Moyer Not Riding the Rotating Rotation

On Sunday afternoon a sellout crowd of 45,107 witnessed another masterful performance by Jamie Moyer.  The 44-year old went seven-and-a-third innings allowing just two hits and no runs in the Phillies 6-1 victory over the Marlins.  With each start, Moyer is showing that he has a well-defined role in the Phillies rotation – he is the stopper.

Moyer, 3-1 on the year, is now 8-3 since joining the Phillies last summer.  His consistent performance has solidified an often changing rotation.  Looking at the starters now compared with their expectations coming into the season, there is a sea of contrasts.  Starting at the top, the Phillies ace and Opening Day starter, Brett Myers, is now pitching out of the bullpen.  This of course was to make room for Jon Lieber who moved from the ‘pen to the rotation.  Then there is Cole Hamels who, coming into his second season still wore the hat of the young phenom, but has since been catapulted into ace position and leads the league in strikeouts.  This past month has also seen Freddy Garcia move from the disabled list back to the rotation, albeit not yet at top form. 

But more than the rotating rotation, the prospects of having a stopper like Jamie Moyer is a huge benefit to the Phillies – losing streaks stop dead in their tracks.  Already this season that is precisely what Jamie Moyer has been doing.  All three of his wins have come after Phillies losses:

1. His first win was also the team’s first after starting the season with a 3-game sweep by the Braves. 
2. Moyer’s second win came after 2 Phillies losses – an afternoon gem in Washington.  
3. Sunday’s seven-inning no-hitter helped to take a series against a divisional foe after a losing the previous night night.

Yesterday’s victory also came at an ideal time in that it was a getaway day.  The Phillies are now faced with a 10-game road trip beginning tonight in Atlanta.  Moyer also brought some much needed relief to the bullpen.  In his five starts this season, Moyer has averaged six-and-two-thirds inning per appearance.  He also contributes on offense, batting .231 and yesterday going 2-3 with a double.  To sum it up, Jamie Moyer is an enormous asset to the Phillies ballclub and a model for pitchers everywhere.