A DIFFERENT BRETT MYERS?

Last month, at least one eyewitness accused Brett Myers of hitting his wife in the face, pulling her hair and leaving her sobbing on a street corner in Boston.

Now, Myers was in the Phillies' clubhouse, quoting a romance movie.

Strange night at Citizens Bank Park.

Myers made his long-awaited return to the mound in Philadelphia, and wouldn't you know it, received mostly cheers from an announced crowd of 31,664. Sure, there were some scattered boos, but they were drowned out by applause, and not just when Myers struck out a batter. When his name was announced in the starting lineup, even when he stepped to the plate in the second inning, fans greeted him warmly.

Then, after a 5-1 loss to the Braves in which he pitched brilliantly for eight innings, Myers thanked those fans. But, as he stood before reporters, he hinted that he was surprised by the reception.

"It's like that movie, 'For Love of the Game,'" Myers said, referring to the sappy flick in which Kevin Costner throws a perfect game at Yankee Stadium while flashing back to an on-again, off-again romance. "'Clear the mechanism' is what he always says. It may be corny, but as a pitcher, that's what you have to do."

Clear the mechanism. In other words, ignore everything around you and focus on the catcher's mitt. Myers thought for sure he'd need to block out the insults fans surely would sling his way Sunday night.

So much for that.

My first impression of Myers was that he's immature. He could be loud, brash, even obnoxious, in the clubhouse, busting on teammates, reporters, anyone who stopped by his locker.

Now, he's quoting romance movies.

So, maybe Myers is growing up. Maybe he's changing. Maybe he's not such a bad guy, after all.

Or maybe he just had one good night.

Time will tell.

***

Turned out, Myers' biggest problem was not dropping down a bunt in the seventh inning that would've moved Mike Lieberthal to second base with one out in a game tied at 1-1. Instead, he swung away, bouncing into a rally-killing double play. Jimmy Rollins followed with a single that might've scored Lieberthal from second.

"I missed the [bunt] sign," Myers said. "It was all me. I thought I saw something that wasn't there. I screwed up."