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Myers to start Opening Day

by dajafi on Feb 26, 2008 6:35 PM EST in News

Zolecki writes, "Charlie Manuel explained that they made the move for match up reasons, but it wouldn't be surprising if they also made the decision to boost Myers, who they returned to the rotation after making him the closer last season."

I get the value of keeping Myers happy, and he'll be amped up for the start. I guess it's also kind of cool that just as 2007 (the good part, anyway) ended with Myers battling the Nationals, 2008 will begin the same way.

But this is dumb. If the Opening Day slot means anything, it should go to the ace--and, with no disrespect to Myers, we all know who that is. Perhaps worse is that said ace will now pitch a night game, on April 2, rather than the presumably warmer afternoon start two days earlier. Maybe I'm overly paranoid about Hamels and his health--but if there's one thing to go overboard about, that's surely it.

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Re: Myers to start Opening Day

FWIW, Hamels' daytime ERA (5.14) is more than two runs higher than his night ERA (3.10), while Myers is better in the day (3.86) than at night (4.57).

but yeah, I agree that giving Myers the opening day start like it's the lollipop at the doctor's office is kind of stupid.

by perfectdepth on Feb 26, 2008 8:08 PM EST reply actions

Re: Myers to start Opening Day

Thanks. After I made this short post, it popped into my head that Hamels has had better career results at night. Maybe that's a consideration. And the more I think about this, the less inclined I am to see it as a big deal... but I want Opening Day to mean something, the recognition that a new season has begun and we're throwing our best guy out there to start it, and just for that I'd prefer to see Cole get the nod. If it's a big deal to Myers, though, and it doesn't bother Hamels, so be it.

by dajafi on Feb 26, 2008 8:42 PM EST up reply actions

Re: Myers to start Opening Day

Who knows, Cole may have deferred to Brett? He seems like a team player.

by Homer on Feb 26, 2008 9:10 PM EST up reply actions

Whatever the setup, they both miss the Mets series

Barring a rainout or a skipped start, we'll send out out Kendrick, Moyer and whoever against Johan, Pedro and Maine. Ugh.

by Chris R on Feb 26, 2008 10:04 PM EST reply actions

Re: Whatever the setup, they both miss the Mets se

There is hope, as that is not necessarily true. If both teams send out their one through five in the rotation for all games leading up to that series then the match ups are Kendrick, Moyer, 5 vs. the Mets' 2, 3, 4. If both teams take advantage of the off days at the beginning of a season then the match ups are Kendrick, Moyer, Myers vs. the Mets' 3, 4, 1. So, lets hope for the best.

by Neduol Caz on Feb 27, 2008 9:12 AM EST up reply actions

Re: Myers to start Opening Day

Maybe this is the club's way of preemptively squelching any rumors that Myers may return to the closer role, now that Lidge is out for a bit??

What a strange team.

by Seth @ The Good Phight on Feb 27, 2008 3:46 AM EST reply actions

Re: Myers to start Opening Day

That's exactly what the article in this morning's Inky said.

by David S. Cohen on Feb 27, 2008 9:14 AM EST up reply actions

Re: Myers to start Opening Day

This sets up the rotation as right left right left and question mark(depending on 5th starter). This is likely to be a reason that factored in to myers going on opening day. Kendrick will likely be the #3.

by schrifty on Feb 27, 2008 10:30 AM EST reply actions

Re: Myers to start Opening Day

Actually if they hold Hamels back til the 3rd game, and use Moyer in the 2nd game, then he, Myers and Kendrick would pitch in both of the Mets'series. So if you're not going to use him in the opener, mind as well get the most out of the move

by HankA on Feb 27, 2008 11:25 AM EST reply actions

Re: Myers to start Opening Day

Here's Dubee in the article Dave mentioned:

"We wanted to free Brett's mind up," pitching coach Rich Dubee said after last night's exhibition game against Florida State University was canceled because of rain. "He's talked about if [Brad] Lidge is down, he could be the closer. I don't want Brett looking forward to being a closer. We want Brett preparing for opening day. So that was part of it.

"And unselfishly, Brett went into the bullpen last year. He accepted it, and did a hell of a job for us. He showed he was a pretty good team player for doing so. So part of it was a reward for him: 'Hey, listen, we're glad you're in this with us for the long haul, so here's a little bit of a reward.' "

Myers, the dimwit, responds: "It's going to be hard for me to take over that No. 1 spot when he had that year last year. I'm going to have to work a little bit harder to earn that spot."

Whatevs.

by dajafi on Feb 27, 2008 11:34 AM EST reply actions

Re: Myers to start Opening Day

I don't get the Phillies saying how unselfish was Myers was for taking the closer role.

Isn't it pretty much universally accepted that he wanted the job? He relished the role?

It's like saying McNabb is unselfish for agreeing to be the Eagles starting QB.

Bleeding Green Nation Philadelphia Eagles Blog

by JasonB on Feb 27, 2008 1:06 PM EST up reply actions

Re: Myers to start Opening Day

C'mon man...everyone knows that McNabb's first position is punter. I would say it's been pretty unselfish of him to play QB for all these years.

by FuquaManuel on Feb 27, 2008 3:05 PM EST up reply actions

Re: Myers to start Opening Day

Eh, this is just paperwork. They're both going to pitch the same number of games.

by taco pal on Feb 27, 2008 11:59 AM EST reply actions

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