Phillies moving Brett Myers to bullpen

[bravosfan]

This is nuts if you ask me...

The Phillies are mired in a 3-9 start and their manager recently challenged a reporter to a fight. So what's next in Philadelphia? Try shaking up the pitching staff.

Manager Charlie Manuel said Wednesday the Phillies will move Brett Myers into the bullpen, while inserting Jon Lieber into the starting rotation.

Manuel said he was comfortable using Myers in either the seventh or eighth innings and might even use the former starter to close on days when Philly's regular closer, Tom Gordon, is not available for use.

When asked if this was out of desperation, Manuel replied, "No, I think this is a way of us trying to fix our pitching staff, having the best pitching staff we can have."

Myers has struggled so far this season, going 0-2 with a 9.39 ERA. He has failed to even make it out of the fifth inning in each of his last two starts.

Lieber hasn't fared any better; after two appearances out of the bullpen, he has a lofty 11.57 ERA. Last season, he started 27 games for the Phillies, going 9-11 with a 4.93 ERA.

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/6702882

[Birdsonbat]

Re: Phillies moving Brett Myers to bullpen

I like how rotoworld likened it to moving Ryan Howard to SS. What an overreaction, and what a shot to both my fantasy teams.

[Sully]

Re: Phillies moving Brett Myers to bullpen

Idiotic. Manuel must go.

[rdeyes]

Re: Phillies moving Brett Myers to bullpen

they should fire charlie manuel

[The Chef]

Re: Phillies moving Brett Myers to bullpen

This is rediculous, you take your ace and stick him in the pen and bring in Lieber? Whats this based on, his rocky start this season? Garcia didnt exactly look any better in his first start either, sounds like Manuel is worried about his job and is starting to manage more to save his job then to actually win some games.

EDIT- Liebers stats are worse then Myers, this makes no sense at all.

[rsox]

Re: Phillies moving Brett Myers to bullpen

they should fire charlie manuel

The way things are going for the Phillies i would not be surprised to see Manuel fired by memorial day.

[stripmallp]

Re: Phillies moving Brett Myers to bullpen

My guess is that this move will either guarantee Manuel a job the rest of the year or get him fired. I think it might help, but I still think its a little dumb to use a guy out of the bullpen that has proven he can be an effective starter

[rsox]

Re: Phillies moving Brett Myers to bullpen

Between the Phillies crappy record and Manuel's outburst after last nights game i don't think anything short of a miracle is going to save Manuel's job.

[dieselboy]

Re: Phillies moving Brett Myers to bullpen

Philadelphia sports teams are all in the toilet.

Let me get this straight. It is April. And you decide to move your BEST starting pitcher from the year before from the rotation to the pen?

Hahahahahha.

[The Chef]

Re: Phillies moving Brett Myers to bullpen

Philadelphia sports teams are all in the toilet.

Let me get this straight. It is April. And you decide to move your BEST starting pitcher from the year before from the rotation to the pen?

Hahahahahha.

Not sure about all of them, the Eagles had a pretty good year last year. I think the problem with the Phillies are all the expectations that were placed on them prior to the season, isnt Burrell in the lineup to protect Howard? If so thats a horrible decision, I would much rather pitch around Howard and take my chances with Burrell, they need a high average guy with a little pop that can protect Howard in the lineup, sound familiar? Sounds just like the guy they got rid of last year, Abreu.

[Bravesfan47]

Re: Phillies moving Brett Myers to bullpen

Why pitch around Howard at the moment? He's leaving men on left and right like Burrell anyway!

As far as taking Myers out of the rotation and putting him in the bullpen? Horrible idea. Fixing your bullpen by breaking your starting staff isn't going to help you anyway. And besides, unless he can pitch everytime they need a reliever in the game their still gonna stink in the bullpen. Now their gonna stink in the pen and the rotation.

As far as the Phillies go, I was at the game last night and boy did they ever lay an egg. Their pitching got hit, they only scored a run because Glavine walked one in. They couldn't score with runners on, the pen couldn't keep it close, they couldn't throw out a runner on a pitch out.....they did nothing right!!!! If they fire Manuel it won't do anything anyway. Hey at the very least we should get to watch Charlie beat up Howard Eskin....He'll I'd pay to see Howard get punched!

[dieselboy]

Re: Phillies moving Brett Myers to bullpen

Not sure about all of them, the Eagles had a pretty good year last year.

Very true. It just seemed like a couple of years ago they all had high expectations.

[Sandman42]

Re: Phillies moving Brett Myers to bullpen

I'll be surprised if Manuel is still managing this team come August if not earlier. Moving your best starting pitcher from last year to the bullpen for a mediocre starting pitcher is an idiotic decision. Add to that the outburst he had after the game last night, he is as good as gone.

[Psyblast]

Re: Phillies moving Brett Myers to bullpen

I saw Manuel's encounter with Eskin about an hour ago on ESPN.

Manuel's like...a big chubby clown.

[BaseballCtchr]

Re: Phillies moving Brett Myers to bullpen

While Myers really has not pitched well ever since that Rentaria homerun, he is still rotation material. Manuel is overreacting...bring back Bowa!

Okay so I am not a Phils fan but Bowa gave me reason to hate the Phillis