The concept of short rest is one the Phillies' starting pitchers are going to have to wrap their heads around in... ahem... short order starting now. After Jamie Moyer picked up his 14th win of the season by turning in nearly six innings of solid ball on just three days rest, Thursday night, Brett Myers might try to pull the same stunt on Sunday.
A lot can happen between now and Sunday, but depending on the reviews of a regular, between-start bullpen session on Friday, Myers likely will declare himself ready to go with just three days rest, as well. But then again Myers would start both ends of a doubleheader if manager Charlie Manuel let him. The point is the Phillies aren't leaving much to chance with just 15 games to go.
"I'll pitch [Thursday], I don't care," Myers said after Wednesday's start. "If it gets us to the playoffs, whatever it takes."
Deep down, Myers probably wasn't joking.
Technically, Manuel has a handful of options for this Sunday's series finale against the Brewers, though only one seems to be a sure bet. So for the sake of argument, let's just say Manuel could choose the following options:
- Kyle Kendrick - Sunday would be his normal turn in the rotation and the young righty has missed just one start (later made up) all year long. However, Kendrick has been downright dreadful in his last six starts. Though he has 11 wins in 29 starts, Kendrick is 1-4 with a 11.35 ERA since Aug. 11. Numbers like that make it difficult for Manuel to be confident with Kendrick on the mound.
- J.A. Happ - The lefty has pitched well in two starts this season, but sending Happ to the mound in the middle of the pennant race for just his fourth big league start seems like a big risk. Happ will have a solid Major League career, but he's not going to be Marty Bystrom for the Phils this year.
- Adam Eaton - Yeah, never mind.
- Brett Myers - The opening day starter has worked on short rest just once in his career, however, last season he pitched nearly every day down the stretch out of the bullpen. Is there a difference? Yeah, most definitely. Nevertheless, the pressure is something Myers thrives on. If the Phillies take the first three games of the series, look for Myers to go after the sweep on Sunday.
Expect a hint about a decision on Friday afternoon.
*** The Phillies added an important insurance run during the eighth inning of Thursday's win over the Brewers with a suicide squeeze from runner Shane Victorino and bunter, Carlos Ruiz. With one out in the inning, Manuel said he waited for the right chance to flash the sign, which came on a 2-1 pitch.
Ruiz laid it down perfectly to allow Victorino to score with ease.
"I guess I'm finally acting like a National League manager," Manuel joked. "I figured it was time to show them I knew the squeeze sign."
The inspiration to give Ruiz the sign came from the catcher himself, Manuel said.
"I heard Ruiz when he went up the steps. He turned around and asked, ‘What's the squeeze sign?' That kind of told me ... he wants to squeeze. Seriously, that's the truth. I figured I might as well let him squeeze."
Good idea.
*** Elsewhere, Bob Ford chronicled the rise of Mr. September, Ryan Howard. The big fella added to his league-leading home run and RBI totals in the win over the Brewers and just might have inserted himself into the MVP discussion again.
Fonzie, Richie Cunningham, Joanie, Chachi, Laverne, Shirley, Jeffrey Dahmer, Liberace, Heather Graham and Todd Zolecki all come from Milwaukee. But only Todd wrote about the Brewers' September swoon and Jamie Moyer's top-shelf effort on short rest.
Coming up: Floyd Landis preparing for a comeback? Plus, regular-season awards.