When things go bad, apparently the Phillies will try absolutely EVERYTHING:
Manager Charlie Manuel said Wednesday the Phillies will move Brett Myers into the bullpen, while inserting Jon Lieber into the starting rotation.
Manuel said he was comfortable using Myers in either the seventh or eighth innings and might even use the former starter to close on days when Philly’s regular closer, Tom Gordon, is not available for use.
When asked if this was out of desperation, Manuel replied, “No, I think this is a way of us trying to fix our pitching staff, having the best pitching staff we can have.”
Myers has struggled so far this season, going 0-2 with a 9.39 ERA. He has failed to even make it out of the fifth inning in each of his last two starts.
Lieber hasn’t fared any better; after two appearances out of the bullpen, he has a lofty 11.57 ERA. Last season, he started 27 games for the Phillies, going 9-11 with a 4.93 ERA.
Yes, you read that correctly. The Phillies are going to send their second-best starter behind King Cole Hamels to the bullpen. Brett Myers is going to set up for Tom Gordon and pitch on Gordon’s off-days in tight situations.
This is a baffling move. Just baffling. You don’t send your second best pitcher to the bullpen, and you don’t it after 3 starts. Myers had 2 bad outings and was banished despite multiple seasons of good work…doesn’t this mean that we should think about moving Utley or Howard around because they are slumping? That’s stupid and so is this. The utter lack of logic reeks of the ’see if it sticks’ attitude that this organization has taken over the past two seasons that Pat Gillick has run the front office.
No sense. Just none. I’ve got no problem with Jon Lieber going to the rotation where he can be best used, but not in place of Myers. Maybe you send Eaton to the pen, but not Myers.
You can now completely disregard my earlier post about Manuel. This is so mind-boggingly idiotic that it defies description. I’m going to sue the Phillies to pay for my medical expenses, because I had an aneurysm when I read that headline. This move alone is cause for immediate dismissal, as is anything that makes Howard Eskin look smart.
Ive lived through a Charlie Manuel managerial stint and it is a scary thing. He likens a pitcher to a ball delivery machine. “Bad Start? Must need a new machine in there. The callibrations on that one are all off. Did I just say callibration?” Have fun with him. Maybe all Myers needs is to tire out his arm with a few of his old home workout routines that the judge won’t let him do anymore.
I really don’t know if I can continue to support this team. There is absolutely no place to point to and hope. With the Eagles, you know they have the smarts and desire to win. With the Sixers, they’ve made smart moves recently, and it appears they’re on the way up. With the Flyers, they’ve always competed, and deserve patience.
I so want to like the Phillies, but it’s just so hard. This is so disappointing.
Baffling is the right word. I hate this move.
Hopefully, Manuel will get fired soon, and his replacement will quickly move Myers back to the rotation.