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Tuesday, May 21, 2013

The Phillies Zone

Myers confirms he will have surgery, WITH UPDATES

News blogs, sports blogs, entertainment blogs, and more from Philly.com, The Philadelphia Inquirer and the Philadelphia Daily News.

37 comments

Myers confirms he will have surgery, WITH UPDATES

POSTED: Friday, May 29, 2009, 5:48 PM

Andy Martino

Brett Myers told the Inquirer that he will have surgery to repair a torn labrum in his hip, and a return this season is a longshot. The operation will be performed by Dr. Bryan Kelly, who operated on Chase Utley last November, and will likely occur Thursday, though that date is not confirmed.

"This is the best option for me," he said. "The doctor told me my hip would be unbelievably better when I come back."

“I have the same thing as Chase (Utley), a torn labrum (Myers also has bone spurs),” he said. “This is the best option for me.”

Myers said that while no surgery had been scheduled, a Thursday operation was a strong possibility. He and the doctors discussed a cortisone shot, enabling him to pitch through the rest of the season, but they told him “surgery was a no-brainer. If you (pitch through the injury), the chances of hurting your arm are greater. Ultimately, I could hurt my arm and need two surgeries.”

Team doc Michael Ciccotti said Myers will need at least three months, and perhaps as many as six weeks more than that before he can pitch.

***

A word about Myers’ decision. Believe me, the guy wanted to pitch this year. But one season is never, ever worth a risk to one’s long-term health. This is a game, and Myers has to worry about not only his ability to make a living in baseball after this year, but his future quality of life.

Now, what happens to the Phillies? I'm sure you know that Ruben Amaro does not comment on specific trade rumors. But here’s what he had to say about the team’s general outlook in light of this news:

"We have to do what's right both business-wise and talent-wise. Each possible trade we can make we have to take on a case-by-case basis. It's not an open checkbook situation. We can't be so short-sighted that we make a move just to make a move and not consider the future.”

An internal candidate will make Myers next scheduled start on Tuesday, Amaro said.

The options include: Kyle Kendrick (4-3, 4.25 earned run avergage); Carlos Carrasco (0-6, 5.81); Drew Carpenter (2-0, 3.61); Rodrigo Lopez (2-2, 4.84); and Antonio Bastardo (1-0, 2.08).

Beyond that game, the team may be compelled to accelerate their search for a veteran starter via trade. Colorado’s Jason Marquis, Boston’s Brad Penny and Seattle’s Erik Bedard are a few of many pitchers who could become available. The team is not interested in free agent Pedro Martinez. In my opinion, Penny makes sense; ESPN’s Buster Olney speculated—and I stress that word-- this morning that a Jason Donald for Penny trade would work for both teams (I’d link to it, but you need a subscription). I know, I know: I think Donald is a good player, too. But you gotta give to get.

My job in the immediate future will be to report on that situation, so stay tuned here and on Twitter (Larry King said the other day that he dictates his Tweets; for the record, I type my own).

37 comments

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Comments (37)

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0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 6:16 PM, 05/29/2009

Thank you for your contributions to the WS run. Don't let the door hit you on the way out.

— GodofSports

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 6:22 PM, 05/29/2009

Hopefully he can come back and contribute in Sept.

— Souf Phil

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 6:22 PM, 05/29/2009

Good Luck Brett. Although you never did seem to hit your stride, thanks for being a trooper. Get well and come back blazing next year

— Tozmanian

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0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 6:25 PM, 05/29/2009

Todd Pratt! That was your best career hit! Myers will always be the pitcher who had a lot of potential, but...

— Cazptain Philadelphia

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 6:28 PM, 05/29/2009

Sleep on it Brett. No need for a hasty decision today.

— RAS

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 6:39 PM, 05/29/2009

It is easier to beat your wife with two fully functioning hips. I like how he says how this is the best decision for him. He was never a team player. He is paid 8 million dollars a year, and would complain about not being a closer anymore. He is a number 4 starter at best, and this officially marks the end of his Phillies Career.

— FloridaBrian

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0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 6:48 PM, 05/29/2009

He likely wouldn't decline arbitration (which would give him an extremely lucrative one year contract with which to re-prove himself, instead of cheaper, incentive-laden deal he might have to take coming out of surgery). Therefore, Phils likely won't offer it.

— jason14

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0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 7:18 PM, 05/29/2009

Though Myers never lived up to his hype, he was one of our better starters this year. If Toronto is out of it in a month I'd love to see us send the farm for Halladay. That is, if Toronto would budge on him. Would probably cost an everday player too. A guy can dream ahah.

— wearethechampions

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 8:29 PM, 05/29/2009

Myers hasn't produced for a couple of years. I don't think it is a big loss. The Phillies will pick up another arm and be fine.

— jtj06

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 8:58 PM, 05/29/2009

Geez, I'm gonna start calling Durbin "Gasoline"...just put him into the fire and he makes it worse. How does a guy with such a low opponent AVG have such a high ERA and that's not even including all of the inherited runners he's allowed to score. Romero can't get back fast enough.

— JimG