It Couldn't Last Forever
Jamie Moyer was 10-0 against the Florida Marlins. Make that 10-1 after last night's 8-2 loss.
It Couldn't Last Forever
Todd Zolecki
You knew it couldn't last.
Jamie Moyer was 10-0 with a 3.03 ERA in 10 career starts against the Marlins. He baffled them almost every time he pitched. But the longer the streak, the greater the likelihood it's about to end. Because nobody wins forever, just like nobody hits forever. In five innings, Moyer allowed six hits, two runs, three walks and two hit batters. He struck out four.
"It's bound to happen sooner or later," he said.
He avoided tons of trouble in the first four innings and left with a 2-0 deficit, but that hardly comforted him.
"The way I look at it, I beat myself tonight," he said. "My command was so poor."
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The Phillies are an experimental site for instant replay, and last night MLB tested the equipment that could be up and running before the end of the season. They certainly got a good test because Shane Victorino's home run in the seventh inning didn't appear to be a home run at first glance. The initial instant replay showed it was foul. Instant replays showed later indicated it might have glanced off the foul pole. But then umpire Dale Scott said he messed up and it was foul.
I just want to know if each manager gets a red flag to throw onto the field?
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In the Phillies Notebook: Scott Eyre, Freddy Garcia, Livan Hernandez, Kris Benson, Pedro Feliz and J.A. Happ.
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Adam Eaton is getting bombed in the minor leagues. In 3 1/3 innings last night for double-A Reading, he allowed four hits, seven runs (six earned runs), two walks, one hit batter and two home runs. In 3 2/3 innings last week for single-A Lakewood, he allowed five hits, four runs, one walk and one home run. That's a 12.86 ERA in his first two starts in the minors.
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The bats were silent again last night. Credit Josh Johnson? Or is this more of what Phillies fans have seen since June?
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Billy Wagner is on the 15-day DL, which means Aaron Heilman -- wha, wha, wha, what? -- is closing for the moment.
Norma, don't get too upset about Happ. Yes, he will probably end up back in AAA, mainly because he will get more work there by pitching on a regular schedule instead of idling in the pen for 2 weeks at a time. Forget about Garcia - he won't be pitching for us or likely any MLB team this season. The articles about Garcia are filler pieces because they have nothing else to write about.— Gary Varsho- Gary, its a good analogy....I'm just sick of this franchise only getting to dance with the pretty girl once in 138 years!— Mark1npt
- blabla......I want a firstbasemean who can catch! We have pitchers who pitch to contact...we need fielders who can field.....this team cannot win games giving other teams 4-5 outs an inning....in fact very few teams can...he has to get better....and 10 games over .500 won't cut it, if another team is 11 games over....— Mark1npt
- Gary..PS, Paul McCartney went to a dance and came home with a pretty one-legged girl....look how that turned out..lol,lol,lol— Mark1npt
- At the risk of either piling on or being repetitive, Howard's defense has got to be a major concern for the Phils(and for him if he wants the big payday because Teixeira he ain't). We are certainly not the only ones aware that it is a problem. A couple weeks back I caught a bit of Gillick's Saturday pre-game radio segment where he takes phone calls. (For him, doing that must be about as enjoyable as slamming his finger in a car door repeatedly). This one guy calls and starts on a rant about Howard's poor defense, his beyond poor throwing, and how he needs more practice. Gillick answers that the Phils are aware of his defensive shortcomings and are working a lot with him. Gillick said they work with Howard a lot. They hit him a lot of balls and they have guys run from first to second so Howard can work on his throws with a runner in the base path. I guess there is no other answer than to keep working with him but good grief, will we ever see any improvement?— bski
- Eaton is done! He should have packed it in after last season, he's got no movement and all his pitches are predictable! But he's making nearly 8 million so why quit on your own?— phillywebcast
- Gary....You're right. It will do Happ good to get back to AAA and pitch regularly. Maybe they'll bring him back up when the rosters are expanded in Sept. And I was just flash-backing to last year about Garcia. I know it's just a lot of talk. And who the heck is this Walrond guy, anyway? I don't even remember hearing when and where he came from.— Norma
- Mark....Totally agree about "our first baseman". I know everyone is probably sick of me saying this, but 1st base HAS to be the easiest defensive position on the team. Yet balls go between Howard's legs? He leads the team with 13 errors. Maybe he should take up Pilates. Or take *diving* lessons from Chase. LOL!— Norma
- Norma, Walrond pitched in AAA with the Pigs this season. before that I believe he was in the Cubs' and Royals' systems. He actually did well in the minors for the Phils...as a starter. He struck out 17 in a game this year.— cg
- Norma...This Walrond guy is just a journeyman. Basically a career minor leaguer. I think he was up to the majors twice (KC and I forget the other team). Anyone please correct me or add more if you've got it. He had a career high 17 strikeout game (as a starter obviously) a few weeks ago. I guess he's been having a lot of recent success throwing a cutter. Funny thing. When Walrond was pitching (or struggling if you prefer) last night, he didn't throw his cutter. During the radio broadcast, Frantzke and Andersen were looking for it. They kept wondering why he didn't even throw one cutter when it is supposedly his best pitch. Anyway, I don't think we need to get too invested in him. He's just an emergency stopgap.— bski
- There are only four weeks left in the AAA season so you don't hinder happ's development too much by having him here. He can stretch out again in February. I have no problem with the team kicking the tires on Garcia, it doesn't hurt to look. On the use of relievers last night, we can't pitch Durbin, Romero and Lidge every day. Why, by the way, would the Phils want to trade Myers for minor league prospects when he's finally starting to turn the corner?— KMG
- cg & bski.....Thanks for the info on Walrond. I thought I had heard he played with the Cubs & Royals. Just never heard his named mentioned in AAA, so wasn't sure if we got him in a trade.— Norma
- KMG: I think it's time we cut ties with Myers. There is too much unpredictability with him, both on and off the field. He may be turning a corner, but how long will it last? He could be giving us an Eaton mirage of a few good starts only to slide back at some point. Another possibility is that he may pitch well for the rest of this season, but who knows what we will be in for next year. I don't like his situation at all. It just seems to me that even though he's only been in the bigs for 6 years, he's given us the best that he's got. He looks like a declining pitcher who's trying to hang on. I don't want to commit to that. Like I said earlier, I hope he pitches well the rest of this season and we strike while the iron is hot and make the best trade we can in the off season.— bski
- With eight different World Series champs in a row, and the majority of those not having the best record in baseball, I'd rather see the Phils make it and then let Lady Luck do her thing. How else do you explain an 82-80 team - the '06 Cards - winning it all? Or the Mariners who won 111 games a few years ago but didn't win squat?
The playoffs are different than the regular season.
— Mike H. - Can Inquirer put Jim Salisbury on the DL like Wagner?— shoeshineboy
