even though he was on the DL [three] times,” Williams said. “He came back in September and won all four of his starts trying to take us to the next level. I wanted to reward him for that.”

Williams smiled and said he also didn’t want to be “bludgeoned by questions” all spring as to his opening-day starter “so why not get it out of the way.”

Oswalt will be followed by Pettitte, Clemens, Wade Miller and Tim Redding.

Pettitte and Clemens, a winner of 311 games who is coming out of retirement, saluted the timing and the decision.

“The Astros guys have been here,” Clemens said. “It was the right thing to do.

“Usually these decisions are top secret. Andy and I are so methodical in our preparation that we’ll be able to put everything in order now knowing when we’re going to pitch.

“It’s just exciting to be in this situation again when I didn’t know where I’d be a couple months ago.”

-- Ross Newhan

*

The Kansas City Royals signed left-hander Greg Swindell to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training.

Swindell has a 113-122 record with a 3.86 earned-run average. He did not pitch in the majors last season. In 2002, he went 0-2 with a 6.27 ERA in 34 relief appearances with the Arizona Diamondbacks.

“His agent called me and asked if we would be interested,” Kansas City General Manager Allard Baird said. “I said, ‘We always have interest in left-handers.’ ”

If Swindell, 39, makes the team, he would earn the major league minimum $300,000.

*

Pittsburgh Pirate infielder Freddy Sanchez might not be ready to start the season because of a right ankle injury.

Sanchez, a top prospect expected to compete for the starting second base job this spring, could be out until May.

Sanchez had surgery to remove a bone spur Nov. 4, but he has been bothered by scar tissue and hasn’t been cleared by doctors to run, hit or take grounders.

From Associated Press