July 30 -- A RELIEF FOR MYERS

WASHINGTON -- You don't need an advance degree in mathematics to know that, at present, there isn't an opening in the Phillies' starting rotation for J.A. Happ. But before last night's game here, with Happ in the clubhouse and phones glued to the ears of GM Pat Gillick and his two assistants, Charlie Manuel said he isn't discounting the possibility that Happ could be used as a starter again this season.

Really, though, it all depends on Brett Myers.

Happ isn't about to replace ace Cole Hamels or newly acquired Joe Blanton. At 45, Jamie Moyer has been the Phillies' second-best starter, and in nearly all of his starts, Kyle Kendrick has given them a chance to win. That leaves Myers, who was supposed to be the Phillies' co-ace, a pitcher that Manuel believed could win 20 games. If, less than two weeks removed from a three-week stint in the minors, Myers finally begins living up to that billing, Happ will stay in the bullpen. If Myers continues to struggle, well, use your imagination.

For one night, he reached his potential.

But he took it in stride, too. After all, he was facing the Nationals, the worst team in the majors with the only offense that hasn't scored 400 runs this season. In their previous three games, the Nats had scored one run. So, be careful not to get too giddy over Myers allowing one unearned run and four hits, pitching into the eighth inning and getting his first win since May 30.

Still, it was progress.

Mostly, it was good to see Myers having fun on the mound. When Manuel came to take the ball from him in the eighth inning, Myers sparred with him, insisting that the manager "check my numbers against [pinch-hitter Ryan Langerhans]." Manuel recoiled, not quite knowing how to respond, and Myers busted out laughing.

"I know I can do it," Myers said. "If they lose faith in me, I'll probably lose faith in myself. They've had faith in me all along. It was fun for me tonight."

Before the game, Manuel said he views Happ as a starter. Asked if Myers' performance in his next few starts is tied to Happ's ultimate role with the team, Manuel said, "We've got to give Brett a few more starts, see where he's at. We just have to wait and see."

Myers seemed to understand the gravity of the situation, even if he wasn't going to admit it.

"It's not just one guy," he said. "Hamels is going to have to do it. Blanton is going to have to do it. Moyer and Kendrick are going to have to do it. And I'm definitely going to have to do it or my butt is going to be back in Triple-A again, and I definitely don't want that."

OK, as I often do in this space, I'll ask you to play manager. If you were Manuel, how would you structure the Phillies' rotation?