May 20 -- ALL ABOUT MOYER (PLUS LINEUP)

BY SCOTT LAUBER

CINCINNATI -- So, before Sunday's game in DC, I was chatting with pitching coach Rich Dubee about Jamie Moyer. Dubee is fairly certain that Moyer's problems stem from poor location. Everyone knows Moyer doesn't throw hard, so if he's unable to put his pitches where he wants them, they're going to get hit, often hard. But there was something else Dubee believes may be contributing to Moyer's woes.

"Maybe 250 is weighing on him a little bit," he said.

Interesting.

Moyer has been stuck on 249 career victories since April 26. In three tries for the milestone 250th win, he's 0-2 with a 13.87 ERA, his worst three-start stretch since 2005. Overall, he has an 8.15 ERA in seven starts, the highest his ERA has ever been this late into a season. I was having a conversation over lunch with a few fellow beat writers (if you're ever in Cincy, grab a bite to eat here) about the seemingly arbitrary nature of 250 wins. It's a nice round number, sure. But why is 250 more meaningful than 249 or 251? Only 43 pitchers have won 250 games, but only 45 have won 249. If 250 is a more exclusive club, it's only marginally so.

Is it possible, then, that Dubee is right, that Moyer has been distracted by 250? We'll find out soon enough when he faces the Reds tonight.

One thing is for sure, though. Moyer isn't a candidate for the bullpen. He isn't going to the minors. And after signing a two-year, $13 million contract extension last winter, he obviously believes he can still pitch, even at age 46. So, if his struggles continue tonight, the Phillies have little choice but to send him back to the mound to try again in five days.

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Fun fact about Moyer: Great American Ballpark will be the 48th different stadium in which he has pitched, most among all active pitchers.

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Tonight's lineup against Reds RHP Aaron Harang:
SS Jimmy Rollins (.223/2/14)
2B Chase Utley (.289/10/26)
LF Raul Ibanez (.350/13/36)
1B Ryan Howard (.267/9/29)
RF Jayson Werth (.285/7/24)
CF Shane Victorino (.256/4/23)
3B Pedro Feliz (.315/2/21)
C Chris Coste (.236/1/6)
LHP Jamie Moyer (3-3, 8.15 ERA)

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Add another name to the Phillies' inventory of veteran relievers at triple-A. They have claimed right-hander Steve Register off waivers from the Rockies and optioned him to Lehigh Valley. Register, 26, is 0-2 with six saves and a 4.50 ERA in 16 games at triple-A Colorado Springs. He appeared in 10 games for the Rockies in 2008, going 0-0 with a 9.00 ERA.