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Thursday, August 21, 2008
They Could Use CC, But ...
Brett Myers last night delivered the third shutout of his career and his first since May 20, 2004.

The Phillies tried to land CC Sabathia before the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline, but came up empty.

They probably could have squeezed him into their rotation somewhere.

Sabathia ia 7-0 with a 1.40 ERA in seven starts since the all-star break. He is making a case for National League MVP and Cy Young. But interestingly, Brett Myers has been nearly as effective since he rejoined the rotation after his four-start stint in the minors. He is 3-1 with a 1.94 ERA in six starts since the break.

That includes last night's 4-0 shutout over the Washington Nationals at Citizens Bank Park.

Sabathia and Myers have been two of the four most effective starting pitchers in baseball since the break (with a minimum of 25 innings pitched):

  • CC Sabathia: 7-0, 1.40 ERA, seven starts.
  • Randy Johnson: 4-2, 1.56 ERA, six starts.
  • Brandon Webb: 5-0, 1.76 ERA, six starts.
  • Brett Myers: 3-1, 1.94 ERA, six starts.

"It's a big acquisition that didn't have to happen" in a trade, centerfielder Shane Victorino said of Myers' return. "You didn't have to give up the farm system to go get a guy."

Myers just needs to continue to pitch like that because the offense hasn't been providing anybody much run support. The Phillies had nine hits last night, which was their most since they had 10 hits Aug. 11 in the first game of their seven-game road trip through Los Angeles and San Diego. They haven't had more than 10 hits since they had 11 hits against the Nationals on July 31.

The Phillies have won four of their last five, but have hit just .219 and scored just 15 runs (3.0 runs per game) in that stretch.

But the fact that Myers is pitching better (even though two of those six starts have come against the horrendous Nationals) is a good sign. Cole Hamels, Jamie Moyer and Myers looks like a fairly formidable trio should the Phillies make the playoffs again. But they've got to start hitting, too.

*

In the Phillies Notebook: Pedro Feliz is back, David Ross is headed elsewhere, Hamels won't be facing the Mets next week and more.

Posted by Todd Zolecki @ 1:18 PM  Permalink | 83 comments
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Comments
Posted by jeff gross 09:48 AM, 08/21/2008
So the question that needs to be asked, is what do we do with him next year?? Gordan is done. DO we make him a set up guy? He's not a bad starter despite everything-let's keep him as a starter. He's a flake, wants to be a closer-trade him for RF, C, pitcher etc? so, what do we do??
Posted by John621 10:06 AM, 08/21/2008
Todd, could you put out a plea for fans to stop booing J-Roll already. We've had our fun. Now we are about to run out of town the best shortstop we have ever seen in Philly, and a potential hall of famer. Come-on, enough already. The guy's one year removed from being an MVP. He does not deserve this at all. At all!!!
Posted by GHOSTPHAYCE 10:17 AM, 08/21/2008
Sabathia is actually 8-0 with a 1.60 ERA after pitching his 5th complete game for the Brewers Monday. Yeah, he would have helped the Phils I think. As for Myers, he looked awesome last night, I hope he can keep it going.....especially against better competition.
Posted by Truth 10:22 AM, 08/21/2008
Who has Brett Myers beat of consequence? WHERE IS CHASE UTLEY?
Posted by jeff gross 10:23 AM, 08/21/2008
Truth, When will you understand that it doesn't matter who you beat as long as you beat them. At the end of the year no one goes-they won teh most games, but were under 500 against good teams-people say, they won the most games.
Posted by Beef69 10:26 AM, 08/21/2008
If I know the Phillies at all. Myers will be a starting pitcher again next year. Hopefully it will be a number 3 or 4 stater. Hammels 1, fill in the blank 2, and than Myers.
Posted by jeff gross 10:33 AM, 08/21/2008
Beef: assuming that #2 isn't from teh current staff, where is he coming from and for what? Are you serriously thinking they Phillies may pay top money for a free agent #2 pitcher??
Posted by Beef69 11:04 AM, 08/21/2008
I said Hopefully. And I do mean Hopefully. But with all the sell outs this year they have NO excuses not to spend top money.
Posted by bobby 11:13 AM, 08/21/2008
Was at the park last night. Perfect night for a game, and the Phils didn't disappoint. Myers took the Kyle Kendrick "bend, don't break" appraoch. Every time he seemed to be getting in trouble, he either came up with a big K or DP. Nice defense as well, with the highlights being Burrell's throw to the plate early and Rollins to Utley for a bare-handed catch-and-throw to Howard to complete a clutch double-play. Final comment on the J-Roll issue: Last night I found that most of the fans cheered Jimmay and the team. But I also learned that boos by a few are louder than cheers by many. The idiots who enjoy booing were very vocal, and took every opportunity to do so. It was all I could do to not toss my beer at a couple guys near us. By the way, who left the game early? The boobirds did. Frontrunners...? More like bottom feeders.
Posted by jeff gross 11:21 AM, 08/21/2008
glad you enjoyed the game bobby. What's your view on the Myers next year question?
Posted by bobby 11:30 AM, 08/21/2008
jeff: Without overthinking it (which I hate to do!), I'd say if he stays on course and finishes the year strong, you keep him in the rotation. That gives you the foundation of a good starting group: Hamels, Myers, Blanton. I'd want to see them add a 2/3 and a 5, depending on the situation with Moyers and Kendrick.
Posted by James TL 11:32 AM, 08/21/2008
Until Myers beats a major league team I'm not convinced he's really back. Hope it happens--we need Myers. I, too doubt the Phils will sign a good FA pitcher so we'll obviously need him next year as well.
Posted by roque32 11:44 AM, 08/21/2008
Truth, one pitcher does not, should not, beat another team. As far as your question goes, he got the win against the Cardinals which is a good team. Other than the bad performance with the Mets, he's pitched well when it was his turn. Unfortunately, he got the loss against the Dodgers because the Phillies bats have been asleep. In the stretch run of the season, ALL teams are teams of consequence so pitching well against the lowly Nationals is still an accomplishment. Shutting them down in the innings that he pitched against them is great.
Posted by RollinsWasRight 11:57 AM, 08/21/2008
Just for accuracy, Myers pitched a dymanite game against the playoff contending Cardinals, and pitched very well against the Dodgers, though he was let down by the bats, of course. Yes, he is getting fat against bad teams, but pitching well is pitching well regardless of the opposition, and I am glad to see he is going well. I was really glad to see that last night I didn't think he pitched well at all, mediocre at best, IMO, yet managed to shut out a bad lineup anyway. That is a very good sign. Right now, they need as many scoreless innings as possible out of the pitchers.
Posted by RollinsWasRight 12:00 PM, 08/21/2008
jeff: I would keep him as a starter at this point. After the pains they have gone through just to get him to learn HOW to be a starter, what is the point of giving up on it now? And (and I know I am crazy for even thinking this) I honestly believe they are going to go after a pitcher in the offseason. I think they will make a dog-and-pony-show effort for CC, before getting seriously outbid by the Yankees, and then I believe they will make a serious play for Ben Sheets, but ultimately lose out to a team willing to go more than 5 years, which is where I think they will draw the line with him.
About Todd Zolecki
Todd Zolecki is in his sixth season covering the Phillies. Born and raised in Milwaukee – he suffered through the Packers’ crushing loss to the Giants in the NFC Championship game at Lambeau Field in January – he graduated from the University of Minnesota with a journalism degree.
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