All tied after Brett Myers’ clutch performance

Brett Myers waited until the sixth month of his fifth season to morph into the ace pitcher many believe he can become. The 26-year-old right-hander went the distance and tied a career-high with 12 strikeouts in a decisive 6-2 victory over the Cubs.

Meanwhile, add the Diamondbacks to the list of teams receiving fruit baskets compliments of the Phillies. The D-Backs defeated San Diego, while the Pirates (fruit basket en route) battered the Dodgers for the second straight night. The Phils are now tied atop the National League Wild Card heap with Los Angeles with 10 games left to play.

Thus, the old driftwood has returned. "It’s a long season." Indeed, this one has felt like eternity. What the hell is this driftwood made from anyhow?

Only a few chapters ago, the starting pitching was in shambles. Aside from Myers, Cory Lidle's standard six innings, three runs felt pretty cozy back then. Now, some are calling this the most complete rotation in the National League playoff race.

Just days after Cole Hamels came within eight outs of a no-hitter, and the night after 43-year-old Jamie Moyer tossed his second one-run game in three tries, Myers bulldozed the Cubs over nine innings. Three different styles, three sterling results.

To the naked eye, the ex-boxer leveled his target with three right-hand looks: hard, harder and hardest. But there was more to it. The post-fight press conference came from the man behind the plate. Mike Lieberthal told the Inquirer that Myers added a splitter to his growing repertoire. This is like casually slipping the Gatling gun into 19th Century warfare. This is a pitch Myers only starting tinkering with two weeks ago in the bullpen. It’s a frightening reminder how young Myers is. At 26, he’s their best pure power pitcher, learning even more fastball variations to compliment an organization-best curveball. Now on a lark, he’s working on yet another out pitch, and get this, already getting outs with it. This is like discovering Mt. Everest out behind the Catskills.

Myers and Hamels represent perhaps the best September one-two punch in the NL, an amazing feat all things considered. Hamels is a buck rookie who still doesn’t have the starts necessary to qualify for statistical recognition. The other is still tinkering with two pitches, a splitter and a more established changeup. This month, Myers is 2-0 with a 2.40 ERA and 1.10 WHIP. Hamels is 1-1 with a 2.75 ERA and 1.07 WHIP. They have combined to strike out 53 batters in seven games.

These are the types of performances the Phillies will need in October. I can’t believe I just wrote that.

Comments

[Bob D]

This rotation has the ability to run an unbeaten streak into the playoffs. This is one hot team and the Mets, Cards, and Padres or Dodgers will have a very tough time trying to score against them let alone trying to win.
No matter what the outcome, this has become an exciting team to watch.

[Drama Queen]

My birthday is in October, so I've only had my dream birthday present once since I was old enough to remember ('93). C'mon Phils!

[gr]

the offense needs not to press to much and the bullpen has got to pull its load when called on. fi that happens, they're in. they need to outplay the dodgers, that's it.

[RickSchuBlues]

October? Careful, man, careful...

There were a couple strikeouts Myers got on pitches which I *thought* looked more explosive than his curve. That really would be a coup for him, if he could add that pitch to his arsenal. That Dude used the term "Schilling-esque" to describe his game last night, and it was. He still doesn't throw as hard as Schilling, but then Schilling doesn't have his curve. For him to have another out pitch besides the fastball and curve would be huge.

[joe]

Also, the splitter suddenly turns him into a ground-ball pitcher. a welcome development in CBP.

[BenJah]

driftwood is made of wood, of course

just posing a questions, not my feelings...but w/ all the stuff going on about arod, would we want him on our team?? we need a power-righty bat and solid defense at 3rd, but is philly a harder place to play than NY?? just curious about what the philly phandom thinks

[Willard Preacher]

RSB, Just curious if this changes your assertation that Myers does not need to be a Philly next year. I agree with your whole heartedly that he might not be the best guy on the planet. Then again, MLB is full of "not-so-nice" guys with plenty of talent (Sheffield, Bonds, etc.). I think that with him being such a young guy that if he can show that he's genuinely working on his off the field issues, there's no reason to cut bait on him just yet.

[Willard Preacher]

A-Rod will never happen as long as Monty & Co. are signing the checks. Just ask Abreu where solid fundamentals and some big plusses in the offensive categories get you with the Phils when you have a contract as big at the Tanzanian GDP.

[ae]

anybody in their right mind would want Rodriguez on their team. New York fans are even more irrational than Philadelphia fans, if that were possible. could we afford him? unlikely. would he want to come here? almost certainly not.

[Drama Queen]

Benjah- A-Rod, A-Ram, hell Abraham Lincoln would be welcomed at third for next season!

[Lake Fred]

I'm not the technical guru or with an ear in the bullpen, but where does developing a new pitch in September of a pennant race come from? Is it..

A. Dubee

B. Moyer

C. Myers

D. Foghorn

E. Coste

The correct answer should be A, but I suspect it is B or possibly E.

[joe]

i'm not sure that there is another good splitter pitcher on the phils, besides moyer.

hrm, interesting.

[BenJah]

DQ -- getting ALinc for 3rd would certainly be 'going outside the organization.'

[BenJah]

as for meyer's new pitch, i think lieberthal should just shut it! its a good pitch when no one knows he has it...and then there it is! as soon as the league adjusts to it, get out the neck brace

[zach]

A-Rod is not coming to Philadelphia anytime soon. Remember earlier this year, when someone suggested to him the possibility of being traded here, and he just laughed and said he'd veto it?

[joe]

BenJah:

The league knows about it the day after he throws it, whether or not Lieberthal talks about it. Thats what advance scouts are for.

It does completely change the way you approach hitting Myers, though.

[Willard Preacher]

I'm all for ALinc, too, but I'd rather have the hometown guy - BFrank. Plus, I'd love to see "Ben's Hens" in the upper deck.

[Mike H.]

Talk about pure bulk and brains at the plate with BFrank. He'd probably invent a better wood bat, too... I'll pass on ALinc, though... his wife is nuts and would lead the phaithful into massive amounts of booing and histrionics... lol

[Steve T.]

Lets not all forget Myers' "cutter" also, also known to most as a slider.

[Will]

Lake Fred: I'd believe if Dubee suggested it and Myers shrugged it off until he saw what Moyer could do with it.

On A-rod: They won't pay for him, and he probably wouldn't come here anyways.

We're riding high right now, but I'd like to see SD and/or LA lose tonight to seal the deal.

[joe]

Cutter's aint sliders. Its the difference of a 3-4" break, compared to a 8-12" break. Also, cutters can be thrown both directions, whereas sliders are right-to-left on rhp's.

also, cutters dont put nearly the same stress on your elbow as a slider.

[Tony]

Where are all the "Myers is a disgusting human being, I want him released or traded!!!!" posts now????

[Lake Fred]

In response to Tony's post, here is a direct quoted section from Marcus Hayes Daily News article today:

"He missed three starts in late June and early July after his arrest in Boston for allegedly hitting his wife. His grandfather died before his last start, which sent him to Florida for a few days but didn't cost him a start. Did either incident mature him?

"I don't know. It's tough to say," Dubee said. "He's still a guy who's maturing. Understanding the game. Understanding professionalism. Understanding what's important in life."

What's important right now, and always, is starting pitching.

"Good pitching is what it's all about," manager Charlie Manuel said."

Can you believe that? Marcus quotes Dubee saying "Understanding what's important in life." and Marcus writes "What's important right now, and always, is starting pitching."

That sums it up. Beating one's wife is old news to these guys. I hope Myers has straightened up. We'll never know. That stuff won't make the papers.

[Unfinished]

I dunno about ALinc. From what I just found out at a Nats blog, he's got zero speed on the basepaths. He should probably go back to pitching; I hear he had a mean woodsplitter in high school. PRich, tho, that guy's electric. Although if we sign him we better keep him from rooming with Burrell; if that happens you might wanna lock up your daughters.

[zach]

Careful LF... the "What's important right now, and always, is starting pitching" line is from Hayes, not from Dubee. So when you say "these guys", you mean really, this guy who writes for the Daily News.

[joe]

>if that happens you might wanna lock up your
>daughters.

In the Bejamin's case, you would have to lock up your mother/grandmother.

[Walter]

Now that it's a dogfight with the Dodgers, I like the Phillies chances, for one thing, because your road record is far superior to LA's. Since Philadelphia and Los Angeles both finish with six on the road, I hope this gives the Phils a slight edge.
Your team is making news, so Beer Leaguer is co-featured today on our main page.

Jason, keep up the great work,
Walter Roark (editor)
http://www.baseballnooz.com/
(All baseball, all the time—over
220 blog feeds + news sources)

[Lake Fred]

You are right Zach, I need to be very specific. I specifically said that Marcus writes "What's important right now, and always, is starting pitching." When I wrote "these guys" I meant sports reporters.

The way Marcus wrote his article, he places Cholly's quote right after his (Marcus' opinion) to bolster Marcus' statement. I think it's pretty obvious that Dubee was refering to maturity as a person about Myers, not that pitching is the most important thing in life.

[Drama Queen]

Can't we just all try and be happy today while we're tied for the NL Wild Card?!

Hell, I'm usually a downer, but even I am trying to be upbeat.

Let's go Phils!

[Willard Preacher]

I'm waiting for a posting from clout. If he's upbeat and optimistic then the end of the world is near. That, or the Phillies are destined for the playoffs.

[RickSchuBlues]

Fred, doubtful that Dubee would suggest a new pitch at this particular time - and I don't think Moyer even has a split-fingered fastball. I have to believe Myers came up with this on his own.

A good question, Preacher, about whether I now see fit to have Myers stick around. I originally had said something about this on my original post, but ended up deleting it, feeling I've already made my opinion about Myers known enough times, no need to have to hurl mud at him out of obligation. But since you asked, the truth is that it's still very hard for me not to root against him, even if I want the Phillies to win his starts. I don't get the sense that he is a changed man, and I don't wish people like him success, whether he plays for my team or not. I'll credit him when he does well - and he did come up big last night - but on the whole, all considered, I wish he was not a Phillie. The side of me that's purely a baseball fan recognizes that he can be part of a solid left-right combo at the forefront of the rotation, recognizes that he is not going to be traded, and tries to reel in personal feeling: player, not person. I guess it's how so many San Franciscans can applaud Barry Bonds. I don't have such an easy time looking the other way and making that separation.

[Lake Fred]

DQ, you're right. Let's be excited. I'm sure that Phillies fans are more excited right now than Mets, Yankees, A's and Cards fans. I bet baseball fans are hopping in Detroit, Minnesota, San Diego, L.A. and ChiSox rooters. I think it's more exciting to be in second all season and overcome obtacles than to be a front runner and falter. I'm sure Cincy fans wish they were in our shoes.

As for RSB and Myers. I feel your same loyalties being twisted. I root for Myers to succeed as a Phillies player and as a person, but I don't think he's changed. I wish he were somewhere else and I could root against him just like I root against Bonds. I also don't like the "ace" term linked to Myers. I think Hamels will be our "ace".

[Willard Preacher]

Fair enough, RSB. I can empathize. There have been plenty of players through the years that I simply could not pull for, as well (David Bell comes to mind, although I don't have a legitimate reason for my dislike of him, as you do with Myers). Unfortunately, this is not college sports where players can be disciplined on the field for incidents/lifestyles they portray off of it. Bottom line, talent will win out every time (ask any team who has ever gambled on T.O.). We will never truly know whether or not Myers can "reform" himself. I, for one, would prefer to have him on the mound at this very important juncture in the season and like what he brings every 5th day. There are few pitchers who take the mound and expect to shut the other team down (ala Roger Clemens). Myers is quickly becoming that for the Phillies and unless that changes, to paraphrase Jerry Seinfeld, I'm just "rooting for his laundry."

[Alby]

I frankly couldn't care less about Myers' wife-beating, unless there's some evidence that it's an ongoing problem rather than a solitary incident. I dislike to a far greater degree players who are day-in, day-out arrogant a**holes (Pete Rose and Barry Bonds leap to mind).

And though I haven't gotten a chance to post much recently, I'd like to take issue with the tired contention, voiced by a couple of people lately, that Ryan Howard hasn't received "a peep" in the national press. The Wall Street Journal, for crying out loud, did a feature on him last week. I read six papers a day, two of them local, and with the WSJ article all six have done takeouts (major features) on Ryan Howard. What do you want, Ryan Howard vs. Roger Maris countdown boxes every day?

[Alby]

I frankly couldn't care less about Myers' wife-beating, unless there's some evidence that it's an ongoing problem rather than a solitary incident. I dislike to a far greater degree players who are day-in, day-out arrogant a**holes (Pete Rose and Barry Bonds leap to mind).

And though I haven't gotten a chance to post much recently, I'd like to take issue with the tired contention, voiced by a couple of people lately, that Ryan Howard hasn't received "a peep" in the national press. The Wall Street Journal, for crying out loud, did a feature on him last week. I read six papers a day, two of them local, and with the WSJ article all six have done takeouts (major features) on Ryan Howard. What do you want, Ryan Howard vs. Roger Maris countdown boxes every day?

[Alby]

Sorry about the double post, my internet connection hiccupped.

[Unfinished]

Some rather interesting word choices in today's post.
BM is now officially in my Rickey/Terrell pantheon of "God-I-hate-this-effer-grumblegrumble-go Philly" guys.

Plus, PRich was the "midnight mayor" of Paris during the 'Rev.

You could look it up.

[clout]

Lake Fred: Have you thought about a career teaching journalism? You seem to know so much about it.

[Bob D]

ARod? too expensive
ARam? good choice Amariz Ramirez would be a good 3B with power (32Hrs) to hit behind Howard. Also much cheaper, though he will likely cash in this winter.

[That Dude]

Remember when Jdub advocated signing Lidle to an extension? sorry dude I couldn't resist.

[J. Weitzel]

That one's going on my greatest hits album.

[Lake Fred]

Clout, who are you protecting in journalism? What is your expertise? Why are you so negative?

[Lake Fred]

Clout, I've gone out of my way to be nice or at least neutral towards you, but you continue to be antagonistic. I don't enjoy your personal comments about me. I don't know you, but you don't seem like a very nice person. You need to think about your negative personal comments before you click that "post" button.

Let's enjoy the end of this interesting season. I don't enjoy reading your nastiness.

[RickSchuBlues]

Speaking of journalism, how about this miscarriage of justice: the two writers who wrote "Game of Shadows" were sentenced to 18 months in prison for refusing to reveal their source, who had leaked grand jusry testimony.

Those guys aren't the one who leaked the testimony. They're not the ones who conducted illegal activity. They're trying to bring it to light and give us the truth about an important aspect of American society. What an absolute disgrace that they're the ones being fleeced by the judicial system, while Barry Bonds and Greg Anderson get off scot-free. I applaud the integrity of these two men and I wish the public would get behind them.

[Alby]

Amen.

[Parker]

Damn Right!!!!!!!

[Drama Queen]

Last night sucked as the maxi-PADS and Dodgers won. It's all good though, I'm staying positive. Hamels is going to win for us tonight, and my best friend and I are heading to the game on Saturday, so good things will come.

I think Howard might still have one "tear" left in him...maybe 4 homeruns over the last 10 games?

[clout]

Lake Fred: Let me see if I got this straight: It's OK for you to take shots at others, whether it be throwing my handle into your posts gratuitously, which you've done several times, or writers you know nothing about and I'm not allowed to respond with my point of view? I've let several of your shots at me and others go by without response, but my friend, if you don't like my heat, then stop coming into my kitchen.

[clout]

RSB: Good post. Who has the fans interests at heart? The Players? Their agents? The owners? Bud Selig? Now there's a joke.

[clout]

To make the playoffs a team needs a little bit of luck. The Phillies have been getting it. They've missed the other team's best starter in their last 3 series and will miss Dontrelle Willis this weekend. Plus the Marlins best player, Miguel Cabrera, is hurt. He's missed 3 games with a shoulder injury and is not 100% even if he plays tonight. Luck trumps ability.

[Lake Fred]

Clout, I only comment about your negativity, as do others. I am not alone in noticing your negativity. I may not agree with your opinions, I never put you down as the author of your opinions.

You do seem awful protective of writers. Why? In a sports blog, people take shots at owners, management, coaching, players and newspaper writers; and that is okay. I don't need to apologize to you if Marcus Hayes article seemed to put Dubee's and Cholly's quotes next to each other, sandwiching his opinion in between that pitching is the most important thing in life in context with wife beating; thus making it appear as if Uncle Cholly agreed with him. He doesn't need you sticking up for him. What is it clout? Do you think pitching is more important than wife beating?

Beerleaguers should not be taking shots at each other. We may respectfully disagree with each other. The key word is "respectfully". You have made posts where you use words that do not respect the other poster. When I disagree with someone, I'll mention their name, say that I disagree, then give my opinion. I respect the other person and never put down the other person. I never say things like "that was a dumb opinion." In your case I may start making exceptions.

Lastly, clout, this is NOT your kitchen. If you want to be a flame thrower, expect to be burnt in return.

[Lake Fred]

Clout, here's the entire text of your post that got me mad:

"Lake Fred: Have you thought about a career teaching journalism? You seem to know so much about it."

What is your opinion or point of view in that post? I don't see any, except that it is a sarcastic putdown. This harkens back to a post several months ago where I mentioned that I had discussions with my daughter who is a senior journalism major at LSU. You made a post belittling my knowledge of journalism because I talk with my daughter. Ever since then, you've made sporadic journalism cuts in my direction.

Your last post also said that my posts "throw your handle...gratuitously". You, my friend, are the biggest handle thrower on this site. Don't preach to me from your ivory tower.

Don't write about me in context with journalism, because I take it as a putdown. Why don't you stick with things you where think you know it all. Write about the Phillies.

[clout]

Lake Fred: I don't want to belabor this silly tirade of yours, but you have a way of leaving out key facts. I didn't mock you because of a discussion with your daughter. I mocked you for saying that all journalists made stuff up and what they wrote couldn't be trusted. I would've mocked a similar tirade about doctors, bus drivers etc. At least be honest, since these posts are easily retrievable.

[zach]

What do you want, Ryan Howard vs. Roger Maris countdown boxes every day?

Absolutely.