Phils' Myers says stint in minors helped fix pitching

MIAMI -- Right-hander Brett Myers rejoined the Philadelphia Phillies on Saturday after starting four games in the minor leagues trying to shake a season-long slump.

"I had to get my swagger back," Myers said. "I felt like I accomplished that."

Brett Myers

Starting Pitcher
Philadelphia Phillies

Profile

2008 Season StatsGMWLBBKERA173944885.84

Myers has not been activated, but he's expected to start one of the Phillies' games next week against the Mets in New York.

He made his final minor league start Friday, allowing two earned runs in 6 2/3 innings for Single-A Clearwater. He then came to Miami, where the Phillies are playing a three-game series against Florida.

Myers started twice for Triple-A Lehigh Valley and once for Double-A Reading, and he went 1-3 in the minors with an ERA of 3.00 and 28 strikeouts in 27 innings. He said the encouragement he received from the Phillies' minor league organization boosted his confidence.

"Everybody in this organization had seen me pitch and been a part in me getting to the big leagues," he said. "It's good to see old faces you hadn't seen in a while, and they tell you what's wrong with you and how you used to be. It opens your eyes a little bit, and you say, 'What the heck have I become?' "

What had he become?

"You can't print it," Myers said.

Despite being sent to the minors on July 1, Myers still leads the majors this season with 24 home runs allowed. The Phils' opening day starter is 3-9 with an ERA of 5.84, and they're 1-11 in his past 12 games.

The return of Myers is the latest change in the Phillies' rotation. They acquired right-hander Joe Blanton from Oakland on Thursday, and he's expected to make his first start for Philadelphia on Tuesday against the Mets.

Blanton was activated Saturday, and right-hander Joe Bisensius was optioned to Lehigh Valley.

Myers went 50-35 for the Phillies in 2003-06, then became their closer last year and saved 21 games with an ERA of 4.33.

Myers said he hasn't pitched aggressively enough this season and needs to throw his fastball more. He's looking forward to testing the theory against the Mets.

"I can't think of a better team for me to come back against," he said. "I don't like them. They're our rivals -- we're not supposed to like each other. I don't have a problem with any of the guys, I just don't like them."


Wizards have bye week to regroup
Myers could be dropped from Phillies’ rotation
Panthers ink deals with defenseman Fitzpatrick, others