Brett Myers left last night's game with an injury. An MRI today revealed a torn labrum in his right hip, and the 28-year-old righty is likely to require season-ending surgery. It's a terrible blow for Myers, who is in a walk year, and for the Phillies. Myers has been a horse for most of his career and, despite pitching through pain this season, was just rounding into shape. What the Phillies, already looking to add a starting pitcher, will now do is up for grabs. For the short term it may mean calling up someone from Triple- or Double-A. Possible candidates include Carlos Carrasco, Vance Worley, and Antonio Bastardo.
With over three million tickets already sold for the season, the Phillies are sure to do something to address the pitching situation. Whatever that may be, Ruben Amaro Jr. is facing his first big test as GM. Does the team go with the young and untried or give up on the future for the present? Myers, one of several homegrown talents on the team, has repeatedly expressed a desire to remain in Philadelphia. It would be very sad for his career there to end in this way.
"Baseball is not a sport for the reactionary." So wrote David Murphy, beat writer for the Philadelphia Daily News, the other day, implicitly nailing much of what is wrong with sports talk radio, blogs, and message boards. I'm counting on Amaro and company but for now there is no joy in Mudville.
