A Big Mess - Wednesday, July 02, 2008
356 Views :: 0 Comments :: :: Michael Bradley

   I come to praise Brett Myers for going willingly to the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs. For not leaving a trail of dented Gatorade coolers and smashed light bulbs. For realizing something big had to be done to stop his season from turning into a colossal nightmare. Few big-league vets would have agreed to such a decision, and Myers' actions show class and maturity.

   Unfortunately, the whole thing is hiding a major problem for the Phillies. In his exit interviews, Myers was forthright about his move to the minors but also quite clear on what role he wants to play in the Phillies organization. The man wants to close. He has said it since the end of last year, when the Phils decided the answer to their starting pitching woes was to take Myers away from the closer's role he embraced last year and re-insert him in the starting rotation. And he says it now. He enjoyed the "rock star status" he had last year as the team's fireman. He says it's a job better suited for his attention span and skills. And he has been quite clear that he has no idea what he's doing on the mound when seven innings, not three outs, are the night's goal.

   So, Myers heads to Allentown for some seasoning. He'll be back in less than three weeks, in order not to hurt his major-league service record. But there is no guarantee he will come back a more accomplished starter. No promise he'll make a psychological 180 and be able to "go the speed limit," the term he used to describe starting. And even if he does turn things around and become a valuable member of the rotation, instead of a home-run machine with a 3-9 record and 5.84 ERA whose team is 3-14 when he starts, this isn't the end of the line on this story. No way. Once the season ends, whether it's a champagne-drenched dream or another unfulfilled post-season disappointment (if the Phillies get that far), Myers will tell the club he wants to close again, and they'll have to listen.

   Trouble is, he has one year left on his contract. And Brad Lidge, this year's lights-out closer, has said he enjoys it here. He might want to stay around. What will the Phillies do? Let a standout like Lidge go to accomodate Myers, who might leave himself after the '09 campaign? Trade Myers for whatever they can get, pitching him as a closer, even though he'll have done it for about a half-season and not since '07. It's a big mess, and two weeks in the minors won't fix it.

   For now, the Phillies have to hope Myers rebounds and can pitch well the final two-plus months of the season. From there, they'll have to decide if he's full-time closer material. He already has determined that. If they do, it's bye-bye Lidge. (He'll probably ask for "too much" money anyway.) If the Phils keep Myers and send him to the bullpen, they'll have to find another starter or two. But that's not the issue now. In the coming weeks, the Phillies need Myers to turn his head around, and there's no guarantee that will happen. That will solve the short-term problem. But the storm clouds remain.