July 2 -- MORE ON MYERS

ATLANTA -- So, as Charlie Manuel and Rich Dubee took turns yesterday explaining the reasons behind the Phillies' decision to send Brett Myers to Class AAA Lehigh Valley, I couldn't stop thinking about another conversation I had about Myers at Turner Field.

It was last May, and Myers had just gone on the disabled list with a strained muscle in his right shoulder. Before a game here, two fellow reporters and I asked John Smoltz for his opinion on the Phillies' decision six weeks earlier to move Myers to the bullpen. Now, I always knew that the Phillies held Myers in high regard, but it wasn't until talking to Smoltz that I realized how much respect opposing teams have for him.

"To me, he's an upper-echelon pitcher with A to A-plus stuff," Smoltz said. "You can take the elite pitchers and make them closers. But I'm a believer that you've got to have those guys as front-line starters. I'd just as soon see him in the eighth or ninth inning than for seven innings as a starter."

A few days earlier, Marlins first baseman Mike Jacobs said many of the same things when I asked what he thought of facing Myers in the ninth inning. I remember thinking that Jacobs and Smoltz were lavishing an awful lot of praise on a pitcher who hadn't won more than 14 games in a season. But, clearly, people around the league have a high opinion of Myers.

So, it was positively stunning that Myers had accepted an assignment to Lehigh Valley. A few observations:

1. Manuel, Dubee and GM Pat Gillick all said the same thing, namely that Myers is headed to the minors because it will give him a better opportunity to work out his problems than he would've gotten in the Phillies' bullpen. And while that's undoubtedly true, it's only half the story. It's no secret that Myers loved being a closer last season and reluctantly agreed to return to the rotation after the Phillies traded for Brad Lidge. Had the Phils put Myers in the 'pen (a la Barry Zito), it would've raised the debate about whether he should stay there. Myers has enough problems without his role coming into question.

2. If the Phillies hadn't given Myers a three-year, $25.75 million contract extension before last season, he would be a free agent after this year. But I don't get the sense that the Phils regret doling out that cash, nor do I believe that they're giving up on Myers. He posted a 3.72 ERA in 2005 and a 3.91 ERA in 2006. Last year, he recorded 21 saves in his first experience as a closer. Clearly, he oozes potential. And if the Phillies can get him straightened out, perhaps that potential finally will be tapped.

3. Myers continues to insist he's healthy, so Manuel, Dubee and Gillick say they believe him. And although his fastball velocity has dipped from the low-to-mid 90s to the upper-80s, Dubee thinks Myers' bigger problem has been his command. I can't tell you how often I've heard Myers say that he wasn't able to get hitters to offer at pitches out of the strike zone that they'd normally swing at in two-strike counts. Thus, he has been unable to finish them off. That's a matter of command. Dubee has tried to get through to Myers without any luck. Perhaps another voice, Lehigh Valley pitching coach Rod Nichols, will have more success. That's another reason why going to the minors makes sense.

4. Gillick told me Monday that Myers' problems increase the sense of urgency that he feels to pull the trigger on a deal for a starter. He backed off that sentiment yesterday. Look, it's no secret that the Phillies are looking for pitching. Have been for some time. And if Myers can't figure things out, then they have even one less pitcher than they thought they did. "We've wanted to add to our pitching staff for a long period of time," Gillick said. "With this move, we're going to replace Brett and we're still looking to add. On a trade, it happens when it happens. You can't really make these things happen. Yeah, we'd like to improve our staff a month ago. It takes two people to make a deal, and we haven't been able to find the proper mix right now."

***
Myers, you'll recall, was the ring-leader behind the spring-training prank that had gullible Kyle Kendrick believing he had been traded to Japan. So, it's ironic that Kendrick is 8-3 and thriving, while Myers is 3-9 and floundering. After Kendrick's latest gem here last night, the Phils are 13-4 in his starts, including 12-2 in his last 14. They're 4-13 in Myers' starts, 1-11 in his last 12. Think it's too late to trade Myers to Japan?



***
After last night's game, the Phils announced they're recalling lefty reliever R.J. Swindle from Lehigh Valley. But Manuel cautioned that the move shouldn't be viewed as a precursor for moving Chad Durbin or Ryan Madson into the rotation. With Clay Condrey absent for another day to be with his wife and their newborn son in Texas, the Phillies could use another reliever. I still think the Phillies are going to leave Durbin and Madson in the bullpen and call up Class AAA lefty J.A. Happ to replace Myers. Of course, I didn't think Myers would get sent to the minors, so what do I know?

Also within the notebook, a few words on the significant signing of first-round pick Anthony Hewitt, who chose a pro contract from the Phillies over a scholarship to Vanderbilt. Of course, the Phillies' offer of a $1.38 million signing bonus and an eight-semester college scholarship helped make his decision much easier.