Results tagged ‘ Jamie Moyer ’

Rockies offer in Moyer’s court

For now, the Rockies’ 2012 potential Opening Day starting rotation can be called the “under-30 club.” But that could change, considerably, with one signing.

Looking for a veteran to help guide the young rotation, the Rockies could be bringing in the veteran – 49-year-old left-hander Jamie Moyer. The Rockies have made an offer of a Minor League contract, and a club official told MLB.com on Tuesday morning that “it’s in his court.”

Moyer had Tommy John ligament transfer surgery in his throwing elbow in December 2010 and worked for ESPN as an analyst last year, but stated all along he hoped to pitch again in 2012. He went 9-9 with a 4.84 ERA for the Phillies in 2010.

By making the offer, the Rockies are signaling that they believe Moyer can be a help to them, not merely a novelty, although his potential signing sparks folks to go digging for trivia. For example, when Moyer made his Major League debut for the Cubs on June 16, 1986, the following competitors for the Rockies’ 2012 rotation had not been born: Jhoulys Chacin (Jan. 7, 1988), Tyler Chatwood (Dec. 16, 1989), Juan Nicasio (Aug. 31, 1986), Drew Pomeranz (Nov. 22, 1988) and Alex White (Aug. 29, 1988).

One of Moyer’s teammates on the 1986 Cubs was Rockies television color commentator George Frazier, then a relief pitcher.

The Denver Post, which reported the offer to Moyer on Monday night, also reported that the Rockies are looking at trading for a second baseman, with the Red Sox’s Marco Scutaro and the Mets’ Justin Turner as possibilities.

Tulowitzki at cleanup: a strategic tool

Rockies manager Jim Tracy placed shortstop Troy Tulowitzzi in the cleanup position for the second time this year and in his career for Tuesday night’s game with the Phillies.

Tracy did it during a recent series against the Mets, but that was because the offense had been struggling. Tuesday’s game was a strategic move to combat Phillies left-handed starter Jamie Moyer, not to mention a bullpen with just one lefty.

Tulowitzki is between the team’s most dangerous left-handed hitters, No. 3 hitter Todd Helton and usual cleanup man Brad Hawpe. That gives Moyer different looks. And if Phillies manager Jerry Manuel uses lefty Scott Eyre later against Helton, he’ll have a decision to make: keep Eyre against Tulowitzki before facing Hawpe or lose the possibility of a left-on-left matchup with Hawpe.

This could be a trend through the rest of the series, with the Rockies facing lefties J.A. Happ on Wednesday and Cliff Lee on Thursday. But don’t expect this move to become permanent.

“Actually, I’m very comfortable where ‘Tulo’ is at [normally] in the five spot in our order,” Tracy said.

Also, switch-hitting Dexter Fowler center fielder is leading off, right-handed hitting Ryan Spilborghs is in left field and right-handed hitting Garrett Atkins is at third base.<p>

Here are the lineups:

Rockies

Dexter Fowler, CF

Clint Barmes, 2B

Todd Helton, 1B

Brad Hawpe, RF

Ryan Spilborghs, LF

Garrett Atkins, 3B

Chris Iannetta, C

Jason Hammel, P

Phillies

Jimmy Rollins, SS

Shane Victorino, CF

Chase Utley, 2B

Ryan Howard, 1B

Raul Ibanez, LF

Jayson Werth, RF

Pedro Feliz, 3B

Carlos Ruiz, C

Jamie Moyer, P

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