Pro Baseball - Jamie Moyer at Age 45? Priceless - Put Him on a MLB Mound and He Wins

When the Seattle Mariners decided to trade JamieSeptember against the Washington Nationals in a
Moyer to the Philadelphia Phillies in August 2006game where the Phillies could clinch the National
for a couple of no-name players, they basicallyLeague East title with a win. He delivered by
felt his performance did not justify his salary. Atpitching 6 innings, giving up only 1 run as
the time, Moyer was as much the heart of thePhiladelphia won 4-3.
Mariners as any other player worth talking about.How important has Moyer been to the Phillies this
On the day he was traded, his season recordyear? Well, Philadelphia's division title was its
with Seattle was 6-12, and he was the oldestsecond consecutive, giving the Phillies their first
active player in the American League. Few fansback-to-back post-season appearances since 1980
know that Moyer is one of the all-time leaders inand 1981.
1-0 complete game losses, having lost 8 gamesAnd the Seattle Mariners? The Mariners won 61
while surrendering only 1 run during 9 innings.games this year and lost 101, finishing 39 games
Moyer was also the 25th southpaw (left-handedbehind the American League West Division-winning
pitcher) to win 200 games in the majors.Los Angeles Angles at Anaheim. The Mariners
Moyer ended his 11-season stint in Seattle with abecame the first team in MLB history to have a
145-87 record and a 3.97 ERA (earned run$100+ million payroll and 100 losses in the same
average). He was the franchise leader in wins,season. Talk about pathetic. They canned their
starts and innings pitched (exceeding Randygeneral manager and are in disarray.
Johnson).Seattle's leading pitcher this season was Felix
He did not want to leave Seattle, but he was notHernandez, who pitched exactly 200 innings and
wanted so he packed his bags and said hello towent 9-11 on the season. Two other Mariners
the raucous Philadelphia fans. He finished the 2006shared the next most wins on the staff with 6
season as a Philly, winning 5 of 7 decisions with aapiece. Remember that Moyer won 16 games this
4.03 ERA.season.
In 2007, Moyer compiled a 14-12 won-loss recordSince the Seattle Mariners have given up on
and pitched the final game of the season toMoyer, his record as a Philly is 35-21. Moyer is the
determine if Philadelphia would break an 88-win tieexact definition of a finesse pitcher, his fastball
and become the National League Eastern Divisiontops out at 83 miles per hour, but he also adds a
Champions. Moyer pitched 5+ innings, gave upcircle changeup, a cut fastball and a curveball.
only 3 hits and no runs as Philly won to clinch theHe does not have the heater (fast pitch) of a
championship.Randy Johnson in his prime, and is not as talented
During this year's 2008 season, Moyer posted aas many other pitchers. He simply performs
16-7 mark with a 3.71 ERA. He became the oldestbeyond his potential year after year, game after
active player in Major League Baseball at 45, andgame.
he won his 235th career game, along with at leastIs it any wonder that the hard-hats in working
one victory over each Major League team.class Philadelphia love Jamie Moyer?
More important, Moyer again took the mound in