Manuel puts Myers in Pen
WASHINGTON (AP) — It’s been a quick trip from staff ace to the bullpen for Brett Myers.
In a surprising decision that manager Charlie Manuel hopes will bolster his relief corps, the Philadelphia Phillies moved Myers from the rotation to a setup role in the bullpen Wednesday and put Jon Lieber in the rotation.
Myers, 0-2 with a 9.39 ERA in three starts this season, will mostly be used in the seventh or eighth innings. The right-hander also could see work as a closer when Tom Gordon isn’t available, Manuel said.
“Myers gives us a bigger arm at the back end of our bullpen,” Manuel said.
Myers led the Phillies in wins (12), ERA (3.91), starts (31) innings (198) and strikeouts (189) in 2006, then signed a $25.75 million, three-year contract during the offseason
Lieber expressed disappointment when, late in spring training, the Phillies said he’d begin the season as a reliever instead of a starter. He’s allowed three runs in 2 1-3 innings this season out of the bullpen.
This is a serious move, not just desperation, of panic by Phillies manager Charlie Manuel. Brett Myers is the Phillies stud ace. He, as the article above reads, led the Phillies in wins, ERA, strikeouts, starts, and innings pitched. He also signed a 3 year contract for $25.75M in the offseason, not to be a middle reliever (he pitched 1 inning last night and gave up 2 hits while striking out 1), but to be the ace of this staff. Myers has not faired well so far as a starter (9.39 ERA) but he has struck out 19 in 15.1 innings pitched. He pitched much better than his ERA suggested and should still be in the starting rotation.
The Phillies sit at the bottom of the National League and have the worst record in the majors (3-10), even lower than the Washington Nationals. Charlie Manuel blew up on a radio host and challenged him to a fight, and is about to blow it as the manager of the Phillies.
The Phillies have dynamic offesnse that hasn’t shown us anything yet, Pat Burrell is hitting .341 while Howard is at .213 and Utley at .222. Ryan Howard also left the game last night in the 10th with left knee injury but it’s said to be nothing serious.
The Phillies are struggling and Charlie Manuel is feeling the pressure all around. Things better turn around soon or he and the Phillies will be in serious trouble.
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-Alex Rodriguez continued his tear last night, belting his 9th homer of the year and raising his RBI total to 23.
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