What to Do about Brett?
Brett Myers had the shortest start of his career last night in an 8-7 loss to Texas. How much longer can they stick with him?
What to Do about Brett?
Todd Zolecki
Sometimes when you say nothing you say everything.
Brett Myers left Rangers Ballpark quickly and without a word to reporters after last night's 8-7 loss to the Rangers. He had thrown just two-plus innings and allowed five hits, five runs and four walks. It was the shortest start of his career, and just another poor start in a season that held such promise. Myers is 3-9 with a 5.84 ERA. The Phillies are 4-13 when he pitches.
How much longer can this last?
"Can I say his job is secure?" Charlie Manuel said. "I don't know what to say, if you want to know the truth. We'd have to find somebody to do his job first, I guess."
There aren't many options internally.
Double-A righthander Carlos Carrasco seems to be the team's best option at the minor-league level, but he allowed seven hits and eight runs (seven earned) in three innings last night in a loss to Akron. He is 5-7 with a 4.18 ERA for Reading. Righthander Chad Durbin is 2-1 with a 1.47 ERA in 30 appearances, so Manuel is reluctant to move him. Durbin also is just 19-33 with a 5.83 ERA as a starter, so there's no guarantee he could translate his bullpen success into starter success. Righthander Kris Benson is making his first start for triple-A Lehigh Valley tomorrow, but he needs to show much more than he has before he becomes an option.
There are others, too. But those seem to be the most obvious candidates.
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Vicente Padilla is pitching very well for the Rangers this season, but the Phillies have no regrets about trading him a couple years ago.
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This week's Q&A: Clay Condrey.
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Mike Jensen has a very interesting look at StubHub's relationship with the Phillies and MLB.
Comments (24)
I like the Myers and Howard to Cleveland for C.C. trade. Move Utley to first b/c let's be honest, his defense isn't particularly good, bring up Cardenas to play second, and there ya go.— maximusud
Comment removed.- They removed my post because I said Philly fans didn't forget Brett Myers beat up his wife????— scars73
- Some of these comments are awesome! You guys really make me laugh! I especially love the Yellowstone, goatee, Garcia for FREE, comments! Brett Myers does think he's a tough guy, doesn't he? He thought since he was pitching well(last year for a time), the fans forgot that he beat up his wife and got away with it except for some anger management. Also, to sdlmedford, I would do that deal also, except I wouldn't start Bruntlett at second, I would bring up Cardenas to play second. Problem is, I don't know if the Indians would do that or not. Do fans and front offices of other teams know what we see every day with Howard, or does he still have MVP trade value? I would trade him in a second for some stud players or prospects.— scars73
- Let me put this out there. Can anyone recall a headcase turning his career around ? Meyers has been here 7yrs now. Phils brass got take a hit too, they knew he didn't want to return to the rotation, and did it anyway. Mess with an unstable mind,what were they thinking ? Meyers is his own worst enemy... He needs some shrinks couch..— pat h
- I like your post soliteryman.I would bring up Golson to take Victorino`s place.— penn state man
- In another 1st inning hole....WHAT THE F[]CK IS GOING ON!!!!!!!!— Clinton, NJ
- I dont think there is a 30 day DL Jimmy, its 15 or 60 I think. I could be wrong, but you sir are correct with your thinking. He needs a break from the big club. Does anyone know how that experiment with Dontrell Willis worked with the Tigers???— Clinton, NJ
- JIMMYMACK: Agreed. Even if Myers was giving us what Eaton is, we might be able to continue with him for a while, but this is ridiculous. It's pretty much an automatic loss every time he takes the mound. If Carrasco is the best we've got, then give him a few starts and let's see if can do the job.— bski
- package,victorino,carrasco,cardenes to seattle for bedard,move myers to setup role,release gordon,release condrey and charlie leave that line up alone!— soliteryman
- Call up Carrasco, pull Myers from rotation and 30 day DL him. Let him go to Lehigh Valley and get his head, body, arm, goatee and whatever else straight. He misses 6 starts, can't really hurt us all that much. And let's find a leader for the clubhouse, this team is adrift right now, must be somebody there with some stones to get on this group. Right now the only players with any swagger are Romero and Coste. We could be leading the division by 8-10 games if we had played half decent the last few weeks. And don't start the Rowand thread, even his leadership isn't worth what the Giants are paying him.— jimmymack
- BSKI, thanks :-) I didn't see that article. I heard about it over the weekend watching cubs on tv waiting for our loveable but anguishing phils to start.— diehardphan
- JRQUIXOTE: If Garcia is able to come back this year, should be restricted to only pitching for us, FOR FREE. He owes us at least that much. He should feel at least a little guilty about taking 10 million from us last year and giving us nothing for it..— bski
- We've been waiting for years on Brett's great "stuff" to make him a bona fide major league starter. Clearly, something is missing, so admit that time is up, bite the bullet and ditch the guy. Seems like addition by subtraction. Myers needs a "friendlier" park to pitch in (Yellowstone?), so maybe the Mariners or Padres would give up something for him.— philchik
- HOUSTON -- The Astros are interested in free-agent right-hander Freddy Garcia. "I talked to his agent, Peter Greenberg, earlier in the week, and he informed me that Freddy is expected to be ready to throw in front of scouts soon," Astros general manager Ed Wade told MLB.com on Friday afternoon. "I let him know that we want to be there."— jrquixote
- DIEHARDPHAN: Paul Hagen brought up Dempster in one of his Friday baseball columns a couple weeks ago. He noted everything you said under a heading like "Note to Brett Myers" or something like that.— bski
- Not to add fuel to the raging inferno, but has anyone noticed that Dempster out of Chicago is something like 10-3? He was their closer last year. He took the challenge of converting to a starter, went on a work-out regimen and came in to spring in top shape. Myers on the other hand came in totally out of shape and looked like he hadn't thrown a baseball since last season. Only in the last week has Myers looked like he finally is in shape. Manuel's comments about nibbling too much are spot on. In his 2 good outings he just went after those clubs (2 in last 6 or so). In the rest of them and the rest of the season..., he nibbles and gets what he deserves - hammered.— diehardphan
- Comment removed.
- What about Wheels' input?— jrquixote
- I'm sick to death of watching Bret "Pass the Potatoes" Myers blowing leads and Ryan "Don't CAll Me Kingman" Howard flailing away at pitches so far outside that they are in another area code. Here's the trade. Send both of these gentlemen to Cleveland for C.C. Sabathia provided that Sabathia agrees to sign an extention for the combined salary of Myers and Howard. Move Utley to first and play Bruntett at second. The Phillies' payroll will be unchanged. Now, here comes the fun part. Next year sign Mark Texeria as a free agent. That would be some team!— sdlmedford
- I agree with Nick, we have to go with Wheels to understand how Myers is actually performing. It's too easy to see how Myers pitched last night or to judge him on his ability to win a game in the last 10. Wheels brings clarity and helps correct misperceptions. Let's just wait until Myers' next outing and see how Wheels educates us. Let's not rush to judgment. It's a long season.— jrquixote
- I'll defer to Chris Wheeler to tell us how Myers is actually doing and how he should be treated. Stay tuned to Phillies broadcasts.— Nick from the Northeast
- I would bet that Myers obviously won't start when he's due to pitch next. I would think that Manuel/Gillick would find a temporary replacement to see how he does unless they make a deal with someone before the trade deadline. I think at this point it couldn't get any worse. On a somewhat bright note, it was good to see the offense come to life a bit....it was nice to see Feliz & Coste pick up the slack from some the other big hitters. Also nice to see Utley get a hit!— KarenA
Despite the sad site of seeing Brett Myers continue to flounder last night, I was enjoyed Larry Anderson's commentary when Charlie went to the mound. He said bluntly, "Charlie Manuel has seen enough... and I don't just mean tonight." I think you sit Meyers in the dugout, the pen, wherever, and put anybody in there to replace him. If I'm picking out of a hat, I say Chad Durbin or bring up Carrasco. You can't continue to send Brett Myers out there like this.— bobby
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