The longer the competition for a fifth starter produces flammable outings by the likes of Travis Blackley and J.D. Durbin, the more fortunate the Phillies should count themselves that Myers was willing to leave the closer's role he prefers.

On the mound, Myers is handling the return to the rotation superbly. He is the only Phillies starter whose pitching has been anything to get excited about. Yesterday, pitching against Phillies minor-leaguers at the Carpenter Complex, Myers threw 74 pitches, 52 of them strikes, over 52/3 innings. Myers gave up a two-run home run to Jake Blalock in the first inning, when he was gunning fastballs to loosen up, but he struck out six and retired the last 12 batters.

So the transition has been a breeze, right?

"No, not at all," Myers said with a what-the-hey shrug. "I liked closing last year. That's no secret. But I like starting, too, because I'm getting the opportunity to pitch. I'm not going to be a selfish guy and whine and complain because they had to make a move. I'm not that type of guy.

"It's a little easier in spring training, because we're all pretty much spread out all over the place, and there's plenty of things going on. During the season, it's going to hurt a little bit, but we'll see."

It's really going to hurt if the downtime drives Myers to the tattoo parlor, where he got an elaborate new tattoo on his calf.

The restless Myers expends at least as much energy on his off-days as when he pitches. He covers the clubhouse the way Willie Mays covered center field. There's always a teammate who needs teasing or something funny or gross to show everyone. Helping to keep this team loose may be as important as either of Myers' other jobs.

"I think it's huge," Myers said. "There's no way you can come in here ticked off every day. I think that's why we had success last year, because we'd get our butts kicked, 12-0, and come back in here and not worry about it and then beat them, 12-0, the next day. That's the type of clubhouse we had. We're not worried about yesterday because there's nothing you can do about it.

"As long as we keep that attitude here, I'll do my best to keep it going."

Myers was just hitting his prime as a starter, winning a total of 25 games over 2005 and 2006. He credits the arrival of pitching coach Rich Dubee with helping him "turn the page." Myers also got a better handle on his emotions, which would sometimes get the better of him on the mound.

"I perform better when I don't care," Myers said. "Seriously. If I don't think about it or worry about it, then I'm going to be a lot better than if I was sitting here the night before going, 'Oh, my God, oh, my God.' I'd rather just sit there and not worry about it and goof off and do what I've got to do. And when I cross the line and it's time to go, it's like a little switch, I guess."

Last year, Myers saved the Phillies by moving from the rotation to the closer's role. He took to the task, saving 21 games despite missing two months with a shoulder injury. Myers saved eight games and won two more in September as the Phillies rallied to win the division title. He got the final out of the regular season, triggering the clinching celebration and assuring himself a spot alongside Tug McGraw and Mitch Williams in the Phillies' highlight reel rotation.

This year, the Phillies needed a different kind of save, and Myers provided it. It may be that a closer is more valuable because he pitches more often, but there is nothing as good for a team's confidence as an ace's turn in the rotation.

"They definitely like the guy who's going to take the ball and go out there and get the job done, have a good fast-paced game and do something impressive," Myers said. "It was that way for a couple years when I was starting. I felt like they expected to win when I pitched. And that's the way the clubhouse was before I pitched and the way it was last year before [Cole] Hamels pitched."

It's the other four days that Myers doesn't like. There are only so many tattoos a man can get.

"Maybe if they let me play a little first base while I'm not pitching," Myers said, "I'll be all right."

If anything happens to Ryan Howard, Myers just might be able to pull it off.

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