Phillies Notes: 'I miss Myers,' Phillies' Manuel says

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - Today, Brett Myers will pitch against the Phillies for the first time in his life.

The Astros visit Clearwater for a Grapefruit League game, and Phillies manager Charlie Manuel is expecting the "same old Myers" to show up.

After yesterday's 8-0 loss to the Braves at Disney World, Manuel was sentimental when talking about Myers.

"I miss Myers," Manuel said. "Really. I miss getting on him. I miss his mouth. I miss everything. I think in our camp this year, it's been a little quieter without Myers."

Myers, who spent the first eight seasons of his career with the Phillies, signed a one-year, $5.1 million contract with Houston during the off-season. Myers pitched in just 18 games for the Phillies in 2009 and was left off the roster for the National League Championship Series.

Shortly after the Phillies were defeated by the Yankees in the World Series, general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. told Myers he would not be offered a new contract.

Manuel said he understood the reasoning behind letting Myers go.

"I think the size of his contract, the money he was making, he has a chance to make in the future," Manuel said. "It all got back to a business aspect of it. I wish Myers all the luck in the world as long as the Phillies whip him. Seriously. I pull for Brett, but not when he pitches against the Phillies."

When Myers signed with Houston in January, he promised to "stick it" to the Phillies every time he faced them.

Manuel said he was ready for it.

"I'll be getting on him," Manuel said. "He'll be making gestures back at me and everything. He can't help himself."

Ibanez's timing. A day after playing in a minor-league game to get additional at-bats, Raul Ibanez went 0 for 2 with a walk against the Braves. He is hitting .108 (4 for 37) this spring.

Ibanez said he was still working on his timing. Because of his off-season sports-hernia surgery, he didn't begin swinging a bat until mid-January. Normally, Ibanez said, he begins a light swinging program in December.

"He had a few good swings," Manuel said. "It's timing. He's had trouble getting it. He'll get it."

Extra bases. J.A. Happ started yesterday and allowed three home runs in five innings. He walked three and struck out three. Entering the game, Happ hadn't allowed a run this spring. . . . The Phillies had only three hits - two by Placido Polanco. . . . Rule 5 pick David Herndon pitched another scoreless inning despite loading the bases with a single and two walks. He hasn't allowed a run in nine innings. . . . Danys Baez and Ryan Madson each allowed two runs.