Hip surgery likely for Phillies starter Myers

ONE OF THE KEY aspects of the Phillies' title run last season was their impeccable health. If they are to make a title defense, however, they will have at least one hurdle to clear.

Barring an unexpected prognosis from hip specialist Bryan Kelly, Phillies righthander Brett Myers is headed toward hip surgery and a 3-to-4 month recovery. Should Myers undergo surgery to repair a torn labrum, he is optimistic that he could return to the field in time to participate in the playoffs, should the Phillies advance that far.

Myers' injury is similar to the one that second baseman Chase Utley experienced, according to Myers' agent, Craig Landis. In fact, the Phillies are currently in the process of setting up an appointment with hip specialist Dr. Bryan Kelly, the New York-based doctor who performed Utley's procedure.

In a statement released last night, general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said Myers has bone spurs in his hip joint that were revealed by an X-ray in addition to "fraying and possible tearing in the labrum of the hip."

Utley underwent surgery in November and was back at full strength by mid-March. Myers has only been on the disabled list once in his career - in 2007, when he missed a month with a shoulder strain.

This season, he is 4-3 with 4.66 ERA.

"It's like Chase's," Landis said. "Brett said it's probably a little worse, but they are saying 3 to 4 months, probably 4 months, but Brett is pretty tough, a pretty quick healer. It'll be toward the end [of the season] if at all. If he had surgery, his new goal will be to get it right away and try to get back for Septemenber and certainly October."

As of last night, the Phillies were attempting to arrange a visit to Kelly's office in New York, Landis said. If surgery is deemed necessary, Myers is committed to gettingit done as soon as possible in order to enhance his chances of an autumn return.

But both Landis and the Phillies expect Myers to undergo surgery and are readying their contingency plans.

"It looks like surgery is probably necessary," Landis said.

Landis confirmed that the hip has bothered Myers sporadically over the past few seasons. He acknowledged that the condition could have contributed to the puzzling loss of velocity that Myers has experienced at times over the past 2 years.