Jamie Moyer

Jamie Moyer was close to perfect in his debut for Triple-A Norfolk. The 49-year-old lefty pitched five scoreless innings Saturday at Buffalo, allowing one hit and no walks. He struck out five and picked up the win as the Tides defeated the Bisons, 5-0. The Orioles signed Moyer to a minor-league deal Wednesday, and executive vice president Dan Duquette said Moyer would make “two or three starts down [at Norfolk] and we'll see where he is at.” An Oriole from 1993 to 1995, Moyer has a 269-209 record and 4.25 ERA in 696 career major-league games.

Jamie Moyer, the 49-year-old lefty and former Oriole who pitched three games for Triple-A Norfolk this month, asked for and was granted his release Saturday because he hadn't been promoted to the big league club. “Jamie's a veteran, and he certainly had the right to decide what he decided,” said Duquette, who signed Moyer in early June and said Moyer would make three starts before the club would decide on a promotion. Moyer did his part, going 1-1 with a 1.69 ERA and allowing just 11 hits and no walks in 16 innings while striking out 16. But there were two issues at play.

Old guys everywhere have a little more swagger today. They're smiling more. Holding their heads a little higher. The reason? Jamie Moyer refuses to give up the ghost.  At age 49, the soft-tossing -- and that might be too generous a description -- lefty has signed a minor-league deal with the Orioles, emphasizing the idea that they'll have to cut the uniform from his cold, dead body before he retires from baseball. The man has now been pitching in the major leagues for 25 years.

The Orioles decided to kick the tires on 49-year-old lefthander Jamie Moyer, giving him a three-start trial run at Triple-A Norfolk to see if he could help the club. Moyer, who made that third start on Wednesday, can now opt out. Coming off an off-day Thursday and having another one Monday, the Orioles don't need a fifth starter until conceivably a week from tomorrow. So the Orioles offered Moyer one more start at Norfolk and are now waiting to hear whether the veteran left-hander will accept the offer or part ways with the organization.

Jamie Moyer made his third start for Triple-A Norfolk on Wednesday night, allowing one run on three hits in four innings against Buffalo. The Tides won, 3-1, but Moyer -- who struck out four and threw 54 of his 77 pitches for strikes -- didn't get a decision. He's 1-1 with a 1.69 ERA for Norfolk, making a case that he could help the Orioles' rotation. After signing Moyer two weeks ago, Dan Duquette said the 49-year-old lefty would likely get two or three starts in Triple-A to assess where he is. Moyer was 2-5 with a 5.70 ERA in 10 starts with the Colorado Rockies before being released.

You'll hear plenty of jokes and quips about Jamie Moyer's age in the coming days, after the Orioles agreed to a minor-league deal with the 49-year-old lefty yesterday . To get you started, here are a few nuggets to consider about the oldest pitcher to ever win a game in the big leagues. ** Moyer was born during the  John F. Kennedy  administration (Nov. 18, 1962). The high school seniors the Orioles drafted this week were born while Bill Clinton was in office. That's seven presidents later.

Jamie Moyer, the 49-year-old lefty and former Oriole who pitched three games for Triple-A Norfolk this month, asked for and was granted his release Saturday because he hadn't been promoted to the big league club. “Jamie's a veteran, and he certainly had the right to decide what he decided,” said Duquette, who signed Moyer in early June and said Moyer would make three starts before the club would decide on a promotion. Moyer did his part, going 1-1 with a 1.69 ERA and allowing just 11 hits and no walks in 16 innings while striking out 16. But there were two issues at play.

When Colorado Rockies left-hander Jamie Moyer became - at 49 - the oldest pitcher in history to win a major league game last Tuesday night, it probably didn't cross his mind that a few million middle-aged guys suddenly felt a little bit younger and lot more alive. It wasn't about that. It wasn't some quest to prove that life begins at almost 50, or to prove anybody wrong. It wasn't to write his name in the record book or write out Brooklyn Dodgers pitcher Jack Quinn, who was a couple months younger when he set the record 80 years ago that Moyer just broke.

The Orioles decided to kick the tires on 49-year-old lefthander Jamie Moyer, giving him a three-start trial run at Triple-A Norfolk to see if he could help the club. Moyer, who made that third start on Wednesday, can now opt out. Coming off an off-day Thursday and having another one Monday, the Orioles don't need a fifth starter until conceivably a week from tomorrow. So the Orioles offered Moyer one more start at Norfolk and are now waiting to hear whether the veteran left-hander will accept the offer or part ways with the organization.

Former Orioles pitcher Jamie Moyer's effort to blanket America with bereavement camps for children is based on nothing personal. No tragedy in Moyer's own life spurred him to create a nationwide network of support centers for youngsters who are grieving for loved ones - like the camp that is coming to Maryland in July. "Why do this? Why not?" said Moyer, who, at 47, is still pitching for the Philadelphia Phillies. "We all have to deal with death, but when a child has to do it, it's really unfortunate," he said.

This is about the fifth time I've uttered this phrase this season, but this upcoming stretch will be a good test. The Washington Nationals lead the NL East, the Cleveland Indians lead the AL Central and the Los Angeles Angels are the hottest team in baseball since April 28, when the heavens opened and uber-talent Mike Trout descended to become the new Angel in the outfield. They are 32-18 since then. The Orioles almost certainly will be without Nick Markakis for this nine-game homestand.

Orioles left fielder Nolan Reimold will have surgery to remove a bulging disk in his neck and have his spine fused Monday morning. And although he holds out hope he could return by the end of the season, Reimold likely will be out for the rest of the year. "I think it is possible, if everything works out, that's a possible, best-case scenario," Reimold said of returning in 2012. "I am resigned to the fact I need to get the surgery and I need to do my rehab until I feel like I am able to play at this level again.

Sidle up to the bar. Or mosey or walk or run. I don't care how you get here. But I have a simple question for you, and it has been a while since we chatted: What has you worried the most about these Orioles right now? OK, granted, the club is 39-30, in second place and is just 2.5 games behind the Yankees for first. That's remarkable. No one expected it. I know I didn't.  But now that they have hung around in late June, you want to see this keep going. And just when you think it'll fade, the Orioles destroy some clubs or pull a few extra-innings victories out of a hat and make you wonder whether this can be sustained.

Jamie Moyer made his third start for Triple-A Norfolk on Wednesday night, allowing one run on three hits in four innings against Buffalo. The Tides won, 3-1, but Moyer -- who struck out four and threw 54 of his 77 pitches for strikes -- didn't get a decision. He's 1-1 with a 1.69 ERA for Norfolk, making a case that he could help the Orioles' rotation. After signing Moyer two weeks ago, Dan Duquette said the 49-year-old lefty would likely get two or three starts in Triple-A to assess where he is. Moyer was 2-5 with a 5.70 ERA in 10 starts with the Colorado Rockies before being released.

Jamie Moyer pitched well in his second start for Triple-A Norfolk, but the 49-year-old lefty was outdueled by Toledo's Jacob Turner in a 3-2 loss. Moyer (1-1) surrendered three runs (two earned) on seven hits in seven innings. He also struck out seven. The Tides' official twitter feed posted that Moyer had yet to throw a pitch over 82 mph at the time of his seventh strikeout in the fifth inning. He threw 103 pitches (66 for strikes) and has a 1.50 ERA through two starts for the Tides.

Jamie Moyer was close to perfect in his debut for Triple-A Norfolk. The 49-year-old lefty pitched five scoreless innings Saturday at Buffalo, allowing one hit and no walks. He struck out five and picked up the win as the Tides defeated the Bisons, 5-0. The Orioles signed Moyer to a minor-league deal Wednesday, and executive vice president Dan Duquette said Moyer would make “two or three starts down [at Norfolk] and we'll see where he is at.” An Oriole from 1993 to 1995, Moyer has a 269-209 record and 4.25 ERA in 696 career major-league games.

Hitting Tom Goodwin, Rangers: 2-for-3, HR, 2 RBIs. Pitching David Wells, Yankees: 8 innings, 5 hits, 2 runs, 9 strikeouts. Jamie Moyer, Mariners: 7 innings, 4 hits, 0 runs. Carlos Castillo, White Sox, 3 1/3 relief innings, 0 runs, 0 hits. Pub Date: 5/13/98

HittingManny Ramirez, Indians: HR, double, 3 runs scored.Alex Rodriguez, Mariners: 2-for-5, HR.Edgar Martinez, Mariners: 2-for-4, HR, 3 RBIs.Wil Cordero, White Sox: HR, double, 2 RBIs.Jeff Manto, Tigers: 3-for-3, 2 doubles.PitchingJamie Moyer, Mariners: 8 innings, 0 runs, 8 hits.Pub Date: 5/29/98

Old guys everywhere have a little more swagger today. They're smiling more. Holding their heads a little higher. The reason? Jamie Moyer refuses to give up the ghost.  At age 49, the soft-tossing -- and that might be too generous a description -- lefty has signed a minor-league deal with the Orioles, emphasizing the idea that they'll have to cut the uniform from his cold, dead body before he retires from baseball. The man has now been pitching in the major leagues for 25 years.

You'll hear plenty of jokes and quips about Jamie Moyer's age in the coming days, after the Orioles agreed to a minor-league deal with the 49-year-old lefty yesterday . To get you started, here are a few nuggets to consider about the oldest pitcher to ever win a game in the big leagues. ** Moyer was born during the  John F. Kennedy  administration (Nov. 18, 1962). The high school seniors the Orioles drafted this week were born while Bill Clinton was in office. That's seven presidents later.