Doc Manuel's Opening Day Starter [Going on 3 Updates]
Brett Myers acted as bookends for the Phillies 200
7 season. He started the first game of the year and closed out the final game of the year.
To the surprise of many, he'll start the 2008 season off as well.
Many assumed that the opening day nod would go to King Cole, but Charlie Manuel called the scribes into his office today and announced that no, contrary to convention wisdom, it'll be Myers on March [!] 31st.
Manuel's reasoning, publicly, is "matchups". But I think it's more Dr. Manuel practicing some of his folksy brand of psychology. He wants Myers knowing he has to start thinking like a starter again, and he doesn't want Myers wondering if he'll be drafted as closer again with Brad Lidge going under the knife. Just in case there was any doubt, you're a starter, dern it. It's not that he wants to label Myers the ace, he wants to perma-stamp him a starter for all the doubters, including Brett. Myers will not serve as bookends two years in a row.
Some might see it as mind games, but when you consider how Manuel guided the Phillies through the chronic crisis that was last season, can you argue with this move? No.
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Update: Looks like I'm not the only one that sees it this way.
On-the-other-hand update: Beerleaguer tends to think it really is for matchups' sake, but those are a lot of "ifs" that have to come together.
Third-time's-the-charm update: Looks like there's a lot of psychology going on. Pitching coach Rich Dubee, via T-Zo:
"We wanted to free Brett's mind up," pitching coach Rich Dubee said after last night's exhibition game against Florida State University was canceled because of rain. "He's talked about if [Brad] Lidge is down, he could be the closer. I don't want Brett looking forward to being a closer. We want Brett preparing for opening day. So that was part of it.
"And unselfishly, Brett went into the bullpen last year. He accepted it, and did a hell of a job for us. He showed he was a pretty good team player for doing so. So part of it was a reward for him: 'Hey, listen, we're glad you're in this with us for the long haul, so here's a little bit of a reward.' "
