Phillies Demote Brett Myers to Minor Leagues
Philadelphia's Ace Starting Pitcher Sent To Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs
"If you can't hack, they make you pack."
Those were the words of former major league player Rex Hudler when the Philadelphia Phillies released him more than 10 years ago ending his 14-year career as a player.
The same could be said for Phillies pitcher Brett Myers.
Although Myers isn't considered to be at the end of his career, the Phillies made him pack on Monday, June 30.
He was demoted to the team's triple-A affiliate, the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs, after several miserable performances.
Myers earned demotion to Iron Pigs
The Phillies organization really had no choice but to make a move.
Myers has been awful this season, usually by giving up first inning runs that take the team out of the game from the outset.
Myers is currently 3-9 in 17 starts for the Phillies in 2008. He was an earned run average of 5.84 and lasted only three innings in his last start.
The Phillies optioned him to the minor league Iron Pigs, where he will stay until he can straighten himself out.
Myers drafted high by Phillies
Myers is in his seventh year in the major leagues, all with the Phillies.
He was a first round pick for the Phillies the 1999 amateur draft (12th pick overall) and had the label as a can't miss prospect. He was given an $8.5 million signing bonus and was called up to the big leagues in 2002.
The 6-4 right-hander had a career best 14-9 season in 2003 and was an effective starter in his first five seasons with Philadelphia.
Last season,he was the Phillies closer, saving 21 games in as the team won the 2007 National League East championship.
Myers was moved to the bullpen last season because of injuries and the ineffectiveness of the the team's relievers.
But during the off-season the Phillies made a trade with the Houston Astros for closer Brad Lidge, clearing the way for Myers to become a starting pitcher again.
Myers can't make transition back to starting pitcher
Myers was declared the ace of the staff and made the Phillies opening day starter.
He has so far struggled in his transtion back to a starting pitcher.
Myers recently told the Philadelphia Inquirer that his long-team future remains in the bullpen, even though the Phillies have no need for him there this year with the stellar performance of Lidge and setup men J.C. Romero and Chad Durbin.
The Phillies will work on Myers readjusting to being a starting pitcher. He should be called up to the big leagues after the All-Star break should his stint go wel.
In his Iron Pigs debut on Wednesday, July 2, Myers was the losing pitcher in a 5-3 to the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees before a capacity crowd of 10,0000 at Allentown's Coca-Cola Park. He pitched five innings giving up three earned runs on five hits. But he also threw four scoreless innings to start the game.
The Phillies want Myers to become comfortable as a starting pitcher. So the pressure free enviroment in Allentown should help the veteran pitcher get back to the big leagues soon.
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