What will happen to Moyer?

by catfish816 on Jul 13, 2009 2:31 PM EDT

Assuming that the Phillies sign Pedro, which seems extremely likely at this point, and that they are able to add another front-line starter, such as fan-favorite Doc Halladay, what happens to old, reliable Jaime Moyer? If we are able to add both starters, or someone similar, our starting rotation would look like this:

Cole Hamels

Halladay/some other #1b

Joe Blanton

JA Happ

Pedro Martinez

With the way that Blanton and Happ are pitching, I can not imagine that they would be removed from the rotation unless one of them are traded in the Halladay deal. Assuming that neither are traded, however, that leaves no room for Moyer in our rotation, and I hardly see him as a realistic bullpen option. Below, I have outlined what I believe to be the possible scenarios.

Option 1: Include Blanton or Happ in the Halladay deal to create room for Moyer in the rotation.

Option 2: Move Happ back to the bullpen where he was successful earlier in the year.

Option 3: Trade or Release Moyer

Option 4 (not gonna happen, but I could only wish): Fire Rich Dubee and insert Moyer as pitching coach.

From what I have heard, the Blue Jays are high on Happ and would like to include him in a potential deal. Although I am an avid Moyer supporter and look forward to the day where he will hopefully become a Phillies pitching coach to mentor young pitchers on a full-time basis, I see option 3 as the most likely scenario. The way Happ is pitching, there is no way they could justify moving him back to the bullpen. Unfortunately Moyer would be the odd man out if our Halladay dreams are realized.

What do you all think, is there an option that I am missing?

Poll

What should the Phillies do with Moyer?

Keep him in rotation

71 votes

Move him to bullpen

16 votes

Trade or release him

23 votes

Make him the pitching coach

54 votes

164 votes | Poll has closed

Tweet Comment 14 comments | 0 recs |

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Comments

I know this is pretty unlikely, but I wonder if they’d consider going to a six-man rotation for a month or two were they to trade for Halladay without including Happ.

Think about it. Hamels seems to be still feeling the affects of all those innings last year, Moyer and Martinez are both 5-6 inning guys at this point, and even Halladay has missed a little time this season.

Park essentially would be locked in as a multi-inning guy, and probably Durbin and Condrey would be used that way as well. That still leaves Romero, Madson and Lidge for the 8th and 9th.

It’s a long shot and there are some problems with the idea (“WHY DID YOU TRADE YOUR FOUR BEST PROSPECTS FOR ROY HALLADAY IF HE’S ONLY GUNNA MAKE TEN STARTS FOR YOU THIS YEAR!!!1”), but it’s worth kicking around at least.

by dajafi on Jul 13, 2009 2:38 PM EDT reply actions

I do not want to include Happ for Halladay

we may be trading a #1 or #2 guy for a 5 wins when we don’t have much competition until the playoffs. If we don’t extend halladay then the fans will revolt if we give away to much. But Moyer should retire after this season, & Pedro’s a temporary fix, until Myers gets back.

by sports00fan00 on Jul 13, 2009 3:58 PM EDT reply actions

i dont want happ to be included in the trade at all, hes having an amazing year n can easily be nl rookie of the yr if he keeps it up, with that said i dont have to much faith in pedro yet but if he does excel, moyer should juts take his money for next yr and bcome the pitching coach, i mean its inevitable, he basically already is the pitching coach since all the guys goto him with there questions n ask his views on what he woulda thrown in that situation

by DjacknMacAttack on Jul 13, 2009 7:11 PM EDT reply actions

So I say Martinez could also be the odd man out.. yes we just signed him, but its not unrealistic for them to use him to replace someone later in the season

by Rodi on Jul 13, 2009 10:42 PM EDT reply actions

Option 3 or 4, just as long as we get him off the field Ill be happy.

by philiafan14364 on Jul 14, 2009 10:56 PM EDT reply actions

I won’t exactly shed a tear if he gets bumped, but to be fair, Moyer has been pitching with reasonable competence for the past two months.

by taco pal on Jul 14, 2009 11:41 PM EDT reply actions

Glass Joe Must Go!

Looking Mean in Kelly Green

by goodfella46er on Jul 14, 2009 11:47 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

My apology in advance...

Its late and I’m tired, so I figured its much easier to provide a catchy phrase / funny pic combo, than offer any insightful analysis.

I’ll try harder next time!

Looking Mean in Kelly Green

by goodfella46er on Jul 14, 2009 11:53 PM EDT up reply actions

They had King Hippo a couple seasons back, but Alfie is pitching for the Barnstormers now…

http://www.thegoodphight.com

by WholeCamels on Jul 15, 2009 8:25 AM EDT up reply actions

it's just ironic

Because if you think about his slight physical stature and sub-mediocre stuff, it’s clear that Moyer is probably one of the toughest guys ever to take the mound. He’s freakin’ 46.

by dajafi on Jul 15, 2009 10:28 AM EDT up reply actions

Anyone remember that story about Moyer from Moneyball? I love that.

But none of those first three at bats stuck in Hatty’s mind like the fourth. The fourth and final time he came to the plate, Moyer teased him with pitches on the edge of the strike zone and quickly got ahead 0-2. The next four pitches were either balls Hatty took or strikes he fouled off, because he couldn’t do anything more with them. Six pitches into the at bat, with the count 2-2, Jamie Moyer walks off the mound. He actually says something to Hatty and stands there, as if waiting for an answer.

This is new. Hatty’s at bats, inevitably, are conversations, but the non-verbal kind. The pitcher isn’t supposed to stop in the middle of the game for a sociable chat. “I’d never had a pitcher talk to me while I was in the batter’s box,” he says. With Moyer just standing there, refusing to budget, Hatteberg steps out of the box: “What?” he shouts.

“Just tell me what you want,” says Moyer wearily.

Hatty shrugs, as he doesn’t know what to say.

“Tell me what you want and I’ll throw it,” says Moyer.

Hatty was always having to make a guess about what was coming next. His ability to do it depended on his knowing that the pitcher was trying to fool him. This more straightforward approach made him uneasy. It screwed up some inner calculation, threw him off-balance. He didn’t feel comfortable. For once, he couldn’t think of anything to say….

by taco pal on Jul 15, 2009 10:59 AM EDT up reply actions

Which is why I love the guy, even if I also kind of wish he’d go gently into that great goodnight.

by dajafi on Jul 15, 2009 11:09 AM EDT up reply actions

"go gentle into that good night"

/pedant

by phatj on Jul 15, 2009 12:20 PM EDT up reply actions

Moyer

This is after Thursday’s game. I thought Moyer was due for a good game. All he needs is 10 days between starts. Which should fit into the new rotation. Right?

by fan since late 40's on Jul 16, 2009 11:13 PM EDT reply actions