Myers Strikes Out 10 Against AA Akron
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.
