The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Todd Zolecki writes that starter Brett Myers would welcome a move to the bullpen, if asked nicely.
“I’ll do whatever helps the team,” Myers said. “I wouldn’t mind it. I wouldn’t mind doing either one. Either way, the game is on the line.”
The scenario would come about only if the Phillies couldn’t trade one of their starters, and they have indicated that they expect something to happen before their April 2 season opener against Atlanta at Citizens Bank Park.
But general manager Pat Gillick reiterated yesterday that the Phils would not give away a starter, either.
Gillick said Myers could “do anything he wants to do. Anything he wants to put his mind to from a career standpoint, he can do it.”
The scenario is interesting because it had been assumed that the Phillies would move righthander Adam Eaton or Jon Lieber to the bullpen. (Lefthanders Cole Hamels and Jamie Moyer and righthander Freddy Garcia are not bullpen possibilities.)
The Phils think Eaton needs a couple of innings to build up the velocity of his fastball, so he wouldn’t be suited to a one-inning stint out of the bullpen. And Lieber doesn’t field his position well, which is one reason the Phillies wouldn’t want to move him to the bullpen.
Ranked no. 23 in Division II, St. Edwards are currently tied 5-5 after 7 innings in the first half of a twin bill with Montana-Billings. The Hilltoppers are attempting to win their 13th consecutive game, an event that fewer than 20 persons are witnessing. It seems a gate of some $100 wasn’t enough for St. Edwards to bother turning on the Lucien Field scoreboard — were it not for the webcast, I’d not know the score.