Moyer still aiming for comeback in 2012
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.
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.
Comments (52)
I like Jamie Moyer, both as a player and as a man. I think he deserves a shot at a comeback, BUT, I really like him as a coach. His tutorial of Cole Hamels made all the difference in the world. Moyer taught him to throw a cutter, and that pitch helped him drop a full run off of his ERA last year. Combine that with the work ethic the 2 Roys introduced him to, and voila! A solid ACE.— Nemodogdad- Probably everyone here calling Moyer an embarrassment was on their feet and cheering when he became the oldest pitcher to throw a complete game shut-out back in May (2 hitter vs. Atlanta). These people also probably thought it was embarrassing that he was still on the roster at the start of the season.
Look, pitching in the majors has to be a fantastic experience and the guy seems to truly love his job. Why should he hang up his cleats if he still has some gas in the tank? If he still has the stuff to pitch in the show he should take every opportunity to get back out there and enjoy himself. Hats off to you Jamie! 
Except for Ted Williams, just about no one knew when to stop. Not Babe Ruth. Not Willie Mays. Not Early Wynn. Not Mitch Williams.
Comment removed.- Jamie is a major class act, and is realistically looking at an incredible situation. Because of his pitching style and presence on the mound and in the clubhouse, you can count on his being given a chance in spring training 2012. And I think the Phillies should give him his chance first, and let him know that whenever he does quit pitching, he's more than welcome to come coach for us.
- How is this at all embarrassing? If he wants to give it a shot why not? No one's guaranteeing him anything and he's completely ok with that. It's not as if he's insisting a team give him a guaranteed contract based on his past. Guys his age an older continue playing baseball in amateur adult leagues, so what if he wants to keep playing. He wants to keep playing, he still enjoys it, what is wrong with him wanting to keep playing against the best? If he can duplicate last years success he'll make a good 4th or 5th starter.
And to compare him to favre? That's just plain stupid. I think there's just a lot of jealousy here.— birdsfaninnc - Think more like Lance Armstrong. All pro athletes love the spotlight and older ones get some endorsement deals younger ones don't. Anyone remember Viagra and Rafael Palmeiro? (Not that Lee seems to need that product, with eight kids.) I wish Jamie luck in 2012, preferably with the Mets, soft tossing to us and missing the corners Yeah, he should quit but embarrassing himself is his call. Please, Phillies, stay away, not even an emotional spring training invite. Let Seattle handle that.
— eman 
It is not possible to wish him any more luck than I do. Go For IT!- By that 2012 maybe a kid like Julio Rodriguez, who the last time I checked had a 3-1 record with and 2.00 ERA in the Puerto Rican Winter League, including a 28 scoreless streak and was part of the Puerto Rican All Star team that beat the Dominicans a few days ago, could be ready. Do you Moyer's lovers rather see Moyer or a prospect like Rodriguez?— EL Zorro
- Jamie made 18 millions the last two years while winning 21 games and losing 19 with an ERA almost approaching 5.00. He will be 49 years old in 2012 after missing a full year and after being hurt also in 2009. No way the Phillies - or any team for that matter - should invite him to spring training in 2012. Don't tell me a kid like Worley, Kendrick or any other prospect can win 10 games a season while making considerably less money than Moyer. Time to give up old man. Let a kid with a future get his chance.— EL Zorro
- Yes, Blanda, and he also played QB at 46 when
Qb's were not a protected class. Go Jamie, push the envelope.
I don't see him coming out of the pen, though. Takes him too long to warm up. I know, he did some good long relief work for Pedro a couple of games, but on a regular basis? He's a starter and he knows it. Too old to change his habits? Maybe. Still, it'll be fun to watch and see if he can pull it off. Pitching for Seattle, though, not us. In 2012, even if RoyO retires or signs for big money with Yanks or texas, we'll still be loaded with pitching as some of the younger guys come up to fill in. Or KK fulfills his potential as dominant RH starter. OK, just kidding about that last one. New Year's resolution to not take gratuitous shots at Kylee and give him one more chance. Again...— Eephus - Jaime will always be a class act and the Phils should never let him get out of the organization.There has to be a spot for a guy with his knowledge and ability to work with younger pitchers— pcc503
- Moyer might make a good clean up/long reliever, or even a good situational lefty. His days as a starter though I think are over. But long reliever, or situational guy...look at the market this year. There was nothing, especially from the left side. I think I might actually prefer him over wild Romero. I would love to see him pitch at 50yrs old.— johnandursula
is he broke?? hang em up Jamie, please!— dexter55- Why do so many people get down on Jamie Moyer for wanting to give it a go to keep pitching. Obviously his family is on his side! Get over yourselves, naysayers. What's the worst that can happen here. He can't get back and has to retire after forever in baseball! Good luck with it, JM!— BEMiller
any team that uses him over a prospect should be embarassed, and its fans given refunds. any team in the running should have its brains checked if they even thought about him being a piece. if he'd play for free, that'd be only way i'd sign him.- I really hope one of you idiots responds to this. Why are you people reacting like you are being personally insulted by a veteran who still thinks he can perform? This guy embarrased the Yankees twice last year (once in spring training when he was earning a rotation spot)and put together some absolute gems. The only reason his ERA was over 4 is because Charlie almost always let him work through rough innings on nights he wasnt as sharp. What do you think the TJ surgery will do? Take the edge off his fastball?? Get a life.......... or a brain.— sandymann
- Good luck Jaime... I am just surprised there is someone still pitching in The majors that I played against in Legion Ball... I hope you pitch another 5 yrs— BBAX
- Let's wait until Jamie recovers and if he's qualified give him the chance he deserves. The only one taking a risk is Moyer.— wcoastphan
- you know what? I respect Jamie immensely. You can't fault a guy for trying. He said he wasn't ready to give it up yet. I would love to see him back with the Phillies organization as a player or pitching coach. I don't think it's about the money for him at all. Classy and competitive man.— nelllovesChooch
- maybe he doesn't want to stay home with his wife— your_mom_says_hi!
- Good idea to give it a try in '12. If he fails, he can step right in as Wheels replacement (Yes, TBear, there is a God)— NewMick314
- Good idea to give it a try in '12. If he fails, he can step right in as Wheels replacement (Yes, TBear, there is a God)— NewMick314
- Jamie stills has a couple of thing s to take care of - GO FOR IT JAMIE!!! I hope you can do it as a PHILLIE!— flphilly
- Well I think you have to go by what you have seen in the past with Jamie. Although he is not a power pitcher look at the longevity of his carrier. His knowledge of the art of pitching is something to write text books on. So what if he is 49 as long as he is in shape, has the desire, and with the new arm well you just might be supprised. It would be nice to have him in the organization at some level but don't expect the Phils to dump Dubee unless they fail this year and the crowds fall off. Then you'll see Charlie and Dumbee go but not until. I'd have to agree with the idea that if Jamie makes a full recovery the Phils would be smart to use him as a long man in the pen.— Wally 24
- if you had to put 8 kids through college, you'd be out there at 49 trying to get it done, too— zwarte piet
- Ali, Mays, Carlton and now Moyer. Some athletes just don't get when is time to say goodbye.— EL Zorro
The Mayans say "Forget coming back in 2012" to Jamie Moyer, since there won't be a 2013 season.- I agree with skipper 22. Besides it will give Jamie some good motivation to get through rehab.— jsfgtmoore
- At the time of his injury,his WHIP was 10th in the league.His win at Yankee Stadium last June was amazing:He allowed only two baseruners in eight innings.— bigeastbeast
- OK-he's probably washed up, but he has the right to give it a try. If I were him, I'd sign on as a pitching coach with a major league team, do re-hab, and see where it goes from there. If it doesn't work out, he's got a pitching coach job. If he can pitch, then so be it. A lot stranger things have happened. Did anyone really think he would have won 9 games this year? If he didn't get injured, could have won a few more! Good luck to Jamie and hope things work out!— 3rick
- Jamie has not embarrassed himself in Carlton fashion yet. Not even close. At age 40 and beyond, Lefty was getting single digit wins each year. Jamie had 9 last year in a shortened season (recall he went on the DL for the elbow before blowing it out completely in winter ball). The three years prior he had 12, 16, and 14 wins which is far from embarrassing. I believe he would have had at least 11-12 wins this year if he hadn't gone on the DL. Many teams would kill for a #5 with those numbers. People have studied his mechanics and because he doesn't rely on power some say he can keep going. I applaud him for trying. I think he'll know when he's truly reached the point where it's time. Right now, other than judging him strictly by his age, you can't really point to anything that says he's definitely done. I doubt he'll be with the Phils but I could see him in the organization in some capacity after he hangs it up. He's a class act in my book. We should be proud he came from this area.— s
- Why?— mills621
- At least he's not constantly flip-flopping and going over-the-top emotional like Favre. I don't recall Jaime ever saying he's retiring and then going back on it. Good for him.— hhkal
- Good Luck.— CptObvious
- I would bet right now that Jamie will be pitching in the Bigs in '12. If we can't find a "long" man for the bullpen by then, I'd sure be willing to see him with us. If not pitching, I hope like hell Charlie can get over his attachment to Dubee and use Jamie as his pitching coach...but I don't think Charlie would do that. Here's hoping he would be willing to be a coach in the minors for us if nothing else pops for him.— TBear
- Jamie Moyer still pitching at the age of 49 is an interesting thought.
Kansas City might be a good place to try a comeback given their young pitching staff. He is not needed in Philly, that's for sure.— Rick Wise Guy 
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- 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
- know when to stop, now its just embarassing— tooltime
- Yes, you are an embarrassment. — BEMiller
- 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
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???- George Blanda?— NYPHILLYPHAN
- Who knows? It's a more apt comparison, though, than Bert Farve — 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
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