On Friday night, in the immediate aftermath of Tom Gordon's meltdown in Cincinnati, Charlie Manuel was emphatic in his support for the struggling closer.Now, not as much.
Manuel said yesterday that, while Gordon (left) is still the Phillies' closer, he may only remain in that position until Brett Myers (right) gets acclimated to pitching in relief. If Myers shows an ability to excel in his new role and Gordon continues to falter, Myers could be installed as the new closer. Before batting practice yesterday, Manuel said, "We're committed to [Gordon] until Brett becomes better or whatever, and we'll see from there." And, while he wouldn't say that Gordon and Myers were competing for the job, he added, "Myers will get some save opportunities. Gordon will, too."
I weighed in on this subject in this blog over the weekend. Gordon admits that a week off in spring training set back his preparation for the season. He's still working on some things, specifically refining his signature curveball, and it's awful hard to come into a major-league game in the ninth inning and have success when you aren't confident in all of your pitches. Considering that's the case here, I think Myers should get more opportunities to close ... immediately. And, if he has success, the Phillies have, at the very least, two closers.
But I want to hear from you. If the Phillies are leading the Nationals by a run or two in the ninth inning tonight, who do you want to see on the mound? Gordon or Myers?
7 comments:
I wouldn't mind seeing Myers out there. He already knows how to handle pressure and get guys out. If Gordon isn't ready then he should be in the same boat as Rosario, which means that he should be used primarily in blowouts to get himself more accustomed to being out there and getting guys out.
Also, do you know if Myers to the bullpen is going to be a permanent thing? I know that Lieber works better as a starter but if he's traded, would Myers come back to the rotation? I just don't see why you would take a very young, very effective starting pitcher who can give you 200+ innings every season and turn him into a reliever/closer who might give you 70 innings.
Keep up the good work on the blog, too.
I am all for a switch to Myers! That doesn't mean I am totally confidant in him but I have no confidence in Gordon. With Myers in for an inning at a time, he can use his whole array of pitches and not hold back on certain pitches for later innings. When he was snapping off those sharp curveballs last appearance I think it was, that got me excited. When he falls in love with his fastball and thinks he can blow anyone away with it is when he gets hurt.
On another topic, has Howard been working on his swing with Milt Thompson at all? He is pulling out his hips and trying to pull everything leaving him open to off speed stuff. He isn't going the other way at all! That scares me. Hope it's just funk he can come out of.
I'd vote for Myers.
I worry a bit long term though. If you make Myers the perma-closer, then the Phils will have only Cole Hamels and Adam Eaton as sure things for next years rotation, with Jamie Moyer as a strong maybe. Garcia could be gone after the season and Lieber certainly will be.
I know there are concerns now, and there is no reason Myers can't go back to the rotation next year, but if Gordon is troublesome now, how is he going to be NEXT year?
MEYERS! Gordon setting up
Myers - Gordon getting mop-up work
i wanted gordon. and he did come in and get the save. gordon will be fine. he had zero ST work and limited experience this season so far.
I'd rather have Gordon stuck in the ninth innings. Assuming he recovers his curve and his command (and it looks like he'll do both), he's a great guy to have closing out games.
Myers, meanwhile, is almost certainly going to be the Phils' best reliever. I like him better in the nebulous "set-up" role, since it opens him up for putting out fires lit by a tired starter or bad relief performance. Matt Smith walks 2 with no outs in a close game? I like Myers ability to get out of that situation unscathed.
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