The Ace of the Phillies Staff
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by JuTMSY4
As much as you, me and the guy who will comment first would like to say, its not Cole Hamels. Let me repeat it, because its not abundantly clear. Cole Hamels, with his Hollywood good looks, long mane of hair, Survivor contestant and Playboy model wife, his stats among the NL leaders (3rd in Wins, 3rd in Strikeouts, 3rd in Complete Games and 3.69 ERA and 1.19 WHIP) is not the most important pitcher the Phillies have.
Strange but true.
Of course, if it isn’t Hamels, then it must be…
Well its not Adam Eaton. Who’s 5.84 ERA and 1.55 WHIP have produced 9 wins to 6 losses. A strange statistic to be sure, but Eaton, rather than being the victim of a poor offense like many pitchers over the years have, (Think Johan Santana) Eaton is the benefactor of the NL’s best offense. An offense that has scored 535 runs, 3rd amongst all ball clubs (trailing the superior Detroit Tigers but 41 runs) . Eaton has been markedly bad, especially for the 3 year, $24 million contract he signed prior to the season (supplying him with around 7 million in “WAM” money), but he’s produced, for a much lamented bullpen, 114 innings pitched, 40th in the NL, a stat that is in line with the likes of Barry Zito, Jason Marquis and Rich Hill, not bad company for a guy who’s sniffed 200 innings once in his career (2004, when he pitched 199 innings).
So perhaps de facto Ace Brett Myers is, indeed, the ace of the staff. While Myers had improved a much maligned Phillies bullpen, he’s been on the DL since May 24 th with a “strained shoulder.” And while Myers was moved to the pen after 3 miserable starts, his statistics speak for themselves: 1-2, 5.50 ERA, 1.47 WHIP. He wasn’t himself to start the season and hasn’t really been there since.
So of course, the ace really is…
Jamie Moyer. As of today, Moyer is an unremarkable 8-8 with a 5.01 ERA and a 1.36 WHIP, the essence of “nothing special.” In July specifically, he’s been terrible, posting 23.2 Innings (most likely leading to his lowest monthly total this season, regardless of his final July start on the 27 th) with an 8.75 ERA, a .347 BAA and a 1-3 record. Even an Ace’s rough patch isn’t quite like that. An Ace’s fastball also doesn’t just touch the mid-eighties, a spot Moyer frequents. An ace also isn’t 44 unless your name happens to be Roger Clemens, and even then, it’s questionable. An ace also doesn’t just earn $6.5 million a year (just?), when his counterparts; Randy Johnson ($9.1 Million), Tom Glavine ($7.5 million) and of course Clemens ($28 Million) are making more.
So what has Jamie Moyer really done to become the ace of the Philadelphia Phillies. Consider this: Cole Hamels entered the league on May 12, 2006 producing 5 innings of 1 hit ball, a devastating change up and a 0 ERA. A fine start for a lanky pitcher known for having back problems. But Hamels, for all his talent, soon lost his grip losing 4 in a row and producing a 6.49 ERA for the month of June, as well as 5.50 ERA overall. That’s when Moyer got a hold of him.
It isn’t that Moyer was forceful or insistence that Hamels learn from him, it was that Hamels knew Moyer was the mentor and that Moyer knew Hamels was the protégé. When Moyer was acquired by the Phillies last August, all they were hoping for was an inning eating savvy veteran to bolster a struggling and oft-confused staff. What they got instead, was a mentor for a 2007 Phillies staff consisting of: a true rookie, another rookie waived by multiple teams (4 to be exact) and a second year hurler that looks like the next Johan Santana.
Hamels has credited Moyer with teaching him the nuances of the game and without a doubt the father-son relationship they have developed has worked wonders on the wunderkind. Moyer has kept Hamels grounded and not only explained to him to value in hard work, but proven it on and off the field. Rarely does Moyer miss and start and rarely do the injury troubles rumble for Hamels anymore.
After watching struggling acquired ace Freddy Garcia finally be laid to rest for the 2007 season (and his Phillies career), Pat Gillick was forced to turn to a Phillies farm system that was already a little lean in major league ready talent. Pulling Kyle Kendrick up from Double A Reading seemed more like a grasp at straws than a move to add another talented hurler to the rotation, considering Kendrick’s 4-7 record with a 3.21 ERA in Reading. But Kendrick has produced results to the tune of a 4.44 ERA and a 4-1 record during his 8 MLB starts. Moyer’s effect was immediate, as Kendrick utilized the professor right away. Quickly learning and producing 4 wins without recording a loss. Moyer has cooled the rookie, teaching him to pitch at his pace
- “I think the most important thing for young pitchers is to do whatever it is they do best,” explained Moyer. “Too many times, young guys get here [the Major Leagues] and try to throw harder or get more break on their pitches and end up getting themselves in trouble. All you have to do is whatever it is that got you to the majors and just add little things that you learn along the way.”
- -Jamie Moyer
- “I think the most important thing for young pitchers is to do whatever it is they do best,” explained Moyer. “Too many times, young guys get here [the Major Leagues] and try to throw harder or get more break on their pitches and end up getting themselves in trouble. All you have to do is whatever it is that got you to the majors and just add little things that you learn along the way.”
J.D. Durbin a shortlived Phillies farmhand was added to the club in April due to the unconditional release by the Arizona Diamondbacks. Durbin was an unexceptional 2-4 with a 4.55 ERA in Triple A Ottawa (10 Games) when he was called up. Durbin produced equally unexceptional stats in his first few Major league appearances. His first start with the Phils yielded 3 strikeouts in the first inning, however he subsequently was ushered out in the 5 th, after giving up 6 earned in only 4.2 innings of work.
Finally, Moyer sat him down. He explained that Durbin must dictate the speed of the game. Moyer was stoic in his response: ”He had mentioned to me, 'Man, it's going so fast, and being in the big leagues, when you're young, it's an exciting time. You're learning. What works for you. What takes away from what you're doing. The pluses and minuses.” With that, Durbin, a well known hyperactive pitcher, slowed down and the results were immediate: 6 innings yielding 1 earned run and a complete game, five hit, shutout. Lowering Durbin’s career ERA from north of 96 (yes, 96) to 6.12.
So the proof isn’t always in the pudding when it comes to 44 year old soft tossing lefties. Moyer has one year left on his deal and looks to be well on his way to another lengthy baseball career. In coaching. His gems of wisdom, as his career sets, have not only built an ace, but has managed to keep a struggling staff level. Moyer is easily worth the $6 million and change he’s making this year and the crafty lefty keeps chugging along.
Imagine what the Yankees could have done with Moyer on their staff…
Citations
1. Sam Donellon – Unlikely Sources for Optimism
2. Jerry Crasnick – Moyer Serves as Mentor for Hamels
All Statistical data from ESPN.com and MLB.com
Moyer Photo via Jeff Roberson of AP
Hamels Photo via AP
Kendrick Photo via David Maialetti of Philadelphia Daily News
