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Those are the times when people mention his age and his 82-m.p.h. fastball.
Actually, they always mention his age and fastball.
"Well, whether I get tired of hearing it or not, it's going to continue to happen," he said with a smile after he allowed just one run in seven innings yesterday in a 4-1 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals at Citizens Bank Park. "It gives people something to talk about, whether it's fans, or you guys, or whomever it is. You know what? The thing I can look at is that I'm still doing it. And not to throw it in anybody's face or be stupid about it, it's just that - you know what? - I'm proud of that.
"And I feel good that I can come in here every day and do my work and go out on the field and compete and help my team win. And to me that's what it comes down to. When we win, it's the most important thing in this room and for this organization and for this city."
Moyer teamed up with Ryan Howard, who had two home runs with three RBIs and made a strong case to be Alfonso Soriano's replacement in the All-Star Game, to give the Phillies a modest two-game winning streak and just their second series victory in their last nine series played.
Moyer is 8-6 with a 3.95 ERA this season. Not bad for a 45-year-old whose fastball hovers around 80 m.p.h., right?
"He totally amazes me. He absolutely amazes me," Charlie Manuel said. "Although he tested my heart, he totally amazes me. He's unreal."
Moyer was 7-7 with a 4.43 ERA at the all-star break last season but went 7-5 with a 5.78 ERA in the second half. He's been around baseball long enough - has anybody mentioned yet that he's 45? - to know his first-half numbers are nothing to get too excited about. But he can still appreciate the contributions he has made.
"We're not done with the season yet," he said. "But I'm fairly pleased with the first half."
Ryan Madson replaced Moyer in the eighth inning. He threw 11/3 scoreless innings as J.C. Romero got the final two outs in the ninth inning to pick up his first save since May 3, 2007, against the Seattle Mariners when he pitched for the Boston Red Sox. Brad Lidge had worked hard the last few days, so Manuel wanted to rest him.
Moyer never rests. He's been in the big leagues since 1986, which is why Manuel is so amazed.
"It's hard enough to do, whether it's at my age or 30 or 25 or 23," Moyer said. "It's a hard enough job to do, so when you start thinking about things like, 'How am I doing it?' I don't want to know."
at 215-854-4874 or tzolecki@phillynews.com. Read his blog at http://go.philly.com/phillieszone.
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