Phillies Send Brett Myers to the Bullpen

In a surprising announcement, Phillies manager Charlie Manuel told FoxSports' Ken Rosenthal that he's going to move Brett Myers to a relief role and Jon Lieber to the starting rotation:

Manuel said he was comfortable using Myers in either the seventh or eighth innings and might even use the former starter to close on days when Philly's regular closer, Tom Gordon, is not available for use.

When asked if this was out of desperation, Manuel replied, "No, I think this is a way of us trying to fix our pitching staff, having the best pitching staff we can have."

Does this move fortify the bullpen or the starting rotation? I'm not sure it does either. In his last two starts, Myers combined for 13 earned runs in less than eight innings, telling reporters afterward that he's pitching like a "scared dog." But Lieber has likewise been awful, giving up three earned runs in 2 1/3 innings over two relief outings. It's possible (and in fact, likely) that Lieber will step up his game once he gets into the regular routine of starting, which he's done on a full-time basis since 1996, but you also have to wonder how long it will take him to get completely stretched out.

If you remember, this is a switch the team considered back in spring training, and it's possible they waited until now to make sure young Cole Hamels would really grab hold of the role as staff ace. While Myers may have the highest ERA on the team, he's certainly not the only starter who's struggling: every starter not named Hamels or Jamie Moyer has pretty much stunk this year. But hey, I'm not going to be the one to question Manuel's decisions.

Previously on FanHouse:
Brett Myers Apologizes for Pitching Like a 'Scared Dog'
Phillies Winning 101: Move Brett Myers to the Bullpen