A lot on his shoulder

MIAMI - The injury seems to carry less weight than the thought process that led to it.

Brett Myers' right shoulder strain suffered in a ninth-inning meltdown Wednesday night was re-examined by trainer Scott Sheridan yesterday morning, with the initial diagnosis confirmed.

Myers then flew to the team's minor league complex in Clearwater, Fla. (instead of to Philadelphia, as was planned) to undergo an MRI scheduled for late yesterday evening. The results should be available today, when Myers is scheduled to rejoin the team.

The furor in Philadelphia revolved less around Myers being in the game than the misplays that led to him having to face two extra batters.

Myers warmed up with the Phillies leading by one run. By the time he entered the lead was four.

Defensive mental miscues by Rod Barajas and Greg Dobbs extended the inning, in which Myers allowed four runs and left with the shoulder strain on his 27th pitch.

Why did Myers enter with a four-run lead? Because right now the Phillies' bullpen is a combination of hopes, dreams, aspirations - and Myers.

In two of Myers' nine previous appearances as the closer, he had entered the game with a four-run lead.

Both times had come at Citizens Bank Park, where runs can come in bunches. Manuel usually pitches his closer with a four-run lead in the ninth at the Bank. Dolphins Stadium certainly is less generous, but the wind had been howling out for two games and it was playing more like Wrigley Field, Manuel said.

Besides, Manuel had no comfortable options, even with a four-run lead.

Antonio Alfonseca and Geoff Geary already had pitched and had been replaced. Ryan Madson, perhaps the biggest disappointment on last year's staff, was not available. He had thrown two innings the night before, his first game off the disabled list.

Of the other relievers, Clay Condrey and Yoel Hernandez would be in the minors if not for injuries at the major league level, as would Francisco Rosario, whom the Phillies acquired for virtually nothing. Their combined earned-run average was 6.23.

Manuel said he would not have brought in Myers with a five-run lead. He said that getting Myers warmed up, then sitting him, then re-warming him if, say, Rosario got into trouble, was more wear and tear than just letting him pitch the ninth.

Myers has been used plenty since he entered the bullpen April 18 for the first time in his career. He has 18 appearances and 20 2/3 innings.

Officially, one of Manuel's bosses do not have a problem with how the manager – whose idea it was to move Myers to the pen – has used Myers. Period.

"I think Charlie has used him just right," assistant general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said.

Greg Dobbs agonized over his mental mistake in Wednesday's game, when he extended the inninth inning by throwing to the wrong base – not only because he made the wrong play and put the game at risk, but also because Myers might not have been injured if the game hadn't been so long.

Greg Dobbs agonized over his mental mistake in Wednesday's game, when he extended the inninth inning by throwing to the wrong base – not only because he made the wrong play and put the game at risk, but also because Myers might not have been injured if the game hadn't been so long.

Rod Barajas, who allowed Hanley Ramirez to slide under him at home in what would have been a game-ending play, offered no such sentiments.

"Since we won the game, we can look back and laugh at some of those plays," he said.

One would think the tough guys in the clubhouse might have bristled at that sort of sentiment, which, on its face, indicates a bit on insensitivity. Instead, they defended him.

"Not in that context. There's no malice," said Aaron Rowand. "I'm sure that's not how Rod meant it. He wouldn't say something like that with malice."

"I don't think it's anybody's fault Brett got hurt," Chase Utley said. "I mean, who knows what happens if those plays do get made?"

Chase Utley got his first day off of the season. He was 4-for-21 against starter Dontrelle Willis; replacement Abraham Nunez was 5-for-11. He batted second.

Chase Utley got his first day off of the season. He was 4-for-21 against starter Dontrelle Willis; replacement Abraham Nunez was 5-for-11. He batted second.

It was short-lived. Nunez was hit in the head by catcher Miguel Olivo's follow-through on a throw to second base in the first inning after Nunez struck out. Utley replaced him. Nunez was diagnosed with a mild concussion.

Jimmy Rollins, whom Manuel also considered giving the day off, returned to the leadoff spot after hitting third for the last nine games. He was 7-for-35 with no homers and three RBI in that spot.

Chris Coste, a 33-year-old sensation last year as a rookie, made his first start of the season, playing first base for the first time in his career. Coste opened the season on the 15-day disabled list then was stored at Triple A until Ryan Howard hit the DL on May 12.

Howard is due to come off the DL today.

The Phillies are considering having Double A lefty Mike Zagurski join them today in Atlanta if the test results on Myers indicate that a stint on the DL is necessary.

The Phillies are considering having Double A lefty Mike Zagurski join them today in Atlanta if the test results on Myers indicate that a stint on the DL is necessary.

Zagurski, 24, began the season at Class A Clearwater where, in 12 games, he struck out 30 in 16 1/3 innings, compiling a 1.10 ERA and five saves. In six games at Double A Reading he has struck out eight in seven innings with two walks and a 1.29 ERA.

He would be the only lefty in the 'pen and would be the third young lefty reliever the Phillies have tried this year; both Matt Smith and Fabio Castro were demoted.

"He's thrown well for us," Ruben Amaro Jr. said. "We've had a couple of [front-office types] look at him. There are six or seven different candidates."

Assistant GM Mike Arbuckle says the jump over Triple A wouldn't be too much for Zagurski.

"Nothing phases him," Arbuckle said.

Smith, Arbuckle said, had also pitched well in his last few outings and could be ready to return to the majors soon. *