Game chat: Phillies, Myers try to get back on track

Brett Myers (2-5, 5.76) has lost three straight decisions, surrendering a league-high 15 home runs on the year. He'll try to regain his 2006 starter form tonight at Minute Maid park. Brian Moehler (1-1, 4.76) stands opposite Myers as a pitcher who also spent 2007 in the bullpen. The 36-year-old journeyman right-hander joined the rotation as a fill-in for Wandy Rodriguez. Las Vegas lists Philadelphia as slight favorites. As a fan, I wish I could feel more confident with this Myers vs. Moehler match-up. Not the way Myers is throwing and the way Lance Berkman and the Astros lineup is hitting. The Phils need their bats to awaken from yesterday's slumber.

Comments

[clout]

Vicente Padilla is 6-2, 3.33 ERA.
Gavin Floyd is 4-3, 2.93 ERA.
Bobby Abreu is .292, 118 OPS+.

Who'd we get for them again? I forget.

[Dull]

See the Mets called up an outfielder from AA and he gets 3 doubles. Must be nice to have that kind of outfield talent ready at 2A. Nick Evans was hitting .296 with Bingo before the call.

[Sophist]

Dull, maybe he is a real talent, and I'm not one to defend the Phils' minor league rosters, but let's wait and see on this one before we go overboard about a few AB in Coors Field. Or do you already forget TJ Bohn's RBI double in Coors Field when Vic was outb earlier this year?

[JD]

Is Myers hoping he gets sent back to the bullpen?

[Brian G]

Not sure what everyone's so upset about with Bohn. His OPS at the major league level this year is 1.000! He should be playing everyday until he cools off.

[bay_area_phan]

Prediction on tonight's game: Myers is ineffective, but Phillie win a battle of the bullpens. TJ Bohn delivers the game-wining hit after coming in as a defensive sub for Burrell

[Sophist]

There's why Vic's got to err on the GB side of things. Use your speed, friend.

[Bill]

What is up with Brett Myesr talking about missing pitching every day as the closer. He needs to get his head on straight and accept the fact that he is our number 2 starter. No wonder he can't pitch, his heart is not in it!

http://myteamrivals.typepad.com/phightin_phils_phorum

[JD]

Way to go, Ryno. Zany slide by Vic.

[bay_area_phan]

Jenkins now 5 for 29 (.172) with RISP.

[Andy]

How fervently must we pray when Berkman faces Myers?

[Andy]

Or maybe he'll just walk him all night.

[Andy]

clout - some people think Padilla might be available in a trade before the all-star break; would you send Carrasco to Texas for him?

[redbeard]

is this the final start for myers or what?

[Spitz]

And so begins another frustrating game...

[RSB]

redbeard - nope. But it's his final season in Philadelphia. You can book that.

[CEM]

MYERS STINKS AS A STARTER

[J. Weitzel]

There's no way Myers is healthy. He looks awful.

[curt]

His fastball's gone. He's afraid to throw it over the plate, and rightly so.

[Tray]

Carrasco's a little too rich for Padilla. But I might like him back. Couldn't Golson be enough?

[Andy]

With T.J Bohn as our extra option in the OF, Golson might be too rich, too.

[bay_area_phan]

Myers is still able to miss bats, but every ball hit off of him is in absolute rocket. I've been an advocate of patience with him, but if this game turns into another disaster, I think it's time to try having him and Durbin swap roles. I'm not too thrilled about it, but the Phillies can't keep trotting out a starter who gives them almost no chance to win.

[Andy]

Feliz? Popping out to second? Unheard of!!

[Andy]

b-a-p: I'd rather have Myers and Padilla switch roles.

[Steve Jeltz]

They should put Myers on the DL tomorrow and call up Happ to take his spot. Myers should spend the next 15 days talking to a sports psychologist to figure out what the hell is wrong with him mentally. Unfortunately, I think it may be that he's just dumb and there's no cure for that.

[Bill]

I would not switch Myers with Durbin. I think Durbin has found his role and the Phillies should not mess with it. I don't have an answer but moving Durbin to the rotation isn't it.

http://myteamrivals.typepad.com/phightin_phils_phorum

[bay_area_phan]

jason: I suspect he's hurt also, and I suspect the same thing of Madson. I actually HOPE they're hurt, because at least that explanation would provide some hope of future improvement.

[RSB]

Are you kidding me? You would consider trading a high-ceiling prospect for a chronically inconsistent, veteran pitcher? No.

[Tray]

True, Andy, but it shouldn't be too hard to trade for a fifth outfielder.

[Andy]

Jeltz - They should give him accupuncture.

To the brain.

With railroad spikes.

Before the next inning.

Yeah. That works for me.

[Tray]

And RSB, I don't know if you were referring to Carrasco or Golson, but if it's Golson you mean, he's got a high-ceiling but he has an extra-low floor too.

[Andy]

Tray - when Burrell leaves, we'll be looking for a first out-fielder. Golson's not that, either. But he's a lot closer than Bohn - and may be closer than anyone on the team or in the high minors.

[RSB]

Tray: doesn't matter. Padilla's ceiling is well-established, and it isn't nearly high enough to justify trading any of the precious few possibilities in the farm system. Besides, Padilla makes Myers look like a pillar of stability.

[redbeard]

hey guys look! its homer simpson in the stands interviewing someone during an at bat.

gosh i love when he does that.

[Andy]

RSB: When I think of the letters POS and think of Myers, I rarely am thinking "pillar of stability."

[JD]

Ryno !

[redbeard]

beautiful swing ryno

[RSB]

Andy: quick as a fox.

Howard making up for yesterday...

[Andy]

Recap:
Chase Utley hit by pitch.
Pete Happy popping out to second.
Ryan Howard blasting in runs.
Brett Myers stinking up the joint.

Have you ever seen anything like this?

Oh. Yeah. Right.

[THe Dude]

trade the fat boy now....he's trade value is going up!

[JD]

"Ryan Howard blasting in runs"..
Depends on what day of the week it is.

[curt]

We'll see if Myers can hold this lead for 15 mins.

[Bill]

What work a deal to trade both Howard and Myers? Myers I would consider, no way on Howard. We need to sign him now!

http://myteamrivals.typepad.com/phightin_phils_phorum

[Tray]

I don't agree. Padilla's had one bad year his whole career, and he's never been as bad as Myers has been this season. Sure, he's inconsistent; sometimes he's really good and sometimes he's just average, and that can be frustrating, but at least he's almost always average. That said, I'd probably rather take Maddux from the Padres or Cook from the Rockies, but I wouldn't mind having a hard thrower in the rotation again.

[redbeard]

trade him to japan

[Andy]

I love this strategy: the lower part of the order makes outs quick, to keep Moehler in the game longer so Howard can bat against him more often...clever. (I mean, ya gotta love those seven pitch innings!)

[Sean]

Padilla is a major headcase that will never be welcome back to Philadelphia.

[JD]

Curt-He held the lead for more than 15 minutes!

[curt]

Houston announcers just realized that Myers fastball has little velocity and less movement.

These guys should be sitting on that curve by now.

[bay_area_phan]

Andy: Excellent observation. On the surface, that last inning looked like a pathetic 7-pitch inning for the Phillies. But, as you astutely point out, it was clearly part of a carefully orchestrated strategy, to keep Moehler in the game for longer. That Cholly is always on the cutting edge when it comes to baseball strategy.