But with closer Brad Lidge injured and Myers' success in that role last season, the Phillies wanted to make sure Myers knows they expect him to pitch, and pitch well, in the starting rotation.
"I don't want Brett looking forward to being a closer," pitching coach Rich Dubee said. "I want Brett preparing for Opening Day."
The Phillies decided the best way to accomplish that was to announce Myers as their starter an hour before the scheduled start of last night's rained-out exhibition against Florida State at Bright House Field.
Manager Charlie Manuel didn't pinpoint a reason why he made the decision, mentioning both setting up the rotation "the way we want it" and the following week's series against the Mets as factors.
All spring training, Manuel has gone out of his way to stress the fact that he views Myers as a top-of-the-rotation pitcher. At one point about a week ago, he called Myers and Hamels "No. 1 and No. 1A." Yesterday, while sitting behind a desk in the manager's office at Bright House Field, he told reporters that "both of them, to me, are No. 1."
From a mental perspective, Myers appears to have the most to gain from getting the ball on Opening Day. After the team announced that Lidge would undergo arthroscopic knee surgery and be sidelined 3 to 6 weeks, Dubee said he was concerned that Myers might get the impression that he would eventually end up back in the bullpen, as he did last season when the Phillies needed a replacement for then-closer Tom Gordon.
