After a typical snowy day in in late April, the Pirates and Rockie were forced to cancel their series-opener on Monday. The good news for Pirates fans is that they are able to to take in a double-header on Wednesday at PNC Park. The bad news for fans is that if they were planning to come on Monday only, they won’t be able to see the 49-year-old wonder Jamie Moyer pitch for Colorado.
Moyer, who became the oldest starting pitcher to win a Major League game last week, is in his 24th year pitching in the Majors. Imagine being 18-years-old and coming out of high school. You are drafted and you think you will be able to play baseball and provide for your family for a few years playing baseball. Would you ever think that you would be doing it until you were 49? 268 wins and a year off of Tommy John surgery later, Moyer is still pitching, and pitching effectively. If you can, make your way to the ballpark tonight.
Opposing Moyer for the Pirates will be Kevin Correia. Correia was originally scheduled to pitch Saturday night before experiencing soreness in his left side and was replaced by A.J. Burnett. Correia has been the odd-man out all season, but pitched great in his first two outings of the season in hopes of keeping a spot in the rotation when Jeff Karstens returns off of the disabled list.
Despite his average fastball speed being just 78 mph, Pirates Manager Clint Hurdle is choosing to go with just one left-handed bat in his lineup, Alex Presley. Hurdle knows the secret to attack Moyer.
“It’s called discipline and it drips all over our life in different areas,” Hurdle said. “You know what you’re going to get and if your mindset is to jump a pitch against Moyer, you are going to play into his strengths. “It’s all about deception, late life and movement. You got to be ready to hit.”
Three things to watch:
1) Jamie Moyer – For many of us, fans and media alike, this will be like watching Chipper Jones this season. It’s a feel good story and you know you will probably not see this tremendous athlete play again after this season. Enjoy it while you can.
2) Pirates offense – With a mostly right-handed lineup against Moyer, the Pirates will need to practice what Hurdle has preached and that’s discipline. Moyer is deceptive and has pinpoint location. When he gives them a pitch to hit, they must capitalize.
3) Yamaico Navarro – Navarro gets the nod over Josh Harrison today at third, and will look to make the most of his limited playing time. Navarro possess a little more power than Harrison does, but only has played 16 career games at third base. Keep an eye on how he handles the call today.
Colorado Rockies (8-7) at Pittsburgh Pirates (6-9)
Jamie Moyer (1-2, 2.55 ERA) vs Kevin Correia (1-0, 1.50 ERA)
First pitch: 7:05 p.m. ET
Pirates:
Presley 7
Tabata 9
McCutchen 8
McGehee 3
Walker 4
Navarro 5
Barajas 2
Barmes 6
Correia 1
Photo credits:
Photograph by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images
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