Stop me if you've heard this one: Jamie Moyer is old. And he's still pretty good. And he's really old. And still a good pitcher. And really, really old.
A couple of items of note on the ex-Phils lefty:
-Last night he became the oldest pitcher in baseball history to win a game, when he led the Rockies over the Padres, 5-3. Moyer, who allowed two unearned runs over seven innings, was 49 years, 150 days, edging out Jack Quinn (49 years, 70 days). He's now 1-2 with a 2.55 ERA in three starts for Colorado.
-In addition, Moyer did not reach 80 MPH on a single pitch last night. When was the last time a starting pitcher - non-knuckleballer - picked up a win without hitting 80 on the gun? It couldn't have been in the last 50 years, right? Last 75 years?
-The other day, I started hearing the stat that Moyer has faced 8.9% of hitters in Major League Baseball history. If you hadn't heard that yet, let it sink in for a second. That counts everyone from Ty Cobb to Freddy Galvis. (And you know you love reading those two names in the same sentence.) But yeah, nearly 1 out of every 10 hitters to ever step into the batter's box has faced Jamie Moyer.
-Some additional fun facts about Jamie Moyer: He's older than 8 MLB managers and 16 general managers ... He started the last game at Wrigley Field before lights were installed there. ... And he was born four months before the Beatles released their first album in Great Britain.
-Finally, here are some other players who debuted the same year as Jamie Moyer, in 1986. All of these guys have been retired for at least a decade: Wally Joyner, Will Clark, Mark McGwire, Bobby Bonilla, Dave Magadan, Terry Steinbach, Mike Stanley, Kevin Seitzer, Bip Roberts, Paul Assenmacher, Bo Jackson, and Doug Drabek. In the ex-Phillies category, here are some other 1986 debuters: Benito Santiago, Pete Incaviglia, John Kruk, Dan Plesac, Kevin Elster, Dale Sveum, Terry Mulholland, Mitch Williams, Jeff Parrett, and Bruce Ruffin.
Moyer vs. these Phillies? CGSO.
Posted by: GTown_Dave | Wednesday, April 18, 2012 at 04:33 PM
From the last thread: Youkilis is an aging, broken-down shell of his former self.
Sure, bring him on board! He'll fit right in!
Posted by: Iceman | Wednesday, April 18, 2012 at 04:37 PM
AWH - Thanks for the Mike Marshall article. I know he can be a bit prickly to get along with, but it is really insane that some GM hasn't given him a guy who keeps blowing out his arm with traditional mechanics. What he teaches is almost the opposite of what most pitchers do. And for good reason.
Posted by: aksmith | Wednesday, April 18, 2012 at 04:38 PM
Good for Jamie Moyer. I have always respected what he has done. When he's finished playing games and decides to settle down, I'd like to see him coaching in the Phillies organization.
Posted by: Lake Fred | Wednesday, April 18, 2012 at 04:40 PM
I can see Moyer getting into the HoF as a Veterans Committee guy in 25 years...assuming he's not still active.
Posted by: NEPP | Wednesday, April 18, 2012 at 04:41 PM
Moyer made three starts against the 1986 Mets. He went 1-0 with a 3.74 ERA in 21 2/3 innings.
Posted by: Willard Preacher | Wednesday, April 18, 2012 at 04:43 PM
Polly after 11 games in 2008:
.159/.260/.159
Just sayin'
Posted by: Phlipper (back to thinking the Phils will finish ahead of the Mets) | Wednesday, April 18, 2012 at 04:49 PM
Not that I wouldn't rather have who the Phillies have now, but I really enjoyed watching Moyers pitch when he was here.
Posted by: Phlipper (back to thinking the Phils will finish ahead of the Mets) | Wednesday, April 18, 2012 at 04:51 PM
Speaking as one who will never see an age which starts with a 3 again, he doesn't seem that old.
Posted by: Dan in Philly | Wednesday, April 18, 2012 at 04:53 PM
Yo, new thread
Posted by: EastFallowfield | Wednesday, April 18, 2012 at 04:55 PM
How long does a guy have to be around until people can spell his name right?
Posted by: RSB | Wednesday, April 18, 2012 at 04:56 PM
I get up early during the week so I miss the games this week (though I managed to grind it out for Lincecum/Halladay). First thing I checked though this morning was Jamie Moyer. He became a pitcher I always root for and I do feel it's inevitable that he faces the Phillies and throws 9 innings of shut out ball. I have to be honest, if he does it, I'll still be happy for him. He made it and he made it by sticking it to all the know it alls. The scouts, the sabermetricians, the beat writers etc...He laughs at these guys. I'm proud of the fact that he grew up ten minutes from where I live. I'm proud he's still winning.
Posted by: Scotch Man | Wednesday, April 18, 2012 at 05:17 PM
RSB -
Funny. I think I did that because he was here when Miers was here
Posted by: Phlipper (back to thinking the Phils will finish ahead of the Mets) | Wednesday, April 18, 2012 at 05:19 PM
Unbelievable. Moyer truly is an ageless wonder. Always liked him. Congratulations on his accomplishment.
Posted by: Dragon | Wednesday, April 18, 2012 at 06:27 PM
Here's the factoid I just looked up that really got me: Moyer started in the bigs before Barry Larkin and Roberto Alomar, who are already in the HOF!
Posted by: phi15pit11 | Thursday, April 19, 2012 at 06:22 PM