Myers Strikes Out 10 Against AA Akron
Posted by Tim Malcolm, Sun, July 13, 2008 11:04 AM | Comments: 27
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Brett Myers pitched eight innings for AA Reading Saturday night, giving up two earned runs on five hits while striking out 10 and walking two. The R-Phils lost 3-2.
Mike Gross of the Sunday News said Myers started poorly:
The Aeros’ leadoff man, Josh Rodriguez, looked very much like a stereotypical middle-infielder. Until he powered Myers’ first pitch, a fastball the scoreboard gun had at 90 miles per hour, over the fence in left field.
“Fastball,” Myers said. “Bad pitch, bad location.”
Also in that inning, Myers allowed two singles, a double off the fence in right, and another run.
In the top of the second, Akron got runners on via an error (the R-Phils are 38-55, and, at least on this night, played defense like it) and a walk. With two outs, Bronson Sardinha sent a dribbler to the right side. Myers covered first, but dropped the throw, and then watched it roll away while an Aero rounded third and scored.
Sounds like “fun.” OK, so Myers gives up a leadoff home run to a 23-year-old infielder with a little power on his signature turnpike fastball. Then he gave up a couple more hits. And made a poor error. So this guy thinks he’s ready to pitch for a Major League team trying to hold onto first place?
Myers said he wanted to establish and locate his fastball early, setting up his breaking stuff. He was much better with the breaking stuff, shutting Akron down with no problem.
“I just worked on establishing [the fastball] and locating it. I didn’t care if they scored five runs in the first inning. I established fastball-cutter, and I thought that set up the other stuff later.”
His fastball isn’t ready yet. No way can he face Major League hitting with it. Keep working, Brett.
And by the way, Jayson Stark named Brett Myers his first-half Cy Yuk. This tidbit is eye-opening:
In fact, if “Opposing Hitters Facing Brett Myers” were one person, that guy would be third in the NL in homers, second in doubles, 10th in slugging and 12th in OPS — and would be leading Ryan Braun in all four categories. Amazing.
Posts: 0 Phil
Honestly, from what it seems, it looks like an improvement. After the 1st 2 innings he seemed to have established his fastball. He has 1 or 2 more starts to figure it out I believe. I hope he can get it done. Each outing seems like a progression. 10 strike outs means that he ended up getting his fastball established and was striking out people with his nasty curve ball.
Posted: 11:10 AM on July 13, 2008
Posts: 0 Gavin
why the hell is reading so bad this year? They have 75% of our top prospects. maybe our top prospe cts arent so top after all.
Posted: 11:18 AM on July 13, 2008
Posts: 0 Greg V.
On one hand, it sounded like a half decent outing, but on the other hand, why is he getting lit up at all in AA Reading? His first inning sounded like a mess! He hd a few performances like this already this year where he got knocked aroud in the first inning and then settled in. The fact that it happens in Reading too doesn’t make me feel any better about his situation.
Posted: 11:21 AM on July 13, 2008
Posts: 0 Phil
He did go up against a team that has a lot of MLB ready players. AA Akron is better than some NL teams. ie Nats, Royals, and Mariners.
Posted: 11:26 AM on July 13, 2008
Posts: 0 chris m
I would rather have myers over eaton bc he has more porention to have a good start but eaton is always bad. He has one good month a year then eaton done.
Posted: 11:53 AM on July 13, 2008
Posts: 0 Geoff
I dont think Brett Myers is fixed yet. Hes getting hit in AAA and AA now. thats sad. looks like they have to start over and reconvert him into a reliever if theyre to trade him or make him the setup man.
Posted: 11:57 AM on July 13, 2008
Posts: 0 Don M
I was actually up there last night for the game… Myers settled down and actually pitched GREAT as the game went on. One of the runs scored one ball hit to the 1b, Myers covered, didn’t catch the low-and-away flip to him (yes he was at the bag in time) stabbed at the ball and it rolled away… the 1b picked it up and double-clutched before throwing it and the runner that was on 2nd to start, scored easily.
He was consistently keeping the ball low in the zone, his curveball had so much downward movement on it that I thought he was throwing sinkers at one point.. I don’t know if its saying much, but he’s definitely better then Eaton at this point.
I think he’s just about ready to go… if he can get another start or two and keep working on that fastball.. he’ll be back in no time
Posted: 11:59 AM on July 13, 2008
Posts: 0 Geoff
Im sorry but good pitchers dont get hit aroun din the first inning and then settle in. Thats bullshit, theres no room for error and thats the Phillies problem. Eaton does that all the time and Moyer does that once in a while too.
This offense is far too feeble to do that.
i would make me feel good today if they beat up on brandon webb but somehow i dont think that will happen
Posted: 12:00 PM on July 13, 2008
Posts: 0 Don M
He went 8 Innings, gave up 2 ER, 5 hits, 2 walks, with 10 Ks…and looked good doing it.
So why are we complaining and saying how sad it is???
Posted: 12:07 PM on July 13, 2008
Posts: 0 Lewisauce
Adam Eaton is breathing oxygen that some other human being on the planet could use.
Does anyone else get the sense that Eaton is going to remain the fifth starter no matter what, because our ownership sucks and they’re already paying him $8 million?
Adam Eaton is shit. He is not a Major League Baseball pitcher. He must be released/DFA’d/shot and killed IMMEDIATELY. This crap can’t continue, but it will. He will be back in the rotation after the break. The only way he goes is if we get a starter via trade. They won’t bring up Happ to replace him, and they don’t think Carrasco is ready. So sad.
Sorry to rant on this thread and not the earlier “Eaton sucks” thread, but I was away and just got back. And I’m still fuming over yesterday’s Legion-ball performance from Mr. Adam Shitbag.
Posted: 12:17 PM on July 13, 2008
Posts: 0 Lewisauce
As for Myers, we are going to be stuck with him too. He’s making too much money for this front office to shelve him. And frankly, he’s better than Eaton. Myers could make a decent fifth starter at this point.
Posted: 12:18 PM on July 13, 2008
Posts: 0 NJ
because he hasn’t adjusted his game and we can’t really have confidence he will come up and be effective anywhere in the rotation. A game starting home-run surrendered in AA means he’s just going out there and throwing and he’s going to continue to get lit up with the big team because he has no plans.
The hitters in the bigs will continue to work him and sit on his junk and he hasn’t done a thing in 3 minor league starts to suggest it’s a different Myers coming back up.
So he fanned 10… Big deal, it’s not his K rate thats the problem.
Posted: 12:20 PM on July 13, 2008
Posts: 0 Don M
The thing with burrell last year, (early in the year) and Eaton this year.. is that you are paying these guys no matter what.. if they aren’t producing , you still have to pay them, so if they hurt you, sit them down.
Eaton, to his credit, got a lot of Quality Starts early this season, but got no run support and earned no-decisions.. but lately, he’s garbage
Posted: 12:21 PM on July 13, 2008
Posts: 0 Don M
He fanned 10, most of which were swinging.. which means that people are having trouble picking up his breaking ball.
And if you know baseball, you also know that AA is usually better than AAA because they have more “top prospects” …and Akron is a good team. I wish LaPorta would have been playing to see Myers go against him too…
But you guys are making Scot sound more and more accurate… .people want to see Myers and Howard and whoever else fail, so that they can say “I told you he sucked”… Myers aint going anywhere this year, trade-wise, so how about we root for him to get back to the bigs and pitch well, instead of knocking his 2 earned runs allowed through 8 IP at Reading..
Posted: 12:24 PM on July 13, 2008
Posts: 0 NJ
AAA’s become a graveyard and Myers might have benefitted going straight to Reading, it’s no suprise we have 4 legitimate prospects in Reading but very little major league talent in Allentown. It’s tough to call all of those strikeouts legitimate dominance as AA is littered with free swingers (the main reason Golson’s still down).
Myers had success with his off-speed stuff early but hitters were sitting on anything hanging or his fastball. He has to shift his mentality if he’s going to be a servicable starter this year, the major league hitters have better vision and discipline at the plate and aren’t going to oblige his ego like the AA hitters did last night.
I want Myers to succeed. I want to see him go out there with a game plan and unsettle the hitters but lets call a spade a spade here, he’s not going to succeed unless he has that change of attitutude. With Howard it’s great he’s locked in but most of his homers are coming with the bases empty and when he’s not going long in that situation he struggles to get on base.
Posted: 12:42 PM on July 13, 2008
Posts: 0 Phil
Donald just threw the ball away in the futures game. haha
I actually look at it as a positive thing. He let up 2 runs in the 1st 2 innings and then bounced back and dominated. If Hamels did something like that noone would complain. If Myers did that in the big leagues he’d still get bashed. I have confidence(more hope than anything) that Myers will come back and help carry the rotation.
Posted: 12:43 PM on July 13, 2008
Posts: 0 NJ
AAA’s become a graveyard and Myers might have benefitted going straight to Reading, it’s no suprise we have 4 legitimate prospects in Reading but very little major league talent in Allentown. It’s tough to call all of those strikeouts legitimate dominance as AA is littered with free swingers (the main reason Golson’s still down).
Myers had success with his off-speed stuff early but hitters were sitting on anything hanging or his fastball. He has to shift his mentality if he’s going to be a servicable starter this year, the major league hitters have better vision and discipline at the plate and aren’t going to oblige his ego like the AA hitters did last night.
I want Myers to succeed. I want to see him go out there with a game plan and unsettle the hitters but lets call a spade a spade here, he’s not going to succeed unless he has that change of attitutude. With Howard it’s great he’s locked in but most of his homers are coming with the bases empty and when he’s not going long in that situation he struggles to get on base.
Everyones talented in the bigs and the guys that win are those who learn to develop their game to sustain their success.
Posted: 12:43 PM on July 13, 2008
Posts: 0 Bruce
Latest team report:
PHILADELPHIA (AP)—”Right-hander Joe Bisenius was recalled by the Philadelphia Phillies on Sunday, while left-hander R.J. Swindle was optioned to Triple-A Lehigh Valley.
Bisenius combined to go 2-4 with a 4.78 ERA in 27 games between Double-A Reading and Lehigh Valley. He has pitched in two career major league games with the Phillies in 2007.
Swindle appeared in three games for the Phillies this season, allowing nine hits and four earned runs in 4 2-3 innings. He had a 7.71 ERA.”
Obviously, Swindle is not ready to be a “situational” type reliever for the Phillies.
Posted: 01:18 PM on July 13, 2008
Posts: 0 Phil
We should be trying another lefty, not Bisenius.
Posted: 01:26 PM on July 13, 2008
Posts: 0 Bruce
I agree with Don M’s assessment after witnessing Myers’ performance….”He went 8 Innings, gave up 2 ER, 5 hits, 2 walks, with 10 Ks…and looked good doing it. So why are we complaining….?”.
There are some posters here who seem confused as exactly what they want from Myers. Do they look at him as a “power” pitcher that should overwhelm hitters with 94-95 MPH heat? Or a finesse pitcher who will use a occasional fastball to set up his out pitch… a nasty breaking curve ball?
I have this gut feeling that Eaton will be optioned to AAA for the same reason as Myers in reestablishing his mechanics, control and mental focus. I think Eaton will go when Myers return after the All-Star break. Happ may also be recall when there is a need for the 5th starter.
Eaton is an enigma this season. At one time he appears to have turn the corner with something like 13 in 17 quality starts. And with better run support, he would have a few more wins than his record shows. I know there are some here who constantly use rant and tirade to show their displeasure (understating) with Eaton. I can understand their anger and frustration. I felt the same but kept my emotions under wrap and try to be objective and take a realistic approach to Eaton’s problems. After all, barring an unlikely trade, Eaton and his $8 million contract won’t be going anywhere except to try resolving his problems with a possible brief stay in Phillies’ AAA club (as forementioned).
Posted: 02:08 PM on July 13, 2008
Posts: 0 fred
Giving up 2 runs in 8 innings in AA is ok, but not a positive sign. Yes it is an improvement over what he had been doing previously, but he was TERRIBLE before. And overall the standard at AA is lower than AAA, it’s ridiculous to suggest AA is a higher quality level.
Posted: 05:46 PM on July 13, 2008
Posts: 0 Geoff
Translating it to MLB its probably about 6 innings 7 K 6ER
Posted: 05:57 PM on July 13, 2008
Posts: 0 Phils Phan
Dodgers Lose Closer
Takashi Saito walked off the mound, shaking his dangled right arm. Then he walked off the field, his right elbow tight and future in question. ….
Billingsley has an iffy record, but many of his losses were low run, no offensive support losses.
Straight up for Myers! Wishful thinking, though.
Posted: 05:58 PM on July 13, 2008
Posts: 0 Mike Zagurski
Actually, a second thought. Myers, Eaton and some half-prospect for Billingsley. He’s not “on the market,” but LA gets either a closer or starter out of Myers, Myers gets new scenery, Eaton gets cement blocks on his feet and dropped into the ocean, no one cares, etc. We eat most of Eaton’s salary, some of Myers’. Am I insane?
Posted: 06:30 PM on July 13, 2008
Posts: 0 Phils Phan
Gah, I’ve given away my alter ego!
Posted: 06:30 PM on July 13, 2008
Posts: 0 Don M
How many guys from AAA were in the All-Stars FUTURES game yesterday???
Across the board, there is more talent at AA, and AAA tends to be guys that made the majors and were sent down, or have hit their ceiling…
Fred and Geoff should be drug tested ASAP.. they are smoking crack:
Fred = “giving up 2 ER in 8 innings in AA is ok, but not a positive sign”
—–uhm, so would he have to throw a CG-shutout for it to be considered a positive sign?
Geoff = “translating in to MLB its probably about 6 innings 7K, 6 ER”
—– I would love to see the formula you use for this because then that means that all of our prospects that you love so much wouldn’t be doing anything in the majors either… and Carrasco’s ERA would be a 10, and Marson would hit .152 if we translate it to MLB …
Posted: 09:30 AM on July 14, 2008
Posts: 0 Geoff
Yeah theres more talent in AA. AAA is pretty much a wasteland of late 20′s – 30 y/o’s.
When you translate his numbers to MLB, just know hell be facing better competition its really obvious that he will not fare as well and probably will fare the same or better as he did before. The only way to tell really is to give him another start or two and then bring him back up. Itll be interesting to watch but Im not counting on him for anything and it would be irresponsible to base your trade deadline strategy around brett myers.
although thats exactly the type of thing a philadelphia team would do.
Posted: 09:59 AM on July 14, 2008