So, Brad Lidge signed a three-year, $37.5 million contract extension yesterday, which means the Phillies have the ninth inning covered through at least 2011. It also sends a not-so-subtle message to Brett Myers, who will make his second start for Class AAA Lehigh Valley tonight.Myers isn't going to be the Phillies' closer again.
That's probably a sobering reality for a guy who likened his role as a closer last season to having "rock-star status." Myers fell in love with being a closer, and last week, after agreeing to go to the minors to clear his head and straighten his mechanics, he admitted again that he hasn't fully committed to starting again. Clearly, though, Myers can be most valuable to the Phillies now in one of two ways:
a) As a No. 2 starter behind Cole Hamels.
b) As trade bait.
The latter may be the best option for both parties. More than ever, it seems that Myers is best suited, mentally and physically, to be a one-inning pitcher. His high-strung personality and heavy-metal attitude are ideal for a closer. And with C.C. Sabathia, the top pitcher on the trade market, headed to Milwaukee for a package of prospects that's better than anything the Phillies could've offered, perhaps Myers could be the missing piece to a deal that could land a rotation upgrade (Erik Bedard? A.J. Burnett? Greg Maddux?).
"We're kind of stubborn. We think Brett can start," GM Pat Gillick said yesterday. "People have drawn the conclusion that he doesn't want to start, that he'd prefer to close. But if he gets his mechanical issues worked out down there, I don't see any reason based on his ability and what he's done previously in his career that he can't start."
But what if he doesn't want to?
"I'll put it this way," Gillick said, "there's a lot of things in life that a lot of people don't want to do. But you're getting paid. You've got to show up for work and do the best job you can. He's a gamer. I think he'll give it 100 percent, whether it's in a closer situation or as a starter."
What do you think? How should the Phillies proceed with Myers?
***
The Phillies notebook in today's News Journal is packed with stuff, including Gillick's forecast that the Phils may acquire a "B-list" pitcher (think this year's Kyle Lohse), David Montgomery's thoughts on re-signing Pat Burrell, a commitment to J.A. Happ for at least one more start and a vote of confidence for So Taguchi.
Oh, and Burrell suddenly needs to buy a computer.
More later from the Bank...
4 comments:
Get rid of Myers. Domestic abuse should not be rewarded. And if Burrell doesn't own a computer, it's more proof that major league athletes are not really all that bright.
I don't see a team that is looking to sell as having much interest in Myers and the money he is owed this year and next.
I guess it would take two trades for something like that to happen. Maybe see if the Rays are interested in Myers as a closer. Maybe eat some of Myers' salary, but make sure that you get a couple of pretty good prospects. Then try to put together a deal for Bedard (I'm not very interested in any of the others).
Myers as trade-bait is an option that makes little sense to the Phillies or any potential trade partner.
From the Phillies perspective, trading Myers breaks the ideal of "sell high, buy low". His value has been diminished by his recent struggles. Even though he had slightly above-average success as a closer, his time on the DL last season and HR rate this season make it far from a certainty that he will be a good closer.
I find it hard to fathom that another team would be willing to take on the risk of Myers, especially given what he is owed next year as bananafish mentioned.
If Brett's loss of velocity is real and he cannot reclaim his 91-93 mph fastball, then he really needs to improve his knowledge of pitching and location. His curveball is still a plus pitch and several other pitchers in the "power RHP" category have been able to retool themselves into good pitchers without the power velocity.
Brett has always said he wanted to be Curt Schilling. Well, Brett, do some research... was Schill sitting in the high 90s when he was very successful in the '04 playoffs?
Screw you all who say trade Myers, He loved his role as a closer! Give the guy a chance! As for the domestic violence everybody does something wrong, how many freakin athletes out there do drugs, in strip clubs, beating their girlfriends or wives or just cheating on them with every bimbo groupie out there, so give me a break with that crap!Everybody LOVED Myers last year, he was the greatest. But we get rid of rowand and keep adam eaton?? Eaton is a joke compared to Myers! And look at the so called "ACE" pitcher Hamels on sat 7/26 oh yea great game "ACE" Hamels,NOT!!
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