Moyer: "Disheartened" and "mis-led"
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Moyer: "Disheartened" and "mis-led"
David Murphy, Daily News Staff Writer
Jamie Moyer did not take any questions. He was not interested in discussing his new role in the bullpen. He simply had some things he wanted to get off his chest. In an off-the-cuff statement that lasted several minutes while sitting in the stands at Wrigley Field, the veteran lefthander said he felt "a little disheartened" and "a little bit like I've been mis-led" after the Phillies informed him that they were giving his spot in the rotation to Pedro Martinez.
"I most certainly do not want to be a distraction," Moyer said. "I'm not happy with the decision the Phillies have made."
Moyer said that when negotiating his two-year contract with the Phillies this offseason, he was worried about a situation similar to this occurring. While he acknowledged that "you can't promise anything in this game," he talked to general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. and club president David Montgomery about his worries, both of whom responded by "reassuring me this type of thing would not happen."
"I feel a little disheartened, and a little bit like I've been mis-led," Moyer said.
Amaro declined to comment through a Phillies spokesman, saying he was not at liberty to discuss the specifics of contract negotiations.
Comments (85)
Yes, he was misled -- if the Phillies guaranteed him a starting spot no matter how poorly he pitched. With the third worst ERA in the league among starters, over 4 1/2 months, Moyer was given every opportunity to retain his job. The team comes first. I like the guy, so I'll chalk up his "misled" comment to his being "disheartened" -- we're all not terribly reasonable when we're upset.— PhilaLogic- No one is entitled to anything Jamie. Entitlement is an athletes worst enemy. Why don't you use that anger as motivation to get better and earn a spot in the rotation again. You "mis-led" the team by under-performing the contract they gave you. They aren't going to take any money away from you so just be grateful for that— jwood
- With all due respect to Jamie ... he wasn't getting the job done and it came down to a numbers game. It's kind of 'disheartening' to me that he seems to be whining about a move that will probably make the team better.— cmp1968
I concur with jowood and cmp, there are no entitlements or guarantees. What matters most is performance— cappy- This is ridiculous, he's not being professional about it at all. He's being a little naive if he never thought of this as a possibility. With his age, he had to have known that this exact situation could have happened. He has the worst ERA in the NL and has been putrid lately and we have a replacement for him, so he should have seen the writing on the wall. I love what he did for us last year, but this is a different year and I don't think that should have weighed in on their decision, which obviously it didn't. If we want to repeat as WFC's then we need to put our team in the best possible position to win games and we weren't doing that with Moyer as the 5th starter. Don't you love how he said he didn't want to be a distraction and then he goes spouting his mouth off, unreal.— robm0202
- Sorry, Jamie. If you had pitched your way to a 3.00 ERA, this situation could have been completely avoided. The ball was literally in your hand, and you did not pitch effectively. Your results on the field led directly to this demotion.
- I empathize with Moyer's anger; being demoted totally sucks. But this is a team game and the third-worst ERA in the League is fine if you're pitching for the Pirates or Nationals. It is not OK for a team in the pennant race.— smel4727
Comment removed.- jwood you nailed it. Jamie ought to shut his mouth and be thankful to be on an MLB active roster at the age of 46. Not too many 46 year olds pulling $6.5M as their annual salary, playing a kid's game at that. If you don't like it, Jamie, ask for your release and go back to Seattle. We don't need your attitude or your astronomical ERA getting in our way of repeating.— UncleEddie
- If anyone has ever been demoted or fired you know its not a very enjoyable situation and I can completely understand what Jamie is feeling. I would also agree that he has a right to express dissatisfaction with having been demoted. I would have been more critical of Moyer but he did explain that he does accept it and will not become a distraction for the team. I think Jamie has earned our respect for how he has performed and acted but at the same time I do not think that he has earned a spot in the starting rotation this year. No one is free from criticism and no ones job is ever completely secure.— AbsoluteIrish
In our hearts we all knew that this would happen. Phillies had no business giving him a two year contract. He is 46! I'm all for paying him to be a resource for our young pitchers, but his spot in the rotation can NOT be guaranteed. Even if Pedro does not cut it, his spot should not be guaranteed. We love you Jamie, but what's best for the team comes first.— 64 survivor- True, Jamie Moyer has earned the fans' and team's respect, but that is no reason for him to dump on the GM and owner in public. He should be grateful that the Phils for some reason saw fit to reward him for his contributions last year with $12 million+ in guaranteed money. There's no way that either he or the Phils knew whether he would be able to stay effective through that deal, since no 46 year old has ever signed one like it. And he better get used to it, since it seems inevitable that next year will open with Lee-Hamels-Blanton-Happ-Drabek as the rotation, barring injury.— jmk1512
- Moyer can take solace in the fact that he's still getting paid his 6.5 million, or whatever it is. He can't reasonably expect to stay in the rotation if he's not getting the job done. I don't care how you cut it, a 5.50 ERA isn't "getting the job done", and if someone can do better, then that someone should get a chance. If Pedro can't do better, then Moyer will no doubt get his job back. That's how these things work.— SteveS11
- Comment removed.
- I'm hoping he is kidding. I do not even want him in the bullpen. I'd rather they slap him on the backside and hand him a clipboard. Jamie, I have been to 15+ games this year and seem to always be there when you start. I literally duck everytime you pitch the ball. Please do not act like you are entitled to anything. You received a 2 year contract that NO OTHER TEAM WOULD HAVE GIVEN YOU considering that you have the same physique as Joe Paterno and probably graduated high school with him. You should have a smile on your face everyday.— kmcbride
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