With the Pittsburgh Pirates and Philadelphia Phillies getting together for a few games over the weekend, members of the media asked Pirates manager John Russell for his opinion on the game's oldest player, Jamie Moyer. After all, Russell was Moyer's catcher with the Texas Rangers back in 1990, so he knows a little something about him. While praising Jamie's work ethic and preparation, Russell went on to say that he wouldn't be surprised if Moyer, who's now 45, pitched until he was 50.Obviously the media then ran over to Moyer's locker to ask him what he thought about the idea, and though it's a few years off, Jamie didn't say he wouldn't do it.
"John said that, huh? Well it's something that's five years away," Moyer said. "Right now, I'm going pretty well and I feel pretty good, trying to take things one step at a time. The point with me is being able to stay healthy and pitch effectively. I still deal with the minor aches and pains, and we're talking about five years from now. I'd have my family to talk to about it, and they're first. But you never know, I'm not ruling it out.
"I'll be 46 next year and I will be back next year. I enjoy the National League, and I'm swinging the bat well. Well, I'm swinging the bat well in batting practice. I do intend to play next year, and I feel pretty good. Not as good as I did the first day of Spring Training, but I don't think anyone here feels the way they did the first day of Spring Training.Of course, as amazing a feat as this would be, it's not exactly unheard of. I'm pretty sure Julio Franco was 60 while he played for the Mets last season, and if I found out that recently injured White Sox pitcher Jose Contreras was 85 years old, I wouldn't be shocked.
"I'm not going to rule it out, if I'm still able to be effective. I have an obligation here that I plan on upholding next year with the Phillies, so I will be back at 46. Hey, 50 is five years away. It's not something I'm ruling out."
