Phillies Nation

27 Responses to “Myers Improves On First Start In Allentown”

1. Geoff Says:
   July 8th, 2008 at 10:31 am

   I think hes in Lehigh basically to put him on ice until they can trade him as a closer.

2. Tim Malcolm Says:
   July 8th, 2008 at 10:35 am

   I didn’t want to get into a commentary there, but it just came out. It’s not hard to see what Myers really wants.

   In fact, I feel as if he’s throwing around this “fun” business as a cop-out, as he knows he doesn’t have the stuff to be a legit top-arm and he knows he can’t go back to the closer role again. He’s, in his idea, “f**king around” with everyone.

3. dan Says:
   July 8th, 2008 at 10:47 am

   Why don’t we try him as a set-up guy? Gordon’s on the DL now and it’s the perfect chance to move him back. I think they should do it for sure after Happ’s next start, assuming Happ pitches half-decent.

4. NEPA Says:
   July 8th, 2008 at 10:55 am

   Myers is done being a starter, simple as that. I think the idea of a set up guy could work. Myers just loves the drama of swinging open the bullpen door and coming out to the fans cheering. Maybe he needs that bullshit in his life. If he’s back in a Phillies uniform, hopefully its not in the first inning.

5. Phil Says:
   July 8th, 2008 at 11:15 am

   Why don’t they try having him come out of the bullpen doors to start a game and having the fans cheer him on? The guy doesn’t have the stuff to be a closer or set-up man. He is a starter. He just has head issues and thinks he’s a closer now. He needs a shrink more than anything.

6. Groty Says:
   July 8th, 2008 at 11:26 am

   His attitude kills me. He was the opening day starter, the dream job of every pitcher to play the game, and he’s talking about finding the fun. He needs to go see Smoltz’s shrink.

7. Julie Says:
   July 8th, 2008 at 12:33 pm

   Haha Phil, I like that idea.

   I’m sticking with my original statement- until Myers defines what type of pitcher he wants to be and works hard to be that type of pitcher, he will be one hot mess. He’s too mentally unstable to have his mind set one way (closer) and try to act another way (starter). You don’t want to be a starter? Fine. Then decide on something else, go with it, and stop messing around. Is anyone else expecting the same half-assed performances from him post-rehab?

8. TJ Says:
   July 8th, 2008 at 12:50 pm

   Phil, the fucked up thing is, I think that would work.

9. Don M Says:
   July 8th, 2008 at 1:30 pm

   Yea they definitely aren’t setting him up for a return to the bullpen..

   Just one month ago… against the Reds and Edinson Volquez:

   7.1 innings, 1 hit, 1 earned run, 8 Ks, but 6 walks!

   Remember how good he looked that night.. that is what the Phillies are praying for.. if that doesn’t work out, then you can be sure that he gets traded in the off-season… probably to the White Sox where he’ll dominate like Gavin Floyd.

   Myers has the stuff to be a solid starting pitcher.. if they can add someone in the #2 spot, they’ll be solid

   Hamels, someone, Myers, Kendrick, Moyer would be nice

10. Phils Phan Says:
    July 8th, 2008 at 1:31 pm

    Note that on the700level.com, one Phils fan in attendance commented that again, the IronPigs had the speed turned off during Myers’s presence and that despite reports, a lot of his stuff was off-speed.

    I almost feel like the Phillies are trying to pull a smoke and mirrors act before a trade–make him look as good as possible, as soon as possible, and send him out the door.

11. Don M Says:
    July 8th, 2008 at 1:32 pm

    AND.. what’s with all the phucking cursing on here people.. just use like “sh!t” and whatnot so nobody get fired

12. jeff Says:
    July 8th, 2008 at 1:44 pm

    Don – Fuck that. Being a fan of this team demands an unending supply of colorful language.

13. Don M Says:
    July 8th, 2008 at 1:49 pm

    haha… i just wanted to use the word, PHUCKING…

14. Bruce Says:
    July 8th, 2008 at 1:49 pm

    Hey, something quite obvious is overlooked here regarding Myers. He didn’t have to accept his assignment with a AAA club. It was Myers’ decision to resolve his problems as a starter. Gillick and Manuel want him back as a starter with the Phillies. Myers is focused on making improvements as a starter. There are no longer any doubts in his mind that he belongs in the rotation now that Lidge has signed a new contract.

15. Geoff Says:
    July 8th, 2008 at 1:58 pm

    Im pretty sure theyre actively trying to trade him as we speak.

16. Don M Says:
    July 8th, 2008 at 2:00 pm

    what would have happened if he didn’t “accept” his assignment… can’t they put guys at whatever level of the organization they want?? or realease them for not reporting, etc…

17. Steve Says:
    July 8th, 2008 at 2:36 pm

    I disagree with your thoughts. Myers is correct in that baseball needs to be fun and enjoyable. At the same time, you need to realize that the franchise is counting on you to be at your best in the role that they need you in. If he can’t return to a guy that we can count on for 15 wins and a sub 4.00 era, then yes, I agree that other alternatives need to be explored (including a trade to a team needing a closer, like Seattle for instance). However, they may be reluctant to take him given his track record and the fact that Putz will be back in a month.

18. Tim Malcolm Says:
    July 8th, 2008 at 2:47 pm

    Steve, I hope you’re right, but from what I’ve seen from Myers in the past calendar year it’s hard for me to think he’ll ultimately accept the starter role.

19. Don M Says:
    July 8th, 2008 at 3:07 pm

    He’s not THAT good lately that he has the option to pick-and-choose what role he wants, when and where he wants to play etc..

    he did a nice job as the closer last year… maybe somewhere down the line, he will be a closer for someone else.. but the Phillies need him to be a starter.

    This is how “bored” or “creative” or “dorky” I am:
    You might be a great bartender.. but you were hired as a cook… they needed a bartender last year towards the end of the summer because the other guy (Gordon) was stealing money out of the register. Well this summer they brought in a bartender thats better than you, so they sent you back to the kitchen… now you’re burning all the food because you had more fun as a bartender???

    That ain’t cool, Brett, people pay good money to go eat there, and you couldn’t care less…

20. Steve Says:
    July 8th, 2008 at 3:08 pm

    I think you may be right there. Our best bet is to build his trade value with 2 more solid outings in AAA and then hopefully somebody bites. Unfortunately, to get a solid starter like Bedard or Burnett, we may have to part with Carrasco, or even Victorino. I like Shane’s high energy in an otherwise lethargic lineup.

    On a separate note, why is it that whenever Ryan Howard comes up in a clutch situation (2 on 0 out in 9th last nite) that he strikes out. It is the same thing everytime, 2 high fastballs, then he chases a terrible off-speed pitch. Someone needs to teach Pedro Serrano how to hit a curve ball, or lay of of it! I don’t mean to hate on the guy, but I think people overrate his power numbers, whereas I’d rather have a guy that is more clutch (like Aaron Rowand, Chase Utley, etc.). We are going to need to deal for a clutch reserve as well because Taguchi and Bruntlett are not the answer and Jenkins strikes out too much as well. Let me know you’re thoughts…

21. Troy Says:
    July 8th, 2008 at 3:27 pm

    Steve, you are dead on with Howard…..

    According to Elias, a Late Inning Pressure Situation is “any at-bat in the seventh inning or later, with the batter’s team trailing by three runs or less (or four runs if the bases were loaded)” and its designed to attempt to quantify the subjective term “clutch”.

    Here’s Howards LIPS stats this year according to CBS Sportsline:

    53 At-Bats | 6 Hits | 3 HR | 6 RBI | 26 Ks | .113 BA

    If you only count the LIPS where there were runners on base the stats go to this:

    20 ABs | 2 H | 0 HR | 3 RBI | 11 Ks | .100 BA

    Ugh

22. TJ Says:
    July 8th, 2008 at 3:29 pm

    Steve, your right for the most part but I think that we can get another starter for the price of Donald and some other minor leaguers. Thus leaving us with a need for a Right Fielder that can hit for average, see Dejesus, Freel, Taveras. I’m not sure on what would be the cost but it cant be much, even Randy Winn would fill a need. How they get him is up to Gillick, from a fan’s prospective we want to trade worthless shit and no team will bite on that, its a business. They want prospects or solid talent so there goes Taguchi, and some may consider Myers (Steve, the mariners know that they’re out of it, why trade for a bad contract? ) and Jenkins solid talent, but their contracts suck for the role they play. Dobbs can be a clutch reserve? Everyone hope off Ruiz for a minute. He’s here because of his defense and ability to call a baseball game. Whoever expected a solid offensive force was mistaken. If the offense as a whole was producing then no one would even notice Ruiz sucked at the plate. Ryan Howard came up big for us in clutch situations last year but picthers did find a way to get him out and for god’s sake someone teach him how to read a pitch instead of expecting a fastball every god damn time. Don, your situational bar fits perfect. Just what’s been going through my head while reading this thread. I know what the Phillies will/wont do though, they will win tonight’s game. They won’t finish up better than 3-3 in the next six. We need to get out shit together and have a strong second half, beat the mets (8 games left against them), and get more solid starts out of Kendrick and hope Happ can improve if Myers cant come back into the rotation if it be because of trade or bullpen.

23. Steve Says:
    July 8th, 2008 at 3:40 pm

    Troy,

    Thanks for the tidbit. I did not know that existed, but always like when I can back-up a thought with facts. TJ I like your comments as well, however Ruiz cannot hit for the mendoza line much longer and keep his job. I would rather have Coste in who gets on base every game, hits .100 points higher, and is still a solid, reliable option defensively. Otherwise let’s see what Lou Marston in Reading is made of. But yes it does stick out like a sore thumb when collectively we are hitting like sh*t

24. TJ Says:
    July 8th, 2008 at 3:44 pm

    I think that Coste should sub in every time a starter is pulled with Ruiz behind the plate, Coste could handle it with the relivers as we could use his bat in the stretch.

25. NJ Says:
    July 8th, 2008 at 3:45 pm

    The organisation have handled the Myers situation very well, many teams bury their heads in the sands. As Gillick said Myers is yet to have anything more than a decent season and he was given the responsibility of leading the rotation and using the veteran leadership he should have by now make the rotation better. Instead he has sulked and thrown his toys out the pram and crucially has said all the wrong things, the organisation indulged his childish persona through his early career but he has no slack left and you would have expected him to have grown up by now. It’s not about the pitcher it’s about the team, jimmy says we and Brett says I.

    Unless he shows some maturity to his teammates, coaches and most importantly the front office he’ll be in for a very big shock once we get down to the business end of the season.

26. Bruce Says:
    July 8th, 2008 at 6:13 pm

    “Just the facts, Ma’am” (Dragnet):

    On July 1st: Myers agreed to accept the assignment even though he could have refused because he has more than five years of service time. “I can’t say enough about Brett’s willingness to accept this assignment,” GM Pat Gillick said. “He understood and is eager to get back on track again. He’s struggling right now, but he is a quality major league pitcher who we are going to need in the second half of the season.”

    On July 8th: Brett Myers had a solid start Monday at Triple-A, allowing three runs over 7 1/3 innings.Myers had six strikeouts and two walks. “I really felt good out there tonight,” Myers said. “My location was a lot better than my last outing. I thought I threw the ball well and I threw 65 to 70 percent fastballs. I plan to be back in Philadelphia after the All-Star break. I’m down here working on my game.” Source: Philadelphia Daily News

27. Matt Christopher Says:
    July 8th, 2008 at 9:34 pm

    Myers is the “Closer That Didn’t Want to Start”

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