Jamie Moyer and his 257th win

I watched tonight as Jamie Moyer entered the game after a rain delay in a relief appearance and dominated the Arizona Diamondbacks for six innings. He struck out four, allowed two hits, and looked like a man who was half of his years.

I must admit that I am a major fanboy for Jamie Moyer. He represents to me a kind of baseball that is sadly falling to the wayside on favor of profit and steroid use. Our great game has been tainted these last few years and the rare characters like Moyer are fewer and far between. Tonight in Dodger Blue a man plays baseball fresh from a major suspension incurred due to the use of performance enhancing drugs; tonight against the backdrop of a Green Monster a man who once was a stalwart advocate against p.e.d.s batted in the DH spot as a living representation of a long awaited World Series title that is now tainted. Tonight, in Philadelphia a 46 year old pitcher recorded his 257th win in a quiet fashion during a relief appearance.

You see, there will be little to no mention of this story on ESPN. There will be stories of a retired quarterback making another return to another team and there will surely be stories reporting on a dog killer in Eagle green throwing practice. Jamie won’t be mentioned.

Last week, Jamie was removed from the starting rotation in favor of a pitcher from that aforementioned steroid club that won the World Series in 2004. Jamie was having an up and down year and his inconsistence was apparently meritorious of a demotion. I did not and do not agree with the decision. Pedro Martinez has no business on the Philadelphia Phillies, he is a dubious character and in my opinion, a poor locker room presence.

It seems to this baseball fan that the decision to start Pedro Martinez has just as much to do with business as it does with baseball. Fair enough Ruben Amaro Jr.; now we know what you stand for. You do not stand by your players while they struggle unless they are named Cole Hamels, who seems to get away with poor performance after poor performance…

Tonight, I sat on the edge of my seat and cheered my favorite baseball player as he threw a beautiful ninth inning to cap off a wonderful 257th win. I watched him enter a game to replace the man who replaced him in the starting rotation due to a rain delay. I watched a man play baseball who stands and represents everything a sports figure both on and off the field (See Camp Erin) should, prove himself again. He should not have had to.

Go Jamie.