To say Jamie Moyer is rejuvenated is to seriously understate his current state of grace. More accurately, it can be said the 43-year old veteran is living his second childhood. Not only did Moyer move very late in baseball life from a second division club going nowhere to a team that has a chance to go to the post-season, but for the first time in his professional life he’s playing regularly in front of his mom and dad as well as other relatives and friends in the town where he grew up.
On top of all that, he’s making a big difference.
Moyer pitched the Phillies to a 4-1 win over the Cubs last night, his third win in red pinstripes and undoubtedly one of the team’s most critical at a time when every game carries that designation. Moyer went seven strong innings a day after the Phillies had returned home only to be walloped by Chicago 11-6. The win kept the Phillies one game behind the Dodgers in the Wild Card standings.
Moyer arrived in late August with 211 career victories earned over 19 seasons with seven different clubs. He was acquired by GM Pat Gillick to provide more than stability to an erratic staff; he was brought in to win. Crafty, wily, deceptive, experienced; all these and other labels were affixed to Moyer’s suitcase. Fortunately, we can add damned good to the list. Moyer knows how to pitch, fields his position extremely well, takes his hacks better than a lot of pitchers who have been allegedly hitting their entire careers in the National League, and adds a wise old head to the dugout.
It’s enough to make his parents real proud.
10 comments:
Moyer is making Pat Gillick look pretty smart.
I can't get over the fact that this guy looks like he should be bagging my groceries at Super Fresh or your high school biology teacher, yet he's been in the majors for decades.
Since I am a "GM" on my own blog, I am calling for the Phillies to pick up Moyer's option for 2006.
all that is true but one thing that has been overlooked is how he is mentoring Cole Hamels. Moyer is a great person to learn from at the start of your career. I believe that moyer has helped hamels development greatly in the last month.
dane: that's what I meant by "wise old head" but thanks for filling in the details on who may be benefitting the most from that wisdom. I think Randy Wolf is also listening. In his last outing he pitched much more intelligently than any time in the past. Now, if Brett Myers is paying attention the Phillies will be in good shape.
Don't hold your breath with Myers: you have to have a modicum of intelligence to begin with.
Moyer may have pitched tremendously yet again, but he managed to inspire perhaps the worst headline I have ever seen, in the Daily News: "Jamie on his gamie". Mercy.
YIKES! That is a bad one and uncharacteristic at that. I assume you also saw the piece on Burrell by John Smallwood, which Jason pointed out to me this AM. Talk about a downer. I think Smallwood is on to something here, though it doesn't take an Einstein, pardon the expression, let alone a Freud to figure out Pat is having some issues.
I did see it, and I do pretty much agree that Burrell should not be playing. He picks it up a notch after he's benched for a couple of days, then he's right back to his old head-flying, arm-flailing ways again. Conine is a much stronger presence in the lineup even if he doesn't have Burrell's raw power; you have a certain confidence he'll at the very least give you a good at-bat. Burrell should be in there against lefties only, and hitting seventh.
hey blogger boy! im disappointed-- ryan gets mvp and there's no post from you???? you haven't even signed in on the trade activity. are you bummed out 'cause they didn't get to the series???
Refresh your browser, anonymous. I've posted numerous times since this one including on Howard's MVP.
Sorry... I'm still not getting an update. I've tried the refresh, but nada. Oh well... maybe my computer is taking a break from BB.
PS, I found your blog after I read an article in the Inquirer around mid-season. Nice work.
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