I realize that Myers deserves a good chunk of the responsibility because he really put us in a hole, but he doesn’t deserve all of it.  That error by Howard (his 18th!) was huge.  Durbin came in and did his job.  He got a ground ball that, with a good throw, would have been the second out of the inning.  Then Durbin struck out Francoeur.  That would have ended the inning with only one run scoring and we would have been down 4-3. 

After that Eyre comes in to face Chipper, who hit from the right side.  The next two hitters (Anderson and Johnson) are much less dangerous as well as being left handed hitters.  Instead of being cautious or even avoiding Chipper, Eyre makes a mistake that ends up being a 3-run homerun.  As a result, the Braves scored 6 runs in the inning on only 3 hits!

Back to Myers.  As you know, I was extremely reluctant to accept his turn around and believe that he has remade himself.  I held out for a long time because something in the back of my brain told me that it wasn’t for real.  Well, I finally started to buy in after his 95 pitch complete game on 3 days rest.  Since then, he has been a disaster.  (I’m trying to tell myself to give him a little leeway because he still could have some lingering after effects from pitching on short rest, but this is a bit much.) He is being hit a lot and hit hard.  In his last two starts Myers has given up 16 runs (14 earned) on 19 hits and 4 walks in 8 1/3 innings.  I certainly do not believe that he is this bad of a pitcher.  However, it does reinforce for me that he is not the pitcher he was in his first 11 starts after coming back up from the minors either.  I should have trusted my gut.  I expect Myers to be what he has been.  The best we can expect in the future is production similar to what we got from him in 2005 and 2006.  Now, that’s not terrible, but it’s no better than #3 starter numbers.

Larry Andersen has been all over Myers through these last two starts.  Tonight he was saying that Myers lost whatever rhythm he had during those first 11 starts, that he needs to throw his fastball, that he is pitching scared, that he is back to throwing way too many curveballs and offspeed pitches he is leaving up and over the plate that are getting hammered, and more.

Andersen has also expressed a lot of frustration with the rest of the team as well for their sloppy play, lack of focus, and how they are giving away games.  I know I”ve said it before, but it is great to hear an announcer call it like he sees it without sugar coating it or worrying about making players look bad.  He would fit right in with us in the blogosphere.

As of right now, the Cubs and Mets are tied at 6 in the bottom of the 9th, and the Brewers are leading the Pirates 4-1 in the top of the 8th.  I hate the fact that I am watching the scoreboard and hoping for help.  Everything is still within our control.  It’s time to start playing like it.  It looks like we will need to be backed into a corner, as usual, before we respond.

The good thing for us is that Jo Jo Reyes is pitching for the Braves tonight.  He really is lousy, so I would expect to see the offense bounce back and put up some big numbers.

We will also get to see if Myers’ last start was just a lone clunker during his fantastic second half or if he could be losing the mojo he’s had going.

I’m hoping to catch a break from the Cubs tonight.  Even though Pinella has starting sitting a few of his regulars, Zambrano is pitching.  A good start from him would be very helpful.

Nine guys, two of whom are basically useless — Eaton and Stairs — will account for $70 M off the top.  Five more will cost at least $15 M in arbitration, and it’s easy to envision the Phils trying to lock up two of them this year — Hamels and Victorino — to bigger long term deals.  Want Moyer back?  That’s at least another $5 M.  Add the $3 M they have left on Jim Thome’s deal and that adds up to $93 M… for essentially half a roster, no extensions.  That’s NOT INCLUDING Howard,  NOT INCLUDING Burrell or a reasonable replacment, NOT INCLUDING any new pitchers, most of the bullpen [because this includes only 2 relievers, Lidge and Romero], or any catchers [since it doesn't include Ruiz or Coste, either].  So, they’re going to spend that $30-40 M more regardless.   And, if they can’t get Howard under a long term deal, I’d say the chances of him leaving are pretty high. 

I’m not really happy about it but, again, if the Phils know there is no way they can or will pay him what he wants and he won’t accept less, they simply must trade him and get everything they can in return rather than just let him walk away. 

Good find, Pete.

 Buster Olney: (1:51 PM ET ) Matt: Cain for Howard or Fielder in some kind of deal makes a whole lot of sense for all sides. It’ll be an interesting winter for Matt Cain, I suspect.

 Buster Olney: (1:53 PM ET ) Ed: Nobody with the Phillies has told me that. But execs with other teams think that will be the first move made by the incoming GM — to assess Howard’s trade value, given how he’s climbing up the arbitration ladder, and given the fact that talks about a multi-year deal haven’t worked out.