Game chat: Myers deals; Volquez debuts for Reds

Summary: Brett Myers (0-0, 5.40) vs. Edinson Volquez (2-1, 4.50 in 2007 with Texas). Myers is 2-0 with a 3.74 career ERA in 33 1-3 innings against the Reds, and has pitched well at Great American Ballpark. The Phillies have never faced Volquez, although they got a look at him during spring training. … Chase Utley, swinging a hot bat, has also fared well against the Reds. Lifetime, he’s a .600 hitter (15-25, 6 HR, 14 RBI, 14 runs scored in his last 7 games).

Notes: Looking over the press notes, I’m reminded the Phils will soon need to figure out what to do with Francisco Rosario, who’s on the 15-day DL with a right shoulder strain. He’s out of options, and his injury late in camp seemed to come out of the blue. … As King Myno pointed out in our comments thread, the Phils have a tendency to struggle against pitchers they’ve never seen, citing the Rockies’ young stable as an example. Volquez has been compared with teammate Johnny Cueto, another young arm with good stuff. ... During commercials, check out the Red Sox and Blue Jays on new baseball provider TBS.

[Live Boxscore]

Comments

[Verdeforce]

The weather is perfect today, and after seeing two warning track shots and a homer from Ryno yeaterday, I think Howard is going to have a big day today.

[Verdeforce]

Thanks for the tip Weitzel, I am amazed to be able to switch over to TBS and hear good baseball announcers for a change, I was afraid they would stick Skip Carey on these games as well.

[Andy]

Okay, first thing. Based on his MLB photo, Volquez needs a haircut. The pointy stuff out the side of the hat just ain't cutting it. Maybe Eaton could give him his stylist's card.

[Andy]

If gameday is accurate (and we know that's a big "if") Volquez does not have much movement on his fastball. It could be a good day for the Phils (after they've seen him once or so).

[PhillyFanintheBurgh]

The Reds radio announcers said, "Well you know this Chase Utley guy might be the best second baseman --- well nevermind I think our guy is better but Utley is very good."

[king myno]

To be fair, Brandon Phillips put up spectacular numbers last year. And to be even fairer, Chase Utley is still the best second baseman in baseball.

[sifl]

Howard looks amazingly comfortable up there at the plate. He never looked that way last year--maybe it has something to do with the bit of weight he lost, but I think he's going to have a monster year.

Burrell is hitting the ball solidly, too. That last grounder would have been a two-run single 9 times out of 10.

[PhillyFanintheBurgh]

I totally agree with you myno. Phillips is outstanding and is going to be a very good player. Utley is probably going to start at second for the all star team for the next five years without any competition.

[drake]

nice play by jenkins there to hold it to a single

[RSB]

Volquez leads the league in gold chain.

On Helms: how has someone with such a cement glove made his entire career in the NL? And don't you just know he's going to get at least 3 game-winning hits against the Phillies this year?

[drake]

it's bad brett.

[king myno]

Keep it together, Brett.

[J. Weitzel]

So far, Brett Myers not living up to his billing as "the best move they could have made to improve their starting rotation."

[NCPhilly81]

I think it's too early to be down on Brett's move to the rotation. His opening day start against the Nats was not horrendous, and it has to be noted that he was pitching to Griffey in the first, and not some mere mortal.

[RSB]

I don't get Myers. He didn't throw one fastball to either Griffey or Dunn - he looks like he's trying to emulate Chad Durbin out there, trying to sink breaking balls down and away. I'm not saying pour it over the heart of the plate, but come on, where's the aggressiveness?

[drake]

that was a nice strikeout, good job brett

[king myno]

I'm always surprised when opposing announcers call Myers "one of the best arms in the National League," as they did in the pregame. The guy has never won more than 14 games; he's got great stuff but he's never put it together. Yet everyone gives him heaps of credit. Like you said, J, he hasn't lived up to his billing in any real way his entire career.

[J. Weitzel]

I wouldn't say Myers hasn't lived up to his billing at any point in career, but I generally agree he tends to be more overrated than underrated as a starting pitcher.

[joe l]

myno -- "best arm" is a lot different from "best pitcher". Occasionally Myers really shines and can be almost untouchable. But as most of us know, he's not a complete pitchers, especially mentally.

[J. Weitzel]

What the hell was that, Jenkins?

[J. Weitzel]

What the hell was that, Feliz? Has anyone come to play today?

[J. Weitzel]

Geez. Remind me why a team as lousy as Texas would let this guy get away?

[drake]

got dominated that inning

[RSB]

They don't like them sissy pitchers in Texas.

[bathtubhippo]

they could always keep rosario on the fake DL, so they don't have to run him through waivers...sort of like they did last year for half the season....ha

[drake]

especially since texas's top two pitchers are phillies rejects millwood and padilla

[king myno]

Texas has always wanted to bash teams into submission. That's why they've employed Phillie retreads like Padilla, Millwood and the late Rob Tejada for so long.

[J. Weitzel]

Phils just can't seem to figure out Paul Bako.

[Mike Cunningham]

nice catch ruiz.

[NCPhilly81]

Nice chase-down, Ruiz.

[PhillyFanintheBurgh]

So did the Phillies get anything for Helms or was it purely financial?

[NCPhilly81]

Not to forget, Texas also gave away pitcher Chris Young after Young actually had some success in Arlington. With Volquez, there could be two potentially dominant pitchers who got away.

[drake]

josh hamilton will put butts in the seats though, he'll be a 40 HR guy this year or next.

[PhillyFanintheBurgh]

Also - I can't get on Myers for not throwing Dunn fastballs. That guy loves the fastball. Giving up a homer to Griff is something about 500 other people have done as well so I'm not going to get down on him yet.

[drake]

that didn't look like a strike to vic, but volquez is looking filthy all the same

[J. Weitzel]

Burgh: Player to be named later, which doesn't mean anything to me.

[RSB]

The only question is whether Volquez was going to be around the plate. He is, and he is tough. Great stuff, consistently good location. I picked the Reds to win the Central, and I'm seeing some good reasons why in this series.

[king myno]

Ugh. Maybe the second time around, we'll get a better handle on Volquez. Although Rollins didn't.

[PhillyFanintheBurgh]

Hey at least we don't have to pay for him. Thanks J.

Ok maybe you guys were right about Myers...

[The Flying Hellfish]

Time for Meyers to put his ego first and start over throwing, getting himself worked up and lose his composure.

[Skeeter]

We need our hitters to start taking pitches....Volquez will eventually run into trouble with walks.

[clout]

kingmyno: Padilla went 15-10, 4.50 for Texas in 2006. You may recall what Texas traded to get him: Nothing.

Millwood went 16-12, 4.52 in 2006.

So keep in mind when you call them "Phillies retreads" that they were better than 4/5ths of the Phillies rotation in their first year in Texas.

[Gaze]

Myers is behind almost every hitter...

And what is the deal with the ridiculous smoke covering the field?

[J. Weitzel]

Myers just throwing, not pitching today. Like a closer trying to start.

[king myno]

clout: I'm not saying they're worse options than Eaton/Moyer/Kendrick. I'd love to have Padilla back (in a contract year). But I am saying that employing them as your top two pitchers is essentially admitting "we are not serious playoff contenders," especially when you're trading your young, very talented pitching prospects for another masher.

[drake]

you think brett's pitching badly so he can get back in the pen where he wants to be?

[clout]

Jason: Imagine that. And Kuroda allowed 1 run in 7 IP in his debut. Too bad kdon and Jack aren't around today to comment.

[RSB]

Gaze: I think that's what happens when they shoot off the fireworks after a Red hits a homer. Something else to blame on Myers.

[J. Weitzel]

Drake: No - that's ridiculous. He's a competitor and wants to win. I just don't see any plan. Like someone said, where's the fastball? Come in with a fastball to start off these hitters, instead of tinkering around until you're behind.

[drake]

just a joke, jason, i know better than that.

[king myno]

clout: A better way to word that is "Texas has always emphasized offense over pitching, which explains having those two moderately successful former Phillies as their top two starters. And as we're seeing with our hometown team, that's not a good way to consistently win games."

[drake]

good job, pat, that's what we need more of.

[clout]

king myno: I agree. I like the Reds side of the Hamilton deal better. They also got a little lefty named Danny Herrera in the trade who has a killer changeup and will be a decent middle reliever some day.

[drake]

volquez has fallen in love with the inside corner

[J. Weitzel]

Big spot for Feliz ...

[sifl]

How slow is Jenkins? I can't believe that was even close.

[PhillyFanintheBurgh]

Brett desperately wants people to forget about Boston. He's saying all the right things about doing what is good for the team and he's trying to be that team bonding guy. I would be very surprised if he's doing anything other than trying to pitch well enough that people like him again. I think J's assessment that he looks like a closer trying to start is completely on. Maybe he'll get over that, but I think he's more suited for the pen.

The pitching coach is gonna tell Volquez to throw a bunch of balls to Feliz and not worry because he won't walk.

[clout]

king myno: I agree. I like the Reds side of the Hamilton deal better. They also got a little lefty named Danny Herrera in the trade who has a killer changeup and will be a decent middle reliever some day.

I think Feliz has been reading Beerleaguer taking that pitch lol.

[drake]

i can't believe pedro laid off those fastballs.

[NCPhilly81]

Feliz took too many pitches that time.

[RSB]

Ah, the old take-the-strikes and swing-at-balls approach with men on base. That's what you want to see.

[drake]

i wonder if contract writers have considered an incentive like if a guy averages more than four pitches per AB, he stands to make an extra $250,000 or something like that for guys with poor plate discipline

[king myno]

clout: I wish we got decent middle relievers as a throw-in, maybe once in a lifetime.

[stjoehawk]

"And Kuroda allowed 1 run in 7 IP in his debut. Too bad kdon and Jack aren't around today to comment."

Being that I was in the group who thought that Myers would be better in 2008 than Kuroda, I'll admit that Kuroda looked good in his start & Myers hasn't looked good at all. If it stays like this, it won't be close.

Still, I think it's a bit early to declare a winner in that debate.

[Bonehead]

Hey Sarge, I need more on Mario Soto. Sarge's gotta go. Bring back L.A.

[Andy]

Nothin' wrong with Myers as a starter

.

that a smack to the head wouldn't cure.

[Andy]

Explain the get two strikes then pour three balls obviously out of the zone.

[J. Weitzel]

God, how do you let Bako get on like that after getting up 0-2 on him?

[Andy]

Brett must think that the starter who throws the most pitches wins.

[J. Weitzel]

Have Chooch and Myers ever heard of a first-pitch fastball?

[J. Weitzel]

Awful, awful, awful.

[drake]

brett just doesn't have it today.

[RSB]

How about a fastball, period? The Redsa re sitting on his off-speed stuff! Ridiculous. It's like Myers thinks he has to be a trickster as a starting pitcher and a macho man as a closer.

[clout]

stjoehawk: That wasn't the debate. The debate was this: I thought the Phillies would've been a better team signing Kuroda and keeping Myers in the bullpen. kdon and Jack didn't. I don't recall where you stood on that issue.

[Andy]

RSB - exactly.

I'm beginning to feel grateful to Eaton for pitching into the eighth yesterday. The Phils will have to burn about four relievers at this point.

Of course, the one guy that Chollie has overused is the long man. So who knows? Maybe he'll use five relievers and Coste.

[drake]

nice rip, chooch

[Bob]

I was accepting of yesterday's loss. But if they don't turn today's game around quick it will be unacceptable. That would be 2-4 against teams that won't be in the playoffs (probably) Why can't they just get off to a 5-2 start with 7 games against the Nats and Reds? Why damit!

[Andy]

Chooooooch!!

Okay, let's get this party started.

[drake]

because it's the phillies in april, we should be damn grateful we've won 2 so far

[J. Weitzel]

Party time. One run.

[drake]

at least we're on the board

[Andy]

Well. On the board at least.

[clout]

For those who think that Paul Bako is some kind of offensive stud (and from watching him in this series it's understandable), his career OPS+ is 61. You have to be truly, truly awful to have a career OPS+ of 61.

[Bonehead]

Okay. Lets open the floodgates

[Bonehead]

Cy Volquez?

[Bob]

time for victorino to get his head out of his ass. hit the ball on the damn ground

[J. Weitzel]

Quite a pitch to get Victorino. How 'bout those Reds?

[Bonehead]

or shane mendoza

[king myno]

If by "open the floodgates" you mean the Phillies' floodgates, then yeah, I'd say that's coming.

[drake]

volquez looks better against lefties than righties to me

If there is a switch from ST to the regular season, I think Myers accidently turned it off.

[Bobby Wine (and boy, am I mad!)]

Who are you calling awful, clout? I suppose you could do better than 55...er, I mean 61.

I hear a lot of Phillies diving all over the place, have these hits been that close?

[clout]

How'd that get past Gold Glove Feliz?

[drake]

maybe that'll wake brett up

[RSB]

We can expect to hear about how terrible Myers thought his stuff was again. And he'll be right. His curveball has no bite to it, his fastball is nonexistent, and what ever happened to his split-fingered fastball? He's throwing these half-assed cutters and flat sliders, and he just isn't going after the hitters.

[J. Weitzel]

Some have squeaked by, but others have been hard hit balls late in the count. Myers' problem today is not enough fastball, especially early in the count. He's trying to be too fine.

[xfactor]

This is a good time to act like a closer. Pound the zone.