HOUSTON -- OK, we've seen Brett Myers make 11 starts this season, and more often than not, his postgame comments have been slight variations on the same themes.1. He feels healthy. There's nothing wrong with his arm.
2. He's making good pitches just off the plate, but hitters are swinging. Thus, he's left with no choice but to throw the ball over the plate and get them to make contact, and when they do, the ball is landing over the fence (he has allowed 15 homers) or falling into the outfield for hits.
3. He isn't sure what more he can do to correct whatever problem he's been having.
So, I suppose you could say Myers has been unlucky, but it's more than that. If his once-dominating stuff is no longer enough to retire hitters, and he's unable to fool them, then how can he possibly get enough outs to make it through a quality start? Just a question for you to chew on until Myers pitches Friday night at the Bank. We'll come back to this before then.
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I know it's tempting, but resist the urge to rage against third-base coach Steve Smith for sending Pedro Feliz to the plate on Shane Victorino's fly ball to left field in the ninth inning last night. It was the right move for several reasons. First, Darin Erstad doesn't have a great arm, even in the short left field here in Houston. But, mostly, the Astros had to make a perfect play to get Feliz. They did. But, as Victorino said, "Nine out of 10 times, you're going to be safe there."
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Jamie Moyer says that being the oldest member of the Phillies has kept him young. I asked him yesterday if he has made a decision about pitching next season. He has not. But he certainly sounds like a guy who isn't ready to retire.
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Ran out of space in The Paper for this, but Charlie Manuel told a hilarious story yesterday that may or may not translate to print. He was playing in Japan when he hit a ball back to the mound and hit the pitcher. A few years later, that same pitcher hit Manuel, so he got up and charged the mound. Now, as you know, Manuel is a fairly big guy, and this particular Japanese pitcher was not. So, the frightened pitcher ran into the dugout to take shelter.
One problem: He ran into the wrong dugout.
The pitcher hid behind Manuel's manager, who told the team interpreter to tell Manuel that the pitcher was scared. Big Chuck didn't care. "I told him, 'If you don't get the hell out of the way, I'm going to knock you down, too,'" said Manuel, who calmed down, eventually, without killing anyone.
Funny stuff.
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Finally, in our Sunday MLB notes, we examine the possibility of instant replay in baseball, a scenario that now appears extremely likely. Also, there are a few words on Brad Lidge's tribute to our troops (apropos for Memorial Day) and Mike Piazza's quiet retirement.
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Have a great Sunday, y'all. And enjoy the rest of your holiday weekend.
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