But at the same time, perhaps now that the wheels are undisputably off the track, I can state just exactly how futzed Roy really is. First off, it's no secret that the Roy Oswalt of the last couple years gives up more hits than the one circa 2002 or 2003. Pitching in the zone has almost always been a part of Roy's plan of attack, but beginning in 2004, Roy seemed to make a conscious decision to reduce the walks, and the hit-totals be damned:

David Pinto suggest that Oswalt has gotten predictable, and while this reminds me somewhat of the chicken and the egg kind of debates that accompanied Brad Lidge's decline, mabye he's got a point.

The Chronicle story this morning notes that only once before had Roy given up 17 runs in any three-game span, but I think that kind of understates the matter.

It is necessary to say that Roy has NEVER been as bad over a three-game period as he's been over the three games he's pitched this year. He just hasn't. While he's been giving up hits more and more, he had never given up 30 hits over 3 games, until facing the Marlins last night.

Roy gave up 23 total bases to the Fish. Needless to say that's a career high for any one game, but his three-game subtotal of 53 total bases allowed is also a career high. And sure, last night's putrid performance skews that some, but Roy's total of 30 total bases allowed in the first TWO games made those one of the 7-worst pairs of games he'd ever thrown, before he ever even had to face Ramirez and Hermida and Jacobs and Cantu Friday.

Roy's bases allowed per batter faced last night was 1.095. As you would expect, that's a career high as well, and the three game rolling average of .714 this year is also a career high.

More hits, and more bases, and throw in that zero-strikeout game he had vs. the Cubs. Oswalt's been the best pitcher in team history, and he's a mean sonofabitch besides, so who knows how he's going to come back. But how can you not at least wonder whether the decline is on?