Jamie Moyer Out for Rest of the Season

After leaving last night’s game against the Houston Astros with an injury, it has been revealed that Jamie Moyer will be out for the rest of the season.

The 46-year-old pitcher tore a groin after making a pitch last night. He will have surgery at some time next week.

He will be ready for spring training next season.

After losing his job in the starting rotation in August to Pedro Martinez, Moyer has been completely dominant out of the bullpen, used primarily as a long relief man.

During the 2009 season, Moyer had a 12-10 record with a 4.94 ERA.

Even if he hadn’t been injured, he would have most likely been used out of the bullpen during the post-season.

Next season, Moyer will have some competition in the rotation. With Cole Hamels, Cliff Lee, J.A. Happ, and Joe Blanton taking the first four spots, Moyer will have to battle Kyle Kendrick, Drew Carpenter, and possibly Pedro Martinez for the fifth spot in the rotation.

Also, top pitching prospect Kyle Drabek is expected to break into the rotation at some point next season

Read more Philadelphia Phillies news on BleacherReport.com

2009 MLB Award Predictions

Every sports fan loves predictions. They help fuel the competitive fire throughout the sports world.

So far, the 2009 baseball season has been a good one. Many players are having career years, or are having continued success from previous seasons.

Regardless of the reason, many players are in contention for some of baseball’s awards, including the Most Valuable Player Award, the Cy Young Award, and the Rookie of the Year Award.

Here are my predictions of who will finish the season strong and win these awards.

(Note: All stats are going into Monday’s games.)

 

Most Valuable Player

National League: Albert Pujols

Stats: .325 BA, 134 H, 38 HR, 104 RBI, 93 R, 11 SB

Albert Pujols has had a terrific year. He is batting .325 and is leading the league in home runs, runs scored, slugging percentage, and on-base percentage.

He also is second in the league in RBI.

Runner-Up: Ryan Howard

 

American League: Justin Morneau

Stats: .299 BA, 132 H, 28 HR, 94 RBI, 79 R

Justin Morneau has been a threat at the plate so far this year. He leads the league with 94 RBI, and is among the leaders in home runs and runs scored.

Runner-Up: Mark Teixeira (I wouldn’t be surprised if he finishes strong and wins.)

 

Cy Young Award

National League: Tim Lincecum

Stats: 12-3, 2.19 ERA, 205 K, 171.1 IP, 24 GP

There is no debate in my mind that Tim Lincecum will repeat as the Cy Young Award winner, unless he gets injured.

He is leading the league in ERA, innings pitched, shutouts, complete games, and strikeouts. He’s also among the league leaders in wins, H/9, K/9, and HR/9.

Runner-Up: Dan Haren

 

American League: Roy Halladay

Stats: 13-5, 2.65 ERA, 144 K, 173.0 IP, 23 GP

Earlier this season, there was probably no debate whether Roy Halladay would win the Cy Young Award. Now, there is.

He has pitched well so far this season. He leads the league in complete games and innings pitched. He is among the best in wins, strikeouts, and ERA.

Runner-Up: Zack Greinke

 

Rookie of the Year 

National League: J.A. Happ

Stats: 9-2, 2.66 ERA, 92 K, 128.2 IP, 28 GP

You may think I’m biased on this one, but the stats speak for themselves.

J.A. Happ has the sixth best ERA in the league and is second in win percentage. He leads the league in shutouts, which is good for anyone.

Runner-Up: Tommy Hanson

 

American League: Ricky Romero

Stats: 10-5, 3.70 ERA, 95 K, 121.2 IP, 19 GP

Ricky Romero is one of the hottest young pitchers in the majors. He doesn’t have the greatest stats, but no other AL rookie really jumped out at me.

If Romero stays hot, he has a good shot at winning the Rookie of the Year Award.

Runner-Up: Rick Porcello

Brad Lidge: Heart Attack Closer of the Year

Well, the Phillies won another one last night, but not without ninth-inning drama.

After Ryan Howard hit a solo home run to give the Phillies a 3-2 lead in the top of the ninth, Brad Lidge came in to close out the game.

Lidge, who has blown seven saves so far this year, faced Yunel Escobar. Escobar hit a fly ball to right-center, but right fielder Jayson Werth made a nice play and caught the ball.

That’s when I thought, “Yes, only two more outs!”

Then, Adam LaRoche singled to center. Pinch-runner Matt Diaz then proceeded to steal second base.

Lidge struck out Ryan Church for the second out. He then walked pinch hitter Greg Norton.

With men on first and second, I thought “Oh no, it’s Tuesday all over again!”

Nate McLouth stepped in and hit a high fly ball to left.

I held my breath as I watched the ball soar through the air. Then, I watched it land in left fielder Raul Ibanez’s glove.

Broadcaster Tom McCarthy then informed the fans the it was “okay to exhale.”

I, along with many Phillies fans watching the game, exhaled.

Let’s face it, Brad Lidge has struggled this year. My 75-year old grandfather isn’t allowed to watch the Phillies game if Brad Lidge is pitching.

They should flash a warning on the screen before Lidge comes in to pitch. It should say “WARNING! Those have heart problems should watch this inning with caution!”

Whenever Lidge comes in, people get nervous. When he saves the day, we rejoice.

Luckily, Brett Myers is returning to the Phillies soon. He enjoys closing and was good in that role. He could get a few save opportunities this year if Lidge continues to struggle.

Plus, there is no need to worry about Myers going into a mental funk like last year. He’s a free agent after this season, and the Phillies haven’t expressed interest in re-signing him.  

Something must be done about Brad Lidge. He has to regain his All-Star form, or even an above average form.

If he doesn’t, the Phillies may run into problems down the stretch.

Can Jamie Moyer Find New Life in the Bullpen?

As some of you know, Jamie Moyer is my favorite player. He has done so much during his career and has greatly contributed to the Phillies.

Thus, you can tell I am disappointed at the Phillies’ decision to move him to the bullpen—but hey, that’s baseball.

Moyer publicly addressed his disappointment in the Phillies’ decision. Right away, people jumped on him about his statements.

Honestly, haven’t other players done worse? Lay off the man.

But the question now is, can Moyer pitch effectively out of the bullpen?

He has pitched out of the bullpen and been effective in relief at some points.

He will most likely be used as a long relief man, though manager Charlie Manuel has said he may be used in key situations that involve a left-handed pitcher.

Teammate Chan Ho Park made the successful transition from starter to reliever this year, but he had more experience in that role.

Moyer will be ready to pitch tonight against the Atlanta Braves if he is needed.

Only time will tell how he does in the bullpen. All I know is that Phillies fans are rooting for him.

Five Reasons Why the Phillies Will Run Away with the Division

The Phillies have played extremely well so far this year.

 

Their lineup has been one of the most consistent in the league.

 

Their rotation is turning around.

 

And let’s face it, they have been hot.

 

They have a six-game lead over the Florida Marlins, and a six-and-a-half game lead over the Atlanta Braves. They have a 10-game lead over their archrivals, the New York Mets.

 

Everything is coming together for the Phillies, and I predict they will run away with the division. I predict they will come out of August with a good size lead over the other contenders.

 

Do you want reasons? Here are five.

 

 

1. Pitching Rotation is Hot

 

With the addition of Cliff Lee, who makes his home debut with the Phillies today, the Phillies have one of the best rotations in the National League.

 

Last year’s AL Cy Young Award winner joins World Series MVP Cole Hamels at the top of the rotation. Yes, I know, Hamels has struggled, but let’s not lose hope. He is a big game pitcher and will come through down the stretch.

 

At the back end, the Phillies have Joe Blanton, J.A. Happ, and Jamie Moyer. Honestly, Blanton and Happ should be aces considering the way they’ve pitched this year.

 

Happ threw his second shutout of the season yesterday, and Joe Blanton, who shut down batters in July, allowed two runs in a loss against the San Francisco Giants his last time out.

 

Finally, we have Jamie Moyer. He pitched as well as last year, but he leads the team in wins. I don’t care how high his ERA is at this point, just as long as he gets the win. He has gotten a lot of run support from the lineup, which is good. Also, he won five of his last seven starts.  

 

 

2. Lineup Going Strong

 

The Phillies undoubtedly have the most productive lineup in the league.

 

In the middle of the lineup, they have four players (Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, Raul Ibanez, and Jayson Werth) that already have 20 home runs. All of them will have at least 100 RBI by the end of the season.

 

In the one and two slots of the lineup, they have former MVP Jimmy Rollins and All-Star Shane Victorino. Rollins, who has homered in three consecutive games, has turned it on recently.

 

Shane Victorino had a big month in July, and hopefully his success should carry over into August. If it does, the Phillies will have two table setters at the beginning of their lineup.

 

At the bottom of the lineup they have the Latino Bash Brothers, Pedro Feliz and Carlos Ruiz. Feliz is batting this year. Carlos Ruiz is struggling at the plate this year, but he has handled the pitching staff extremely well.

 

 

3. World Series Champion Status

 

This doesn’t really count for much if you are one of those people who say, “last year was last year, this year is a new year.” But in reality, it does count for something.

 

The Phillies have the World Champion swagger, and they’ve shown it. Don’t you think some teams get nervous when the play last year’s World Champs?

 

 

4. More Players on the Way

 

This is one of the most important reasons on the list. The Phillies have had their share of injuries this year, and most of the players will return this month.

 

Chad Durbin, J.C. Romero, Clay Condrey, and Brett Myers, all of whom were important players on last year’s team, are on the disabled list. They all should be back soon, though Myers could be back in late August. Durbin, Romero, and Condrey will resume their previous roles, and Myers will likely pitch out of the bullpen.

 

Also, Pedro Martinez pitched in what could be his last rehab assignment yesterday. He pitched very well and could join the team next week, depending on what the Phillies want to do.

 

Finally, rosters expand on Sept. 1. This means players on the Phillies 40-man roster that aren’t on the major league roster will get called up for the rest of the season. This includes John Mayberry Jr., Brad Harman, and Mike Zagurski.

 

 

5. Upcoming Schedule

 

This can go either way for the Phillies. It all depends on how they play. Most of their remaining games are against other teams in their division. If they can take at least two out of three in those series, they will increase their lead tremendously.

The 5 Most Surprising Phillies This Year

The Phillies have been hot so far this year, and they have a number of people to thank.

Their bats have been extremely hot this year, and it is thanks to people we knew would do well.

But it is also thanks to people that completely surprised us. Most of the people on this list are relatively new, or just started heating up in previous years.
Here it is, the 5 Most Surprising Phillies This Year.

(Click the URL below to view the 5 Most Disappointing Phillies This Year)

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/230461-the-5-most-disappointing-phillies-players-this-year

The 5 Most Disappointing Phillies Players This Year

The Phillies have been one of the best team in baseball this year, but there are always people who struggle.

Many players struggled early on but turned around.

And some are still struggling.

Check out my list of the five most disappointing Phillies players so far this year.

A comment would be greatly appreciated.

Philadelphia Phillies Favorites: Closers

Closing is one of the most difficult jobs in sports.

 

They come into a tight game and try to end it to get the victory.

 

It’s usually only for one inning, but that inning could make or break a team.

 

Every since the save was introduced, baseball has changed. Ninth-inning specialists, or closers, were created to go in and get the win.

 

The Phillies have some good closers during their existence. Here are the top ten:

 

10. Brad Lidge (2008-present)

 

Brad Lidge had an incredible season last year. He was a perfect 41 for 41 in save opportunities. He had a microscopic ERA of 1.96, and batters couldn’t touch him.

 

He’s struggled so far this year, which affected his placement on this list. As a Phillie, he is 2-4 with 61 saves and an ERA of 3.77.

 

9. Turk Farrell (1956-1961, 1967-1969)

 

Turk Farrell had a good career with the Phillies. He had a record of 47-41 with 65 saves and an ERA of 3.25. 

 

He was selected in the 1961 MLB expansion draft by the Houston Colt .45s. He died in an automobile accident in 1977. He was 43 years old.

 

8. Billy Wagner (2004-2005)

 

Though many Phillies fans dislike Billy Wagner because he left us for the Mets, we have to admit he did well for us.

 

Over the course of two seasons, he had a record of 8-3 with an ERA of 1.86. He saved 59 games as a Phillie.

 

7.     Ricky Bottalico (1994-1998, 2001-2002)

 

Ricky Bottalico was the Phillies closer during their bleak years in the 90s. He did well despite being on a bad team.

 

He had a record of 15-25 with 78 saves and an ERA of 3.70 as a Phillie.

 

6. Steve Bedrosian (1986-1989)

 

Steve Bedrosian was also a closer during a bleak time in Philadelphia baseball. He was also successful, having a record of 21-18 with 103 saves and an ERA of 3.29 as a Phillie.

 

5. Mitch Williams (1991-1993)

 

A good pitcher ruined by one pitch, Mitch Williams had a good career in Philadelphia. As a Phillie, he won 20 games and lost 20 games. He saved 102 games for the Phillies and had an ERA of 3.11.

 

His career as a Phillie ended after he surrendered the walk-off home run by Joe Carter that won the 1993 World Series for the Blue Jays.

 

4. Jose Mesa (2001-2003, 2007)

 

Jose Mesa is the Phillies all-time saves leader, despite being their closer for only three years. He was lights out in his first two years as a Phillie but struggled in his third. He came back to the Phillies in 2007 as a middle reliever.

 

He had a record of 13-18 with 112 saves and an ERA of 4.05 as a Phillie.

 

3. Jim Konstanty (1948-1954)

 

The term “closer” hadn’t really been introduced yet, but Konstanty was lights out in relief for the Phillies. He had his best season in 1950 when he won the National League MVP Award. He helped lead the Phillies to the World Series that year.

 

As a Phillie, Konstanty had a record of 51-39 with 54 saves and an ERA of 3.64.

 

2. Ron Reed (1976-1983)

 

Ron Reed played both baseball and basketball professionally. He was mainly a starter before coming to the Phillies, but they switched him to the bullpen. He was one of the key players during their postseason pushes.

 

As a Phillie, he had a record of 57-38 with 90 saves and an ERA of 3.06.

 

1.     Tug McGraw (1975-1984)

 

Tug McGraw is the obvious choice for number one on this list. He is the greatest relief pitcher in Phillies history. He’s most known for his leap after striking out Willie Wilson to win the 1980 World Series.

 

He had a record of 49-37 with 94 saves and an ERA of 3.10 as a Phillie.

Phillies Fans: Always Faithful

Yesterday, I went to the Red Sox-Orioles game in Baltimore. It was my first time going to Camden Yards, and I had a fun time.

 

I didn’t go because I’m a Red Sox fan or an Orioles fan. I went because I have a goal to visit every Major League Baseball stadium. It will be a fun goal to reach.

 

But I noticed a few things at the game.

 

1. The Orioles don’t have a very large fan base.
2. There were more Red Sox fans than Orioles fans.
3. Red Sox fans are loud.

 

I already knew those three things, but it was interesting to see it in person.

 

But I noticed a fourth thing, something I didn’t think I would see at the ballpark.

 

I saw other Phillies fans.

 

I was wearing my Phillies t-shirt and hat, and thought I would stick out like a sore thumb.

 

I didn’t care because I love the Phillies.

 

I saw a good number of Phillies fans at the game.

 

I also saw one Yankees fan who had a sign reading “2004*, 2007*”. Some Red Sox fans came and ripped it and yelled at the guy.

 

This proves a few things.

 

It proves that Phillies fans are unscathed by Red Sox Nation.

 

It proves that Phillies fans will always represent their team, even when they are not playing.

 

Finally, it proves that the Phillies have one of the largest fan bases in baseball.

 

Do you honestly think that most of those Red Sox fans came from Boston?

In my mind, Red Sox Nation is a disease that is spreading across the country. It is clear that baseball fans from cities that don’t have very good teams are switching over to the Red Sox. But why?

 

They are a good team, but how can people be so disloyal? They’re fair weather fans.

 

Sure, when a Phillies player is in a slump, we boo. But that’s just the way Phillies fans are.

 

We can’t help it.

 

I am always loyal to Phillies. In all my time as a Phillies fan, I can’t recall a time I’ve booed.

 

Anyway, my point is that the Phillies fan base is growing. They will always be a good team, and they will always have fans.

Schmitters Says: Unconfirmed 2003 MLB Steroid List Revealed

The 2004 World Series was one of the most memorable in baseball history.

It was between the Boston Red Sox and St. Louis Cardinals.

The Red Sox had an incredible postseason. They came back from the brink of elimination in both the Division Series and Championship Series. Then, they won it all.

It was a great Series to watch.

Now, it will be looked at in disgust.

Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz, who were both key members of the 2004 Red Sox team, reportedly tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs in 2003. 

They are two of 103 players who tested positive that year. 

The list was supposed to be destroyed, but nothing really goes according to plan does it?

Ramirez and Ortiz aren’t the first names from the list. It also includes Alex Rodriguez.

Rotoinfo.com has an UNCONFIRMED list of the steroid users that tested positive in 2003. Names such as Miguel Tejada, Alfonso Soriano, Francisco Rodriguez, and Gary Sheffield are on it.

But more importantly, the list also includes Nomar Garciaparra, Johnny Damon, Pedro Martinez, and Trot Nixon.

If the Rotoinfo.com list is accurate, that means that SIX of the 2004 Red Sox’s KEY players were steroid users.

It is time for baseball to take a good long look at what is going on. Many big name players are on this list.

If it is accurate, many players will be ruined.

If it is accurate, the record books will be tainted.

If it is accurate, the Baseball Hall of Fame will surely suffer.

Many future and possible Hall of Famers are on this list including Manny Ramirez, Pedro Martinez, Gary Sheffield, Todd Helton, Roberto Alomar, and Ivan Rodriguez.

It also includes many notable players such as Bobby Abreu, Carlos Delgado, Adrian Beltre, and Luis Gonzalez.

Many players already linked to steroids are also on this list, including Barry Bonds and Rafael Palmerio.

It’s time for baseball to strengthen it’s steroid policy. If need be, they should suspend first-time offenders for the season. If they test positive again, they should get a lifetime ban.

If Pete Rose gets a lifetime ban for betting on games, what does a steroid user deserve?

It’s time for baseball to do something about steroids.

It’s time for a change.

 

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