Control And Command

I tip my hat to Jamie Moyer following his fine performance today against the Mets.

In both the pre-season and once play was underway few if any were more skeptical of the likely contributions from a 45-year old hurler than this observer, but the ageless one proved it isn't how hard you throw, or don't, but how you mix those pitches up and where you throw them that counts.

Moyer put on a clinic this afternoon in winning his 13th game of the season. Indeed, watching him speak several times in the first inning to home plate umpire Bill Miller showed just how far a wily veteran pitcher can go in controlling his own destiny. The telecast clearly showed Moyer speaking more than once to the home plate umpire. Commentator Tom McCarthy informed viewers after the first inning that Moyer had not only spoken about the location of pitches called balls but about being informed more often and visibly by Miller what the count was. Apparently, Moyer didn't argue balls and strikes (an automatic ejection for a batter or manager but for a pitcher????), but he did "discuss" where the pitches he didn't get were. That's authority and savvy. The business of getting the count saves having to turn around and look at the scoreboard, an obvious distraction for any pitcher. If Jamie is getting squeezed by the ump he's usually in big trouble since he lives on the edges, but clearly he took command early, of both the Mets and the umpire. He threw seven innings of no run ,two hit ball, allowing three walks while striking out one.

This was the second straight outstanding performance by a Phillies starter. Next up is Cole Hamels, the guy everyone expects to do well. He's got two tough acts to follow.