ATLANTA -- In an utterly shocking development, the Phillies have decided to option Brett Myers to Class AAA Lehigh Valley. Myers had to accept the assignment, based on his five-plus years of major-league service time.No word yet on who will replace Myers in the rotation. Cole Hamels will start the series finale here Thursday, which means he'll make three starts before the All-Star break. So, unless they decide to move 45-year-old lefty Jamie Moyer to Friday night, the Phillies will need a starter for the series-opener against the Mets at the Bank.
It could be J.A. Happ. But neither Charlie Manuel nor Rich Dubee discounted the possibility that it could still be Chad Durbin or Ryan Madson, even though GM Pat Gillick said yesterday that Myers' replacement likely wouldn't come from anyone on the current 25-man roster.
Much, much more later. For now, I must start hacking away for The Paper. But I'm anxious to get your thoughts on the move.
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Ordinarily, the Phils signing their first-round pick would be major news. It gets upstaged a bit today. But the Phils agreed to terms with infielder Anthony Hewitt on a contract that includes a $1.38 million bonus. Hewitt, who had a scholarship to Vanderbilt, will report to Clearwater later this week.
1 comment:
This is the best possible scenario for the Brett Myers saga right now. I don't understand why so many people think he should be moved to the bullpen -- he would knock somebody else out of a role they're doing fine in, and the first inning is his biggest problem. Since relievers pitch only an inning or so, how would that make any sense for Myers?
Lehigh Valley is the perfect place for him right now, and it's a testament to his character that he would accept the minor league assignment.
But Scott, what is this I've been hearing about RJ Swindle getting the call? Swindle has outstanding numbers in AA and AAA this season, but he's a reliever. Are the current starters going to pitch on their normal day's rest so that we won't need a fifth starter until next week? The coaches and FO have been saying for weeks that neither Durbin nor Madson will enter the starting rotation this year, but with the tide of verbal inconsistencies over the past few years, I just don't know what to believe.
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