Moyer still aiming for comeback in 2012
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Moyer still aiming for comeback in 2012
Daily News staff
Less than four weeks removed from Tommy John surgery, lefthander Jamie Moyer remains optimistic that he will return to the big leagues in 2012, even at age 49.
"A lot of people have seen signs over the course of my career that I should quit or retire," Moyer told the Seattle Times. "In all honesty, I just don't feel like I'm ready to give it up. I feel I'm entitled to make my own decision.
"Everyone is entitled to their own opinions, which people don't seem to be shy about expressing. I respect and appreciate when it comes from the right people. The baseball people I've talked to before and since the surgery, all have been very positive and very supportive."
Moyer said he hopes to begin rehab in early January once the sling is removed. Recovery time is typically 12 to 18 months. Moyer said the doctors have told him the surgery was "very successful."
"It may be difficult to find a job at the age of 49," Moyer said. "Then again, it may not be. I know where I stand: I'll probably get a spring-training invitation (rather than a guaranteed roster spot), and rightly so. I don't have a problem with that. Throughout my career, I've always had to earn the situation I've been in. I don't expect anyone to give me anything. It's never been that way, so why now?"
Moyer was 9-9 for the Phillies before missing the rest of the season with an elbow injury. He pitched briefly in the Dominican winter league before injuring the elbow again.
Moyer said he likely would head back to the Dominican next winter to get a sense of how he felt.
He said he intends to spend his time away from baseball with his eight children and being more involved in his highly successful charitable foundation.
Hey, he's not hurting anyone. If he comes back, and can pitch, then someone will sign him. He could probably give some team 8 or 9 wins as a number 5 floater... Plus, it makes for a great HBO documentary. He's a class act in my book.— skipper22- Unless you're hitting a nine-iron for a living you have no business playing a professional sport. Give it up, Jamie. Thanks for 2008, but seriously, give it up. No one likes a guy who doesn't know when it's time to hang 'em up.— Jerome99RIP
- I agree with Skipper. Many commenters will post that Moyer should just call it quits and that he's embarrassing himself by playing. However, this should be his call, not ours. If Moyer really listened to the naysayers, he would have quit about 20 years ago, so maybe he does know something.— catnameddomino
- Jamie "Brett Favre" Moyer...— Philliesin2008
- No, there's not an ounce of Bert Farve here. Jamie Moyer has never suggested retirement to this point. One suspects that once he does mention the "R" word, that will indeed be the end of it! — BEMiller
- This is a win-win for Moyer. If he retires before 2012, he gets a nice testimonial. If he tries to come back, he'll fail either after his time in the D.R. or in spring training, and the testimonial will still be there for him. The only losers in this is his family, whom he would leave for long stretches of time chasing this joke of an idea.— Bob1
- George Blanda?— NYPHILLYPHAN
- Who knows? It's a more apt comparison, though, than Bert Farve — BEMiller
money talks and bullsh*t walks. remember what ozzie said. if someone is gonna write the check, Jamie will be there to cash it. Those minimum MLB checks are at least a million bucks for a situation like this. I'd do it too. the average joe could retire on that alone. what he really should do is get into a pitching coach situation because he's got a lot of knowledge, both historical, physical and of current hitters to impart to a team on the rise...Dubee, you wanna try to coach a minor league team???- Moyer's a good dude.... I just don't want to see him ever suiting up for the Phillies again unless it is as a coach. his Time to move from the Phillies has definitely come...— HAROLD Eskin
- know when to stop, now its just embarassing— tooltime
- Yes, you are an embarrassment. — BEMiller
- i just don't understand how you can say this is emabarassing for moyer. what you can say is you don't want someone like him, a class act, to emabarass himself. we've seen it with another pitcher in this town, steve carlton. the thing is that i will not pass judgement until the person actually takes to the mound that year. you have to give yourself a chance to fail before you call it quits. on top of that i don't know another player whom i've developed as much respect as both a player and a person as i have for jamie moyer. he would also be my number one choice as pitching coach in philadelphia the moment he is available.— atimelost
- Yeah, Jamie's a killer. Old time baseball right!? He'd be the number 3 starter on the Bucs with the way he pitched last year. I bet nobody commenting would ever root against the guy too. — gubbers97
He's earned the right to try. The Phillies reserve the right to cut him. Only time will tell if he'll have anything left at age 49. I would think if he goes out in 2012 and poops the bed, he'll know it's time to go. But why hasn't he earned the right to go out on his own terms?— Doctor D
