Boomer can breathe easier with Moyer defeat
David Wells was 43 years, 138 days old when he lost Game 2 of the 2006 Division Series for the San Diego Padres. Wells actually pitched pretty good, losing a 2-0 decision to the soon-to-be world champion Cardinals.
That loss, however, made him the oldest pitcher in baseball history to lose a postseason game. Boomer, you can breathe easier now.
On Saturday, Phillies pitcher Jamie Moyer took the mound vs. Milwaukee at 45 years, 321 days old. Moyer was the oldest player in the majors this season, and if he had beaten Milwaukee he would have become both the oldest pitcher to win a postseason game and the oldest pitcher to clinch a postseason series.
Instead, Boomer is out of the record book, and now Moyer is the oldest pitcher in history to lose a postseason game.
Incidentally, Moyer won 16 games this year - becoming the second oldest behind Phil Niekro to win as many in one season. Moyer has also won more games (82) after turning 40 than anyone in history except Niekro.
Neither of those tidbits will mean much to Moyer, however, if the Phillies don't close out the Brewers and give him another chance to start this postseason - after all, Moyer made his big league debut on June 16, 1986, when C.C. Sabathia was still a month shy of his sixth birthday, but he has never been to the World Series.
That loss, however, made him the oldest pitcher in baseball history to lose a postseason game. Boomer, you can breathe easier now.
On Saturday, Phillies pitcher Jamie Moyer took the mound vs. Milwaukee at 45 years, 321 days old. Moyer was the oldest player in the majors this season, and if he had beaten Milwaukee he would have become both the oldest pitcher to win a postseason game and the oldest pitcher to clinch a postseason series.
Instead, Boomer is out of the record book, and now Moyer is the oldest pitcher in history to lose a postseason game. Incidentally, Moyer won 16 games this year - becoming the second oldest behind Phil Niekro to win as many in one season. Moyer has also won more games (82) after turning 40 than anyone in history except Niekro.
Neither of those tidbits will mean much to Moyer, however, if the Phillies don't close out the Brewers and give him another chance to start this postseason - after all, Moyer made his big league debut on June 16, 1986, when C.C. Sabathia was still a month shy of his sixth birthday, but he has never been to the World Series.
Major League Baseball: An Interactive Guide to the World of Sports, with a foreword by Zack Hample, is the latest title from Sports by the Numbers.
Ha! Now that's a double-edged record: Kudos to be playing that long; Still hurts to lose.
--Jeff
http://redstatebluestate.mlblogs.com/
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I remember when Hank Steinbrenner called out Mussina last year for not being more like Moyer. Wonder what he thinks now that Moose won 20 games.
- http://janeheller.mlblogs.com
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David,
Sorry I didn't get back to you earlier, had midterms last week. Yeah, I think that's one record Wells wouldn't mind having off his chest. Hopefully Moyer will get another L, though, bumping that record up a couple of days. Have a good day!
-John
http://northstateblues.mlblogs.com
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I saw history. Not only did the Brewers win their first postseason game in 26 years but they beat the old-man in the process!! The Brewers did it with patience at the plate and a shorter approach. Imagine that...the freeswinging Brewers. Unfortunately for us BrewTown Fanatics, it only lasted one day. Bring on '09!
So, who's the oldest pitcher to win a postseason game?
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