Mad Dog And Muck Dog Bit Hard In Loss
“His stuff was really good,” Coste said. “Any time a ball was anywhere near the hitting zone, they killed it. He didn’t get away with anything. Other than that, I don’t know how to respond. Every time he threw a fastball, they were ready.”
So they’re hitting the fastball. Is the velocity down? Is control poor? Is it both? Probably, and it’s something that won’t fix itself. Myers clearly has lost a step, maybe three or four, in his pitching. He’s not a thrower anymore and he doesn’t have the psyche to be a pitcher. He doesn’t want to be a starter but he can’t be the closer. He’s lost in a trance, a once-effective Major League pitcher without an identity. It’s time to sit Myers and recoup. Find out the problem and get him ready for the summer.
Meanwhile the Phils made a valiant comeback but came up short, thanks to some poor plays. For one, So Taguchi hit into a double play that could’ve kept a rally. For two, Shane Victorino eagerly looked for the game-winning home run in the bottom of the ninth instead of the single that would’ve made it a one-run game with Chase Utley coming up. Both Taguchi and Victorino are in their own little no-indentity lands.
Ryan Howard socked a homer to left field, a good sign for sure. He swung well, but only went 1-for-4. Utley added his ML-leading 14th bomb. Jimmy Rollins added an RBI double and an RBI single in the ninth.
Myers’ poor start doomed the Phils, and it’s at a point where we’re almost certain he won’t be effective when he ventures to the mound. Still, the Phils could’ve won the game. One other place to look for blame: Ryan Madson. He let two of Myers’ runners score in the fifth, runners that became the difference in the game. At this point, Madson is becoming a no-win situation. Just like Myers.
