October 24, 2006
Moyer Extension
Balls, Sticks and Stuff likes the Moyer signing:
Again, the off-season is young and things can change, and injuries for any pitcher can be just around the corner, but as of right now, the Phillies rotation stacks up pretty well. Couple that with the fact that the team has one of the best -- if not the best -- offenses in the NL East, and the team is looking even better.
As a neutral observer, Moyer's increased home runs per nine over the last three seasons, coupled with pitching at age 44, make me think a two year contract is generous. He allowed 1.03 HR per 9 through 2003, 1.47 since. He still walks very few batters, however, which helps compensate for the long balls.
the best part of this deal is that it's frontloaded. phil's only owe him 3 mil next year (plus incentives).
Plus, he may retire after this year anyway, so it might be a moot point. [thanks, yet again, for the link DP]
re: moyer signing
one of the key reasons the phils signed moyer was so that he could continue to teach his baffling array of changeups to fellow lefty and rookie phenom Cole Hamels, with whom Moyer developed a close relationsship this past season. Hamels out pitch is the change.
--art kyriazis