He's been long-tossing, as pitching coach Rich Dubee had suggested, to build arm strength. He also has looked at film.

Myers, who will start tomorrow night against the San Francisco Giants at Citizens Bank Park, recently looked at film from starts last season against the Chicago Cubs and Houston Astros. He thinks his lack of velocity has more to do with his legs than his arm.

"I wasn't using my legs as much as I thought I was," Myers said. "In my last start [in Pittsburgh], my leg was straight and I wasn't getting any drive off of it. Instead of just throwing the ball as hard as I can and trying to throw strikes, I was trying to paint like I'm Greg Maddux or something. That doesn't work for me."

Manager Charlie Manuel suggested Tuesday that Myers (2-2, 5.11 ERA) also improve his conditioning.

It's been a topic of discussion for Myers in the past.

"There's a reason why guys can throw the ball hard, and most of the time conditioning plays a big part in it," Manuel said. "I think he might want to look into something that is definitely going to keep his core stronger and something that's good for his arm."

But Myers said he weighed the same as he weighed in spring training.

"I'm working my ass off," Myers said. "That's the first thing everybody goes to when he's in a slump. 'Oh, he's fat.' But I could be 270 pounds and dealing every time for nine innings, and I'd be in the best shape I've ever been in. I'm 238 pounds, just like I was in spring training. But that's part of the game. If you're pitching well, they leave you alone. If you're going bad, they find things. I pitched last year heavier than I am now. I feel good now. I don't feel sluggish."

And the long toss? Myers has never been a fan of long-tossing as a starter, but he did so twice this week.

"If I'm getting my butt kicked, I'll try anything," he said.

It sounds as if he will stick with it for the time being.

"If you go take 50 swings in the cage one day and go 4 for 4, what are you going to do the next day?" Myers said. "Take 50 more swings in the cage. But it's going to take time, too."

"He's been long-tossing and throwing the ball pretty good in the bullpen," Dubee said. "He's got to use his fastball, too. He's less than 50 percent fastballs. I'm sure he was about 65 percent [as a starter] in the past."

The Flyin' Hawaiian returns

Power hour

- Todd Zolecki