Dissatisfied Jamie Moyer Doesn't Have Anyone To Blame But Himself For Demotion

(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Jamie Moyer is supposed to be the ultimate team player. His recent comments on being demoted to the bullpen suggest anything but.

Moyer recently told reporters that the Phillies misled him during his offseason negotiations and that he was told by both Phillies GM Ruben Amaro, Jr. and team president David Montgomery that a situation like this (being removed from the starting rotation) would not occur.

He went on to say that he deserved more respect than what he was shown by the team in making this decision.

Moyer needs to look in the mirror. The Phillies did him a favor by signing him to a guaranteed two-year deal worth $13 million this past offseason. No other team in the league would have given him as much money, let alone a second year.

The only reason Amaro did this was out of respect and loyalty for the 46-year-old relic, so Moyer needs to shut up about being misled and disrespected by the Phillies front office.

The Philadelphia Eagles are a perfect example of not letting sentimentality affect offseason decisions, something many people felt the Phillies failed to do when they re-signed Moyer.

Moyer also needs to look at his statistics. The fact that his 5.47 ERA is the worst among NL starters that qualify should be reason enough to be removed.

Yes, he does lead the team with 10 wins, but considering how many runs the team scores in those wins has masked how bad Moyer has been this year.

Moyer also leads the team in home runs allowed (22), WHIP (1.51), and averages the least amount of innings pitched per start for Phillies starters with at least 20+ starts.

The bottom line is that if the Phillies have any shot at holding onto their three-and-a-half game lead in the NL East, Moyer had to be removed.

Considering that the Phillies had no problem telling Adam Eaton to go home last season after posting one of the league’s worst ERA, I’m surprised the Phillies waited until now to finally remove him.

It will be interesting to see what Moyer has to say once he is left off the postseason roster as well. Call me unsentimental, but the Phillies should just eat Moyer’s contract in 2010 and release him or tell him to retire.

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