I’m thinking about the Phillies and what happened last night at Citizens Bank Park, and I keep thinking of a scene with Al Pacino is the last part of “The Godfather.”
The older, ailing don lamented his inability to climb out of his ties to crime.
“Every time I think I’m out, they pull me back in,” Pacino wheezes.
Which brings us to the Phils, and their very own Wheeze Kid.
How exactly do you describe what Jamie Moyer is doing this year?
The 45-year-old lefthander took the mound last night on just three days rest. You would think his body at some point would fail him, would show its age, would fail to respond.
Not last night. Moyer, as he has been much of the year, once again was magic.
He went five and two-thirds innings, allowing just three runs on four hits. In the process he improved his record to 14-7.
It was the first time he had pitched on three days rest since 2004. Like a fine wine, the aging one does not overpower hitters. He beats them with guile, and precision.
His explanation of all this? “I’m here. I’m healthy. Sometimes you have to step up,” Moyer said.
Speaking of stepping up, a guy about 20 years younger also made a few headlines last night.
Ryan Howard continues to heat up, and it couldn’t come at a better time. Howard bashed home run No. 43 and then came within inches of depositing another ball over the center-field fence.
With the 6-3 win the Phils sliced a game off the Brewers lead in the NL Wild Card race. They now trail by three with three games left in the series. They also gained a half-game on the idle Mets. They now trail in the NL East by three games as well.
Tonight becomes crucial. A win tonight and the Phils just might get into the Brewers’ heads, while cutting their Wild-Card lead to just two games.
They need another person to step up, to follow in the footsteps of their “seasoned” citizen Moyer.
That job will fall to Cole Hamels. Pitching with his more normal rest, the Phils direly need Hamels to come up big tonight.
Hamels is widely believed to be the “ace” of the staff. Tonight would be a good time to prove it.
Another big win, and a stellar effort by Hamels, would be one for the “aged,” Hamels’ mentor Moyer.
The older, ailing don lamented his inability to climb out of his ties to crime.
“Every time I think I’m out, they pull me back in,” Pacino wheezes.
Which brings us to the Phils, and their very own Wheeze Kid.
How exactly do you describe what Jamie Moyer is doing this year?
The 45-year-old lefthander took the mound last night on just three days rest. You would think his body at some point would fail him, would show its age, would fail to respond.
Not last night. Moyer, as he has been much of the year, once again was magic.
He went five and two-thirds innings, allowing just three runs on four hits. In the process he improved his record to 14-7.
It was the first time he had pitched on three days rest since 2004. Like a fine wine, the aging one does not overpower hitters. He beats them with guile, and precision.
His explanation of all this? “I’m here. I’m healthy. Sometimes you have to step up,” Moyer said.
Speaking of stepping up, a guy about 20 years younger also made a few headlines last night.
Ryan Howard continues to heat up, and it couldn’t come at a better time. Howard bashed home run No. 43 and then came within inches of depositing another ball over the center-field fence.
With the 6-3 win the Phils sliced a game off the Brewers lead in the NL Wild Card race. They now trail by three with three games left in the series. They also gained a half-game on the idle Mets. They now trail in the NL East by three games as well.
Tonight becomes crucial. A win tonight and the Phils just might get into the Brewers’ heads, while cutting their Wild-Card lead to just two games.
They need another person to step up, to follow in the footsteps of their “seasoned” citizen Moyer.
That job will fall to Cole Hamels. Pitching with his more normal rest, the Phils direly need Hamels to come up big tonight.
Hamels is widely believed to be the “ace” of the staff. Tonight would be a good time to prove it.
Another big win, and a stellar effort by Hamels, would be one for the “aged,” Hamels’ mentor Moyer.
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