Phillies blank Mets 3-0 behind magnificent Myers

Brett Myers continued his second-half resurrection, allowing three hits and striking out 10 through eight shutout innings, mastering the Mets in a crucial 3-0 victory.

Considering what’s at stake, a strong case can be made that Myers just finished the best start of his career. Don’t bother reading the opposite angle because there was nothing the opposition could do. From first-pitch strikes to a devastating curve to finish it, it was good morning, good afternoon, good night for Mets hitters. This is the new cool and collected Myers, one with poise and a plan. It's inconceivable to think that the pitcher we saw tonight was trying to find his way in Double-A just weeks ago. Make it three out of the last four starts where he's pitched shutout ball, contributing to the third-lowest post-All-Star ERA in the league. With the win, the Phils pull to two games out of the NL East lead and wait on Mother Nature to decide when the series resumes.

Additionally, Brad Lidge made it interesting, but recorded his 34th save in 34 opportunities. Greg Dobbs added two big insurance runs with a two-run homer off Mike Pelfrey.

Comments

[mike cunningham]

JW... agreed. Myers best start ever.

the curve was 12 to 6.

located well. gave up a handful of extra bases but didn't let them score.

Myers is actually exceeding any expectations ever on him.

If only he was league average before the break.

If only...

[KoolEarl]

He has really lived up to the Curt Schilling Jr hopes we had for him when he first came up.

[mike cunningham]

after watching the highlights...

i have to say it again...

whew...

[EastFallowfield]

Reprise from last thread:

2008: 77-64, 2 back

2007: 74-67, 6 back

1980: 76-65, 2 back

[paco]

Myers is merely reverting to career norms.

[Sophist]

Gagne in for the Brewers. Immediately gives up the game-tying HR.

[Sophist]

Gagne is the Brewers' Heilman. Seems many teams lack an 8th inning answer.

Just gave up a double.

[anon]

did the mets score in the ninth or not? Gameday originally had a sac fly, but then took it off???

[Marc H]

I am speechless. Myers pitched his best game in the biggest game of the year.

Get em' tomorrow, Jamie.

[EastFallowfield]

Mets were shut out.

Think the only runner they got to 3rd was in the 9th.

They didn't send Wright on the flyball because the run didn't mean anything. Of course, it didn't even turn out to be a run.

[mike cunningham]

mets did not score.

bruntlett made a running catch in short left. Wright did not score.

[EastFallowfield]

Only 48,000 on a Friday night to see their first place team in one of the last games at their beloved stadium? Maybe they need to add the dogs into the attendance number.

[highlander]

trolls, trolls, where are you?

I mean its just weak, please at least be consistent.

[BobbyD]

Unbelievable that there's no Mets fans on here right now. But of course, not surprising.

I'm not getting excited yet. Must win at least 1 more, preferably 2.

[Hugh Mulcahy]

I couldn't watch the game, but part of me didn't want to. Great result. I saw Lidge's tightrope walk in the 9th and that's it. WHOOOOOOOOOO!!

That's what we needed. One win. Let's get another. The heart of the order for the Mets looked like they had malice in their hearts in the 9th. Has Gramps had a bigger start? He must've.

[Sophist]

Hugh - Are you making a reference to Moyers' start of game 162 last year, or asking a real question?

[Jack]

Great win, but I'm not gonna get too excited. We've won the opening game of almost every Mets series this year, only to then go on and lose the series.

[Met Fan]

Tip my hat to Myers, he really showed up. Both pitchers pitched great except that pitch to dobbs but Myers had no hit stuff tonight.

Lidge did look shaky but he came through like great closers do.

I hope wee see this kind of game Sunday night with our ace vs. your ace taking the mound.

[MG]

Reposted from last thread but really appropriate:

"Brett Myers song tonight should be an old school classic . . . "Shut'em Down" by Public Enemy.

"Hear go the sound of the wreckin' ball
Boom and Pound
When I
Shut 'em down
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9"

[MG]

EastFallowfield - Exactly and what about the bottom of the 9th inning when it looked like Shea was only about half full in a close game (3-0) during a pennant chase.

Lots of frauds but that is usual about a ton of Mets' fans. You largely don't hear a peep from them when their team is losing on the local media (WFAN) or other venues including this site.

[MG]

Bruntlett horribly misjudged that ball and he was lucky to catch up with it.

I for the life of me don't understand why Cholly insists on putting Bruntlett in a defesnive replacement for Burrell consistently. 100% stupid.

[KoolEarl]

If that game was in Philly and CBP held 56,000
people, you know it would have been sold out... looking ahead to next game, I really want to see some plate action. Paydro is smoke and mirrors anymore.

[LETSGOMETSGO]

dont get excited guys how many times this year have the phils taken one game and immediately lost a handful of games in the standings? you should know by now this team is nasty at rebounding after a loss. i knew we wouldnt win all 3, i didnt know we'd sweep a doubleheader on sunday though.

[Len39]

Great win tonight and hats off to Brett Myers.

The Mets fans should be ashamed of themselves. How can this game not sell out? There seemed to be a lot of empties too.

Padres are knocking on the door right now!!!

[Hugh Mulcahy]

Hugh - Are you making a reference to Moyers' start of game 162 last year, or asking a real question?

Posted by: Sophist

Just preaching to my choir, brother.

[jhs]

Myers in 9 starts since his return:

63.7 IP, 1.55 ERA, 56/15 K/BB, 2 HR, 1.07 WHIP, 4 of 9 starts with 0 ER

My oh my.

[Sophist]

Ah, Brewers win in 11. Lots of blown chances for both teams along the way.

[sdphillie]

I'm hoping Brett is finally realizing his potential that he's had all along. Sadly, it took way too long to do what we've wanted done all year.

Bravo to the Mets for showing up at Shea today, we couldn't have done it without you.

[Met Fan]

I think tomorrow or whenever they play the game is either going to be a slugfest or a lopsided game. Moyer has been good for you guys against us except that last start, but Pedro wasn't any better. We shall see what happens.

[Joe K]

If Myers had pitched like this from day one where would we be?

[Hugh Mulcahy]

To me, it makes no sense to wonder what would happen "if Myers pitched like this" at some point in the past. You're only as good as your next game.

[Sophist]

Cubs lost tonight, though. Brewers are now 4 back as the Cubs have lost 6 in a row.

[diehard]

Just saw on Sportscenter during the Phillies highlights that the Phillies lead the NL in shutouts with 11. I knew our pitching has been much much better this year, but I had not realized we led the league in shutouts.

[Hugh Mulcahy]

diehard,

I'm sure you see the irony in that realization. Pitching was supposed to be the Achilles Heel of this team this year. It has been a strength. The bullpen's faltering in teh last two weeks has provided some traction for that complaint, but where were the bats for two months? I'm hopeful they are back, but most thankful that the pitching won one for us. I still believe that pitching wins titles.

[vegas]

Wow! Just Wow stuff from Myers. Who is this guy? The ascent continues, one game at a time.

[denny b]

One thing I have noticed about Myers, during this "run" of top notch pitching....

His velocity has come back. Where, he was stuck in the high 80's to 90 MPH, most of the first half, with no "pop", since he came back up from the minors, he now has been "humping it" back up to 92-94, when he "needs it". Add that, with his great curve (which he always had; even when he was scuffling) and a changeup (which he used nicely tonight to lefties) and he looks like the Myers of old.

Whatever he "fixed", whether it was mechanical, mental or a little of both, this is one of the best stretches of starts for him, ever. And, with him and Hamels, that gives the Phils a better "1-2" at the top, then Santana/Pelfrey???, at the top of the Mets rotation. I will take Hamels over Santana (its close; but I think Cole is slightly better) and THIS Myers over Pelfrey or whoever you want to say, is the Mets 2nd best starter.

Add, that with Lidge being MUCH better than Wagner (even when he is healthy) or whoever the Mets are using as their closer this week, and those are 3 HUGE plusses for the Phils going down the stretch.

I don't like the look of the Brewers right now. They choked on it last year; and very easily could do the same this year; Sabathia or not. The Phils should catch a BIG break, missing Sabathia next weekend. He would be a terrible matchup for the Phils hitters (he is a bad matchup for any team right now).

The Mets are very catchable, no matter how these last 2 games go. I think winning at least 1 of the next 2, is essential though. Leave Shey, on Sunday night, down at worst 2 games, and you are in fine shape. Leave 4 games down, and it gets dicier.

By next Thursday, you want to be 2 games behind Milwaukee, in the WC standings. Then, a 3-1 series win, gets you a game out of that race. A 2-2 split, still leaves you only 2 out, with 2 weeks to play. That would be very doable, especially with the Phils schedule down the stretch.

Again, like last year, you want to give yourself, 2 avenues to make the playoffs. If you can give yourself 2 ways to get in, its a good chance, that at least one of those avenues will open.

Only thing, at this point, that scares me with this team, is the 8th inning. That also, has to be a HUGE priority in the off-season (like it should have been last off-season). Hopefully, they can find a way this year, with somebody.

[diehard]

Yeah I don't think anybody could have predicted our pitching would be this good (all it took was demoting Eaton). The hitting did disappear for 2 whole months and now is showing occasional life if not only to throw in a stinker game. With the pitching this year this team could be tough to play against if they do get in the playoffs, since there's always the threat of our lineup scoring a bunch of runs.

[MG]

davy is typical of the crap on here that Mets' trolls post. Neither funny or original.

[MG]

BTY - The "comments" section at MetsBlog mysteriously loads up as an "Page Load Error." I love how Cerrone has turned off that feature on numerous occasions this year when the comments get too negative about the Mets. Self-imposed censorship is still censorship.

[Joe]

I did not read any threads from tonight - i watched the entire game - and all that needs to be said is BRETT FUCKING MYERS!!!!!!!! wow, did he step up. WOW

GOT TO KEEP IT GOING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[EastFallowfield]

Of course, now if we lose another game at Shea we've baited the trolls so much that the site will be unreadable.

[phargo]

Good Morning.

Woot!

Go Phils!

[The Truth Injection]

Whether we get to the playoffs or not there is one thing we need to do in this off-season. Lock up Hamels, and extend Myers now. I think the minor league stint is what Brett needed to reach his potential as a pitcher. This is the guy scouts raved about, and we as fans got excited about.

If this Brett is at least closer to the Brett we get for a while then with him and Cole locked up into maybe 2013-2014 we have a very good 1-2 in our rotation. Two guys who could compete with any top 2 in the league.

On the game: Just really good work for Myers last night. He was hitting spots, and importantly didn't lose his cool when he had chances to. That was the type of game we needed to start the series. Moyer needs to be sharp today, so does Hamels. It will be difficult though because the Mets rake left-handed pitching.

Another note: Stop asking for Mets trolls. Who cares if they show up when we lose. You keep inviting people to your house, don't get angry when they show up.

[jerry]

Let's not forget two terrific plays by Howard. At least they looked great to me; I was there, so didn't see get to see replays.Those was the biggest surprises of the night to me, and both were while it was 1-0.

[EastFallowfield]

Imagine if we had had a performance like that from Myers to start game 1 or 2 of last year's NLCS. That's why you don't waste him in the bullpen.

[John]

Storm seems like it's a bit delayed. At least the heavy stuff. Latest projections still have it rolling across the Philadelphia and New York areas starting later this morning and through early Sunday.

[jr]

Find out who helped Myers in the minors,other than of course Myers. Promote him to the majors whether it was a manager or a pitching coach.

[Dan R.]

The trolls must be expected. It isn't only a "Philles v Mets" thing, but an internet thing. It happens all of the time so it should not be any kind of surprise.

[tyler]

i mean i tip my hat to brett myers. the guy had all control of his curve, took a bit off, threw it 3-1, in the dirt, i mean the guy was unhittable. pelf was also pretty good, aside from a fringe home run from dobbs. but hopefully it doesnt rain tonight. im really starting to love this series, mets phillies right now the best in baseball, just needs one brawl and there you go. anyway, the mets bounced back time and time again against teams after a tough loss, im hoping the trend continues

[ozark]

I, for one, don't need to see Lidge "make things interesting" in the 9th. It is somewhat worrisome that he's not the 1-2-3 closer he was earlier in the year.

[clout]

denny b: I know you keep wanting Myers to be a fastball pitcher and blame his earlier problems on velocity, but statements like this are just flatly untrue: "with his great curve (which he always had; even when he was scuffling)"

This is about as false a statement as possible. There were even articles written at the time about how he couldn't locate his curve. In fact, Dubee said his inability to command his curve (and his fastball) was the main reason for his problems. His problems earlier this season had to do with location. Manuel said that, Dubee said that and my eyes said that.

[clout]

This after a game in May against the Braves, and consistent with other stories before his minor league stint:

“When I went back and watched the tape of him, I thought Brett made some good pitches on the guys that he got out,” Manuel said. “But the pitches that got hit were good pitches to hit. Some of them were in the middle of the plate.”

Dubee said Myers' velocity is in an acceptable range.

“Four-seam [fastball] wise, he held it around 91-93 [mph],” Dubee said. “It's just every time he makes a mistake, they are not missing it.”

Myers agreed.

“I was making quality pitches and some bad ones,” Myers said after Wednesday's game. “When you're making quality pitches and they're getting hit, you're lost.”

But Manuel and Dubee both seemed to indicate that location and pitch selection were the reason for Myers' struggles

[Bonehead]

I love what Vic brings to the team. I hope that he's the CF for years to come.
But, he does take some interesting, winding routes to some of the fly balls hit his way, doesn't he?

[clout]

And from the day he was sent down, which Dubee said mechanical problems were at the root of Myers inability to locate.

"Myers has had to overcome an overall loss of command and periods where he's abandoned his fastball and curveball."

BTW, several posters on this board, (I think sophist was one) kept noting Myers puzzling pitch selection when he was struggling, throwing far more sliders and fewer fastballs and sometimes hardly throwing the curve at all.

[clout]

Bonehead: That last out to Vic was way tougher than it should've been. The ball hit to Bruntlett, which he misjudged then had to recover on, was a fake-out, as the announcers noted. The hitter took a huge swing and it looked off the bat as if it would go to the wall but it just totally died. A lot of guys would've been fooled on that one. But the ball to Vic, while hard-hit, should've been fairly routine.

[John]

The friend I'm seeing today's game with got his tickets from a Mets employee.

Said employee just called him and said today's game is postponed, will be played at 2:15 tomorrow.

Haven't seen it anywhere else, but since I know both of these guys and trust them, I thought I'd throw it out there.

[John]

Now being reported on Metsblog as well. I'm relieved because I was about to make the drive up there for the game. And frankly, while a doubleheader split is likely, a sweep either way is not out of the question. Phils can pull it off, especially if they can take game one.

[Jack]

John: The Phils can pull off a sweep ONLY if they win Game 1.

Good point to whoever said that imagine if we had that Myers last year starting one of the playoff games. Last night was exactly why you use a guy as talented as Myers as a starter for as long as possible. It's why the Cubs held out on Kerry Wood as a starter for so long, until they finally came to the conclusion he just couldn't handle all the innings. A top starter is just worth much more than a top closer.

[birds]

Boy, it is going to be a circus out there in Flushing tomorrow. US Open, day/night doubleheader......

Ozark: Lidge making it interesting doesn't worry me. Don't get me wrong, I am pacing around my apartment the whole time; but I think that sometimes he (and other elite closers) need the pressure of the baserunners to dial it up. I would be great to always go 1-2-3, but that he doesn;t does not mean he is struggling, in my opinion. It just makes him a closer who thrives on the pressure.

[John]

Ha! Good point. I need some caffeine.

[jobbers]

Lauber also says game off, playing 2.15pm tomorrow

http://www.delawareonline.com/blogs/phillies.html

[bay_area_phan]

clout: I agree with you that Myers' loss of velocity was a little over-analyzed. He was still throwing 89 or 90, which is hard enough to get people out. His main problem was not with velocity but with location.

That said, there is no question that he is throwing much harder since he came back from his stint in the minors. This isn't the main reason for his improvement, but it doesn't exactly hurt him either. Whether you're a fast ball pitcher or a curve ball pitcher, you're going to throw fast balls. With a 93 MPH fast ball, you can get away with a mistake or two that you couldn't get away with if you were throwing 89.

I would also venture to guess that Myer's improved velocity is not unrelated to his improved location. Earlier in the season, his mechanics were all screwed up, which resulted in BOTH a loss of velocity and a loss of location. The return of his velocity is sort of an index that his mechanics are back in shape.

[B-Mac]

Does anyone know if the game will end up being televised, since it's a fox game? It would be really irritating to have Mets-Phillies only on the radio.

[Sophist]

I thought these two points in Lauber's blog were interesting, though one is more or less gossip:

Joe Blanton will start Monday night against the Marlins at Citizens Bank Park. No word yet on Tuesday night, although it's likely J.A. Happ will get the start. Brett Myers will pitch Wednesday in the finale against Florida, and Kyle Kendrick most likely will pitch Thursday night against the Brewers.

...

Greg Golson stole second base in his major-league debut Wednesday night in Washington. Great play, right? Wrong. Davey Lopes wasn't happy with Golson, who probably shouldn't have been running in that situation.

[Sophist]

Here's something else from Lauber:

According to the Elias Sports Bureau, eight of the 15 doubleheaders played in the majors this season have resulted in sweeps

[jobbers]

Sophist: re. Golsons steal

in an article on phillies.com it mentions that Lopes was against the steal while at the beginning of the article it says Manuel gave him the 'green light' to go

[bay_area_phan]

MLB.com is already showing the game as postponed.

[jobbers]

of course the link (hope it all gets through)

http://philadelphia.phillies.mlb.com/
news/article.jsp?ymd=20080905&content_id=3422958&vkey=
news_phi&fext=.jsp&c_id=phi

[Sophist]

jobbers - Here's what the delaware online article says:

Golson said he thought he had a green light from manager Charlie Manuel.

And, of course, having a green light doesn't mean you can go whenever you feel like it. If Golson had starting running before the pitcher even began his wind-up, would you defend him by saying "Manuel gave him the green light"?

[Mike]

Game 2 of the doubleheader is scheduled for Sunday Night Baseball on ESPN, according to phillies.com.

[Sophist]

Here's what the article says: In his assignment as a pinch-runner, Golson took his place with what he said was a green light from manager Charlie Manuel and the voice in his head saying not to do what his friend Michael Bourn did in his 2006 debut. [...] Don't get picked off, and find a good pitch on which to run.

So whether or not Manuel gave him a green light isn't verified. But that's not what at issue. Having a green light means if you find a good pitch to run on, you can run - don't get picked off. In Lopes' judgement, Golson ran on a bad pitch. It was a pitch-out after all. Something Golson didn't even recognize.

[Dicke Thon]

"According to the Elias Sports Bureau, eight of the 15 doubleheaders played in the majors this season have resulted in sweeps"

Yay! Banal statistics.

[don]

Bap did you see Vic manufacture that run all by his lonesome last night? No one in front or behind got a hit. I am still "kvetching". But someone has to point it out.

[mike cunningham]

i'm a little unsure why Golson shouldn't have run. There were two outs. Dobbs was up. Games tied. There was a possibility they might have walked dobbs after that to get to victorino, but I doubt that.

Had dobbs singled... without the bag, at best it would have been 1st and 3rd with 2 outs.

I don't see the problem.

[mike cunningham]

@sophist- that's the only question right. It was an 0-1 count he ran on, so the likelihood of a pitchout was higher than 1-0.

But if you run on first movement, you can't "recognize" a pitch out anyway.

[bay_area_phan]

don: If your point is that it was stupid to bench Vic in favor of the horrible Eric Bruntlett, you are preaching to the choir. If your point is that Vic, alone, would have accounted for 2 extra runs in 2 ABs -- even though no one ahead of, or behind, him got any hits, then you are basing your argument on a scenario that had about a 1 in 5,000 chance of actually occurring.

[Sophist]

mike - the problem with Golson stealing wasn't the general situation. In a late tie game, that's why Golson is put on the bases. The problem is with the pitch he decided to steal on. Or do you think you know better than Lopes.

Dicke Thon - Right. There was some debate on here yesterday re: the results of double-headers. Elias SB had an answer.

[joe l]

Yeah, the pitch out recognition thing left me a little baffled too.

[Sophist]

Mike - Why was Lopes upset with Golson?

[EastFallowfield]

Tomorrow's day game will be on SNY in the NY area.

No word of TV on the Phillies site. Anyone who wants to see the game may have to head to a sports bar or Shea itself.

[don]

Agreed Bap, I just thought it was funny how he came out and manufactured a run like that right after our discussion. And when he did I wondered to myself if you took note. It was a good thing.

[TJH]

Hey guys I have 4 tix at shea for todays game that is postponed now. I can't get to the make up game tomorrow. If anyone is intrested in them and get to the coatesville/exton/west chester area to pick em up drop me an email tjholman96@gmail.com

[michael]

the game tomorrow should be on CW or CSN in philly. fox only has rights to black out saturday afternoon games, thats it.

[Bedrosian's Beard]

Golson was safe by a mile and it was a PITCH OUT. I have no problem with swiping the bag.

[diehard]

In the article it mentioned Lopes didn't agree with him stealing because Dobbs was pinch hitting, and if Golson was throw out they would've had to put Dobbs in the OF for Golson or lose Dobbs as a PH.

[EastFallowfield]

Don't know if Phils broadcast is ready to go or not. Since both games were supposed to be on other networks, they might have packed up and left last night.

[EastFallowfield]

Yo, new thread.

[Mark B.]

Way to Go Myers. Go Phillies -- Go Get Um in the doubleheader.