IS LAMENTING OVER THE LATISSIMUS
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- On Thursday in Clearwater, Brett Myers will pitch against the Phillies for the first time in his life when the Astros visit for a Grapefruit League game.
It's making Charlie Manuel sentimental.
"I miss Myers," Manuel said. "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. 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 understands the reasoning behind Myers not returning.
" 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 his contract with Houston in January, he promised to "stick it" to the Phillies every time he faces them.
Manuel said he expects to see the "same old" Myers on Thursday.
"I’ll be getting on him," Manuel said. "He’ll be making gestures back at me and everything. He can’t help himself."
Bob Brookover and Matt Gelb team up for their third straight season covering the Phillies for the Inquirer and philly.com.
This is Brookover’s second stint writing about the Phillies, having joined the coverage team after seven years as an Eagles beat writer. Brookover was hired by The Inquirer in 2000 as the Phillies beat writer after spending 13 years writing about the team for two suburban newspapers. While on the Eagles beat, Brookover, who had covered just two winning Phillies teams in 15 seasons, saw the Phillies move into a cash-cow new ballpark and begin playing a brand of the game he found unrecognizable. Follow him on Twitter here.
Gelb is in his third season covering the Phillies. He was hired by The Inquirer in August 2009 after graduating from Syracuse University. He has also covered baseball at The Star-Ledger and Cape Cod Times. Born and raised in Bucks County, he attended Central Bucks High School West. Follow him on Twitter here.
To submit a question for Matt Gelb's Phillies mailbag, click here.
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