SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Third baseman Nolan Arenado looked over at Jamie Moyer’s locker and couldn’t help but wonder.
“Man, he’s been doing this for a long time. It’s unreal,” Arenado said. “I was just talking about this with my trainer. He’s old enough to be my dad and he’s out here competing.”
Age is just a number to Arenado and Moyer. Only 20, Arenado doesn’t see any reason why he can’t break camp with the Rockies despite finishing last season at Single-A Modesto.
“I am here to win a spot. That’s how I am looking at it,” said Arenado, who was the Arizona Fall League MVP, training at Salt River Fields and occupying Todd Helton’s locker. “I want to be on this team and help us win.”
Moyer is 49 and hasn’t pitched in the major leagues since 2010. He has 22 years experience in the big leagues.
“I understand people make a big deal out of the age, but I don’t pay attention to that,” Moyer said. “I don’t look at this as a chance. It’s an opportunity to compete.”
Moyer said he wasn’t driven to pitch at age 50, a feat typically reserved for knuckleballers or Satchel Paige. His motivation was simple. Once he blew out his elbow, he was going to have surgery regardless to prevent atrophy. He wanted to be able to play golf and throw batting practice to his kids.
Moyer left an immediate impression on his new teammates Monday, talking pitching with them after his first bullpen session.
“It’s important to make a contribution in any way you can,” Moyer said.
CarGo heavier. Outfielder Carlos Gonzalez is about 10 pounds heavier, his upper body noticeably stronger than when he finished last season. He’s expected to drop weight as camp goes on. Any concerns about his right wrist were eased as he rifled 450-foot shots over the outfield fence during batting practice.
Footnotes. Outfielder Jamie Hoffman, who will compete for a backup job, won’t be taxed early in spring training. He’s recovering from an illness contracted in winter ball. … Juan Nicasio participated in all drills and will throw his first side session today.
Troy E. Renck, The Denver Post
