The Old Man and the Rain: Phillies 5, Diamondbacks 1

by dajafi on Aug 18, 2009 10:56 PM EDT

Pedro Martinez might have taken Jamie Moyer's rotation spot, but Tuesday night Moyer at least stole back the spotlight--and got a win in the bargain after turning in one of his best performances of 2009. In his first relief appearance since coming out of the rotation, Moyer replaced Martinez following a rain delay of more than an hour and, with the rain continuing to fall for most of the night, threw six scoreless innings to notch his 11th victory of the season.

Before the rain, Martinez rebounded from a shaky start--a home run by the Diamondbacks' Stephen Drew leading off the game--to impress the fans at Citizens Bank Park with three innings of work in which he allowed two hits and struck out three on 38 pitches, a far more economical pace than he set last week in his Phillies debut. But the Phils continued to trail 1-0, squandering a bases-loaded, no-out opportunity in the first, until play resumed for the bottom of the third. Chase Utley was hit by a Jon Garland pitch to lead off the inning, and scored on Jayson Werth's two-out double. After an intentional walk to Raul Ibanez, Pedro Feliz and Carlos Ruiz each hit run-scoring singles to put the Phils ahead 3-1. Werth and Ruiz each later added solo home runs, Ruiz finishing the night 3 for 3 with a walk and two RBI.

Moyer did the rest, recording as many hits himself (two) as he allowed over his six innings. In his first relief appearance since June 24, 2004 (when he came in to pitch the last three frames of an 18-inning game with the Mariners), he wound up striking out five--matching his total from the 6 2/3 scoreless frames he threw at Arizona on July 27. That he recorded 18 outs on just 69 pitches was tribute to the location that had been mostly missing through his final turns in the rotation.

The series continues Wednesday with a marquee pitching matchup: Arizona's Danny Haren versus Cliff Lee of the Phillies.

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Moyer was dominant. No, really. I don’t know if it was because he was ticked off, it was rainy, he was working off a lot of extra rest, the D-Bags’ wheels are coming off, or some combination. (In the same way, hard to parse all that was behind the rabid fan love he got at CBP tonight.)

But his control was great, he was economical with his pitches, and hit a little too. This played out (given the rain) just the way it was supposed to, and he also wound up saving the bullpen after a day off.

by Wet Luzinski on Aug 18, 2009 11:57 PM EDT reply actions

It is just a guess, but I would imagine the extra rest was probably the biggest factor for Moyer, second perhaps to a favorable match up for him against the D backs. I mean, even though he isnt a power pitcher or anything, he is still old and he needs rest etc. to maintain control of his pitches and such. I would be willing to bet that if he pitched on like 7 or 8 days rest he would be pretty awesome, but of course, it is difficult to work something like that into the rotation.

With the lack of rest days, though, being in the pen for long relief if something goes wrong, with a few scattered starts may be very valuable to the Phillies.

by Whack8888 on Aug 19, 2009 12:42 AM EDT reply actions

Gotta Love

6 innings of 2 hit 0 run relief…from 1 pitcher. I don’t think that any other team can say with confidence that they have that luxury. You’ve also gotta love the 2 Get-the-f-off-of-my-plate fastballs from Pedro to Mark Reynolds and then striking him out with a changeup. Beautiful.

What are you talking about?

by shiiro126029 on Aug 19, 2009 2:08 AM EDT reply actions

I was there last night, and it was worth waiting through all the rain to see Moyer finish it out.

by schmenkman on Aug 19, 2009 8:06 AM EDT reply actions

ZZZZ

For the first 3 innings last night, the Phils had 4 straight batters in the lineup whose name ended in Z:
Ibanez, Feliz, Ruiz, Martinez.

Must be some kind of record.

by schmenkman on Aug 19, 2009 8:08 AM EDT reply actions

That is pretty funny

I wasn't even a year old but I stayed up to be outside the Vet with my Dad and Mom when the Phillies won the World Series 1980.

by Christopher A on Aug 19, 2009 9:40 AM EDT up reply actions

I’m sure that’s happened before. All it means is you have a lot of Latin guys on your team.

by taco pal on Aug 19, 2009 11:03 AM EDT up reply actions

and...

Rollinz

by BigPhillyStyle on Aug 19, 2009 11:40 AM EDT up reply actions

Moyer is really going to come in handy September 13 – 22. Due to the horrid luck with rainouts we’ve had this year, we have 2 doubleheaders in that 10 day time span (13th and 22nd). Cholly will have lots of options on how to handle that situation. Honestly, if he can avoid using Jamie in the games between, he can pitch him in both the day games where Jamie is 5-2 compared to 6-7 in night starts. Also, his ERA (for what it’s worth) is over a run lower during the day.

"I tried to run him over but Eli had his big boy pads on and he kind of stopped me from getting in the end zone. The next time I’ll try to jump over his head.’’ - Asante Samuel

by foos05 on Aug 19, 2009 9:10 AM EDT reply actions

I think it's amazing

we got to see the Martinez/Moyer mashup so soon. It was def. something that some people were thinking/talking about right after the signing – how you have two old pitchers that are effective for no more than 6 innings as starters, so why not trot them out for 4-5 innings each?

I never expected it to actually happen, and obviously it needed special circumstances with the rainstorm and all, but it was neat regardless.

by BigPhillyStyle on Aug 19, 2009 11:46 AM EDT reply actions

Moytinerz?

by taco pal on Aug 19, 2009 11:53 AM EDT up reply actions

Agreed. The problem is that it’s tough to set that up ahead of time. Say Pedro goes five innings, gives up four hits and a run and has thrown around 70 pitches. You don’t want him to come out if he’s rolling, but you don’t want to leave him in too long. So I guess you have Moyer start warming up as soon as Pedro’s through five… but he might have to come in ten minutes later, or forty-five minutes later.

Maybe you luck out, or maybe you’ve needlessly burned your long man for the next two nights.

by dajafi on Aug 19, 2009 12:12 PM EDT up reply actions

It would be nice if the Moyer haters stifled themselves, for a while.

by fan since late 40's on Aug 19, 2009 2:57 PM EDT reply actions

What the hell are you talking about?

by phatj on Aug 19, 2009 3:43 PM EDT up reply actions

yeah. He really only needs 6 more outings just like that one to get to a 4.50 ERA.

by Wet Luzinski on Aug 19, 2009 5:41 PM EDT up reply actions

natch, bad math alert. 4 outings (24.2 innings of shutout ball).

by Wet Luzinski on Aug 19, 2009 5:43 PM EDT up reply actions

I’m not going to claim to understand what the 11:57 comment was supposed to mean, but I do think there’s a distinction between thinking Moyer’s sentiments are factually incorrect vs. thinking Moyer’s sentiments make him some sort of terrible person/“prima donna”/etc (some examples in the comments here). People who are “hating” in the first way are fine. People who are doing it in the second way need a chill pill.

by taco pal on Aug 19, 2009 6:28 PM EDT up reply actions

well, it was supposed to mean I couldn’t quite understand what all the energy behind what bordered on rabid applause last night — and I’m talking about when he just started off, not when he really got on a roll. It felt beyond just saying hello to him after he went to the bullpen for 10 days or so.

Bottom line is he’s been subpar and forced the team to change his role as a result. Then, he pops off to the press about Amaro (who most fans generally think is off to a good start as GM)— was it a recognition of his pugnacity? A reinvigorated Rocky story line? Once he set down nine in a row, it felt like a good revenge story line—and it was — but I simply meant to say that the reaction by the fans was complex — on which we agree. I just found it really interesting. Fans from other cities may call it fickle, but I prefer to believe that there’s way more going on in our collective fan psyche.

by Wet Luzinski on Aug 19, 2009 6:55 PM EDT up reply actions

Another perspective

I’m far away and didn’t see anything except a few moments of highlights on ESPN. That said, it doesn’t seem surprising to see the fans in Philly give “rabid applause” as some sort of tribute to a grizzled old warrior who may not have many more shots at making a difference. Based on his last appearance vs. the Marlins (the one team he had owned even this year) going badly, when Moyer entered the game after the rain delay who could have known if he would ever again display anything approaching his previous pitching skills. Could have been a sort of “Thanks for all you’ve done, in case we don’t see you again, Jamie.” Now that Moyer has shown he merits some consideration for more starts if the team needs a sixth starter or a replacement that sort of tribute may seem a little over the top if he makes more regular appearances – but if he continues to get people out like he did last night he will probably earn more ovations.
I also like the Rocky angle you mentioned. If there’s anything Philly fans are famous for it’s rooting for the underdog, and Moyer showed a human side that fans can relate to: rich, famous, talented, yes, but just like me he gets pissed off when his boss doesn’t appreciate him.

by phillyinportland on Aug 20, 2009 1:19 AM EDT up reply actions