The news just isn’t getting any better for the already thin Phillies bullpen.
Righty Brett Myers will leave the team to have his throwing shoulder examined in Philly on Tuesday, according to MLB.com’s Todd Zolecki.
Myers hasn’t taken the mound in more than a week and this weekend General Manager Ruben Amaro admitted that Myers was feeling soreness in the back of his throwing shoulder, reported Zolecki.
But was the examination more a precaution to make sure Myers is ready for the important postseason or could the righty be hurt enough to miss more time?
"I don't think it's real serious. I have some stiffness and tightness and they want me to go get it checked out," said Myers to MLB.com Sunday night.
The righty should be back, he said.
But was Myers hurt because he rushed back from hip surgery?
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"I don't think he came back too quick," Amaro said to the Daily News. "I think probably the change of role and pitching a lot [affected him]."
With just two week left in the season the Phightins can ill-afford to lose another bullpen arm. Lefties J.C. Romero, Scott Eyre and Jack Taschner and right-hander Chan Ho Park were already on the mend leaving slim pickings for Manager Charlie Manuel when he makes the call to the pen.
Sorry but a pen made up of Tyler Walker, Brad Lidge, Sergio Escalona, Jamie Moyer, Kyle Kendrick, Ryan Madson, Chad Durbin and Clay Condrey doesn’t exactly strike fear into opposing batters.
Imagine all the antacids fans would need relying on that group of pitchers to get the final few outs in a playoff game? Not a single one of the current relievers consistently pitched effectively this season except for Escalona and Walker who both spent time jumping between the Phillies and the minors.
So the best bet for Phillies fans is to hope. Condrey was out for a while and recently came back and if Eyre, Romero and Park can get back for the playoffs then the Phillies should be OK.
