Jamie Moyer: Amaro's Exit Was 'Hard To See'
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Former Phillies pitcher Jamie Moyer defended deposed General Manager Ruben Amaro Jr, who was relieved of his duties by the team last week, setting the stage for the organization to begin to restructure.
Moyer told Chris Stigall on Talk Radio 1210 WPHT that it was left to Amaro to accept the blame for the team's struggles the past three seasons, following five straight trips to the playoffs.
"It's hard to see. Somebody always seems to be the fall guy. Whether it be a particular player or a group of players, regardless of what sport you're talking about. We've always seemed to need to have somebody to blame it on, which is fine. It's part of being an athlete, part of sports. The job that any General Manager has, and the new the General Manager, whoever it may be, it's going to be a difficult job to move this organization forward. It's a daunting task."
He said he was not surprised, as the team aged, they would face more challenges and a drop in the standings.
"The whole situation is unfortunate, where the Phillies have fallen to. But if you look at professional sports, in a lot of cases, I look at it as being very cyclical. Things run in cycles. In this situation, as everybody knows, people get older. Players get older too, we got old. Players moved on, whether it be free agency or via trade."
Moyer said no team can win forever and that Amaro is not unique in the situation he faced.
"It's really hard, whatever GM or President or an organization has that secret potion to figure out how to win every year, you don't see it happen a whole lot. That's the biggest puzzle in professional sports. Ruben, in his time here, did a very fine job."
The Moyer Foundation, started by Jamie and his wife, Karen, in 2000 to support programs to help children in distress will honor former Phillies President David Montgomery tomorrow at their Champions for Children luncheon. Visit moyerfoundation.org for more information.
