Manuel looking forward to a mightier 'pen

SAN DIEGO - Charlie Manuel couldn't help his optimism.

Injured reliever Brett Myers had pitched a scoreless inning for Class A Clearwater. Another was scheduled for Monday.

If Myers' strained right shoulder muscle responded well Monday, he could rejoin the team during next week's six-game homestand. Myers has been out since May 24.

By then, former closer Flash Gordon, just returned from 10 1/2 weeks of recovery from a partially torn right labrum, might have enough major league appearances for Manuel to place him in the back of the bullpen again.

By the end of the month, both Gordon, the closer at the start of the season, and Myers, who replaced him, could be back at full strength.

And, suddenly, the National League's worst bullpen in a crucial bullpen category – walks and hits per innings pitched by batting average – suddenly, it doesn't look quite so bad.

"I think it could work pretty good," Manuel said before last night's game.

Myers' return could bring it the 'pen respectability, especially since it is shoring itself up.

Ryan Madson, the multiple-inning specialist, had given up one run in 9 1/3 July innings, including a three-inning save on July 8 in Colorado.

Lefty J.C. Romero, whom the Phillies signed to a minor league deal after the Red Sox let him go, had allowed one run in 10 appearances.

"I think he's getting better. His stuff's good," Manuel said. "He can get righthanders out, too."

Ageless Jose Mesa appeared to have reclaimed his season. He arrived June 9 with a 12.34 earned run average compiled in 16 games with the Tigers, who released him, but was at 3.78 in 15 games with the Phillies.

"The more work Jose gets, the better he gets," Manuel said.

Lefty rookie Mike Zagurski and his slider seemed to have recovered from a nine-game stretch in which he allowed five earned runs in 6 1/3 innings off eight hits and five walks. Manuel figures that stretch was inevitable, since Zagurski began the season at Class A and pitched only seven Double A innings before his emergency promotion when Myers went down.

"He needs experience, and with experience, his command's going to get better," Manuel said. "I like Zagurski. I like the fact he doesn't mind throwing his fastball. I think he's going to be a bullpen piece for a long time. He's definitely a keeper."

Combined with the steadiness of Antonio Alfonseca, who assumed the closer's role when Myers went down, the cast could improve itself enough to be better than, well, very poor.

Which is enough to make any manager optimistic. *