Brett Myers
Encyclopedia
Brett Allen Myers is a right-handed pitcher
in Major League Baseball
who is currently playing for the Houston Astros
.
. As a senior at Englewood High School
, he posted an 8–2 record and an 0.80 ERA
in 78.0 innings pitched. He was an amateur boxer when he was a teenager. Myers attended Englewood High with Rashean Mathis
, cornerback
for the Jacksonville Jaguars
.
at Wrigley Field
. He finished his rookie season 4–5 with an earned run average
of 4.25, pitching 72 innings. Myers also pitched the season with the Phillies, posting 14 wins in 32 starts. He threw his first career shutout in June 2003 against the Boston Red Sox
.
.
in Colorado, beginning a streak of ten consecutive games where he pitched at least six innings.
Tom Gordon
was sent to the disabled list because of rotator cuff inflammation on May 2, Myers took over in the closer role for the team. Following Gordon's return from the DL, Myers remained in the closer role due to his effectiveness in the position.
On May 25, 2007, Myers went on the disabled list for the first time in his career with a strained right shoulder. However, he returned in July to finish the year with 21 saves, remaining as the Philadelphia closer for the rest of the season. As the Opening Day starter and then the closer, Myers threw the first and last pitches of the 2007 season, and was on the mound as the Phillies clinched their first playoff spot in 14 years. He proved to be a successful reliever, going 5–5 with a 2.87 ERA in 48 relief appearances.
beat writer Sam Carchidi after Myers gave up two home runs against the San Diego Padres
. Comments made by both the player and the reporter sent Myers into a profanity-laced verbal tirade with Carchidi in which Myers called him a "retard" and threatened to knock him out, while other members of the Phillies and Philadelphia media tried to separate the two.
. Though Myers expressed a desire to remain in the bullpen, he was willing to fulfill whatever role the team required.
During spring training 2008, Myers spearheaded an elaborate prank on Kyle Kendrick
involving a fake trade to Japan. The prank was notably successful, with manager Charlie Manuel
, then-assistant general manager Ruben Amaro, Jr.
, the Phillies clubhouse, Kendrick's agent
, and the press corps all in on the joke. Kendrick was completely fooled until Myers jumped in from behind, shouting "You know what I say? You just got punk'd!
"
to cover the number of runs he surrendered. Through the first two months of the season, Myers posted only three wins, as opposed to six losses. His statistics went into a downward spiral as the season progressed, posting a 3–2 record in March and April, a 1–4 record in May, and not winning a single game in June; he went nearly a month without notching a single victory. On July 1, Myers agreed to be optioned down to the minors to address his mechanical issues and focus on pitching. It was reported that he would make at least three starts for the Phillies' Triple-A affiliate, the Lehigh Valley IronPigs
, in Allentown, Pennsylvania
. He did make one start for the Phillies AA affiliate, the Reading Phillies
, and one start for the class-A Clearwater Threshers
, to maintain his five-day pitching schedule. He returned to the Phillies and started against the New York Mets
on July 23, but did not factor in a decision until his second game back against the Washington Nationals
on July 29, where he won his fourth game of the year. Myers pitched strongly through the second half of the season, posting a 7–2 record and a 1.80 ERA heading into the final month of the season. On September 19, he gave up five runs to the first five batters of the game. On October 2, Myers won his first playoff start by pitching seven innings against the Milwaukee Brewers
, giving up two earned runs. Myers' next playoff start highlighted his batting skills, as he posted three RBIs and won the game. In the 2008 World Series
, he lost his only start in Game 2.
. Tests revealed a torn labrum in the hip, which required surgery. Myers underwent the procedure in June and was placed on the disabled list.
On August 15, 2009, Myers was forced to miss his rehab start after an eye injury. The Phillies originally said Myers injured his eye while playing catch with his 4 year old son, but Myers changed the story and stated that he slipped out of his truck and hit his face on Friday night.
He returned to the Phillies on September 4 and pitched out of the bullpen the following day. It was speculated in the media that Myers would be used in the closer's role again because of Brad Lidge's struggles. However, the possibility was shot down by Phillies manager Charlie Manuel who said Myers "has soreness, which is kind of normal because he missed so much time." After the 2009 World Series
, Myers filed for free agency after the Phillies informed him that they would not be pursuing a new contract with him.
.
On August 1, 2010, Myers agreed to a two-year extension. The contract has been included with a club option for the 2013 season. Myers finished 10th in the 2010 NL Cy Young Voting.
street after an argument. The Phillies received criticism from some media members and women's organizations for not benching Myers. Myers took a short leave of absence from the team. During a pre-trial hearing on October 5, 2006, Kim Myers indicated that she did not want her husband prosecuted, and despite the prosecutor's insistence of filing charges, the case was dismissed. The couple has been in marriage counseling
since the arrest.
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
who is currently playing for the Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
.
High school career
Myers was born and raised in Jacksonville, FloridaJacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Florida in terms of both population and land area, and the largest city by area in the contiguous United States. It is the county seat of Duval County, with which the city government consolidated in 1968...
. As a senior at Englewood High School
Englewood High School (Jacksonville, Florida)
Englewood High School is a public high school located on Jacksonville, Florida's southside.Rich in tradition and pride, Englewood High School was constructed in 1956 and exemplifies the concept of a "neighborhood school." Located on on the Southside of Jacksonville, Florida, this school is one of...
, he posted an 8–2 record and an 0.80 ERA
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
in 78.0 innings pitched. He was an amateur boxer when he was a teenager. Myers attended Englewood High with Rashean Mathis
Rashean Mathis
Rashean Jamil Mathis is an American football cornerback currently playing for the Jacksonville Jaguars of the NFL.-High school:Mathis attended Englewood High School in Jacksonville at the same time as Brett Myers of the Houston Astros, and was a student and a letterman in football. In football, he...
, cornerback
Cornerback
A cornerback is a member of the defensive backfield or secondary in American and Canadian football. Cornerbacks cover receivers, to defend against pass offenses and make tackles. Other members of the defensive backfield include the safeties and occasionally linebackers. The cornerback position...
for the Jacksonville Jaguars
Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars are a professional American football team based in Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
.
2002–2003: Early career
Myers made his major league debut in the summer of , starting on July 24 against the Chicago CubsChicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
at Wrigley Field
Wrigley Field
Wrigley Field is a baseball stadium in Chicago, Illinois, United States that has served as the home ballpark of the Chicago Cubs since 1916. It was built in 1914 as Weeghman Park for the Chicago Federal League baseball team, the Chicago Whales...
. He finished his rookie season 4–5 with an earned run average
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
of 4.25, pitching 72 innings. Myers also pitched the season with the Phillies, posting 14 wins in 32 starts. He threw his first career shutout in June 2003 against the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
.
2004
Expectations for Myers were high entering the season; however, these were tempered somewhat by his 11–11 record. He pitched his second career shutout in May and recorded a five-game losing streak from June 22 to July 23, receiving minimal run support from the Phillies offense. 2004 was Myers' strongest year on offense, posting a .196 batting average and tying for the team lead in sacrifice hits with Randy WolfRandy Wolf
Randall Christopher Wolf is a left-handed pitcher for the Milwaukee Brewers of Major League Baseball. Randy's older brother Jim is a Major League umpire. Unlike his brother Jim and Houston Astros relief pitcher Ross Wolf, Randy is a boss...
.
2005
The season was a strong one for Myers, as he posted 13 wins and a career-low ERA of 3.72. He struck out 208 batters in 215⅓ innings and threw two complete games over the course of the season.2006
Building on his performance from 2005, Myers was the Phillies' staff ace in , leading the team in wins, ERA, starts, innings pitched, strikeouts, and winning percentage. He became the first visiting pitcher to win a 1–0 game at Coors FieldCoors Field
Coors Field, located in Denver, Colorado, is the home field of Major League Baseball's Colorado Rockies. It is named for the Coors Brewing Company of Golden, Colorado, which purchased the naming rights to the park prior to its completion in 1995...
in Colorado, beginning a streak of ten consecutive games where he pitched at least six innings.
2007: Finding a new role
On February 1, 2007, the Phillies announced they had agreed to a 3-year, $25.75 million contract extension with Myers. He was also slated to start Opening Day for the Phillies. However, because of general ineffectiveness and injuries to other pitchers, Myers was moved to the bullpen on April 18, after only three starts. When then-closerCloser (baseball)
In baseball, a closing pitcher, more frequently referred to as a closer , is a relief pitcher who specializes in closing out games, i.e., getting the final outs in a close game. Closers often appear when the score is close, and the role is often assigned to a team's best reliever. A small number of...
Tom Gordon
Tom Gordon
Thomas Gordon , nicknamed "Flash", is a former Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher. He played with the Kansas City Royals , Boston Red Sox , Chicago Cubs , Houston Astros , Chicago White Sox , New York Yankees , Philadelphia Phillies and the...
was sent to the disabled list because of rotator cuff inflammation on May 2, Myers took over in the closer role for the team. Following Gordon's return from the DL, Myers remained in the closer role due to his effectiveness in the position.
On May 25, 2007, Myers went on the disabled list for the first time in his career with a strained right shoulder. However, he returned in July to finish the year with 21 saves, remaining as the Philadelphia closer for the rest of the season. As the Opening Day starter and then the closer, Myers threw the first and last pitches of the 2007 season, and was on the mound as the Phillies clinched their first playoff spot in 14 years. He proved to be a successful reliever, going 5–5 with a 2.87 ERA in 48 relief appearances.
Media confrontation
On August 25, 2007, Myers was involved in an altercation with The Philadelphia InquirerThe Philadelphia Inquirer
The Philadelphia Inquirer is a morning daily newspaper that serves the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, metropolitan area of the United States. The newspaper was founded by John R. Walker and John Norvell in June 1829 as The Pennsylvania Inquirer and is the third-oldest surviving daily newspaper in the...
beat writer Sam Carchidi after Myers gave up two home runs against the San Diego Padres
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
. Comments made by both the player and the reporter sent Myers into a profanity-laced verbal tirade with Carchidi in which Myers called him a "retard" and threatened to knock him out, while other members of the Phillies and Philadelphia media tried to separate the two.
2007–08 offseason
In the off-season, the Phillies had announced that Myers would return to the rotation in , since they had traded for all-star closer Brad LidgeBrad Lidge
Bradley Thomas "Brad" Lidge is a reliever who is currently a free agent. Nicknamed "Lights Out", he is the all-time leader in strikeouts per nine innings among pitchers with at least 200 appearances in their career...
. Though Myers expressed a desire to remain in the bullpen, he was willing to fulfill whatever role the team required.
"I liked having the chance to pitch every day or every other day as opposed to every fifth day," said Myers. "I'll do whatever the team needs. I've started my whole career so I'm ready to get back to it."
During spring training 2008, Myers spearheaded an elaborate prank on Kyle Kendrick
Kyle Kendrick
Kyle Rodney Kendrick is a relief pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies of Major League Baseball.-High school:...
involving a fake trade to Japan. The prank was notably successful, with manager Charlie Manuel
Charlie Manuel
Charles Fuqua Manuel, Jr. is a former Major League Baseball and Nippon Professional Baseball outfielder and current Major League Baseball manager of the Philadelphia Phillies...
, then-assistant general manager Ruben Amaro, Jr.
Rubén Amaro, Jr.
Rubén Amaro, Jr. is the general manager of the Philadelphia Phillies.He is also a former Major League Baseball outfielder who played from to . He is the son of former infielder Rubén Amaro, Sr....
, the Phillies clubhouse, Kendrick's agent
Sports agent
A sports agent procures and negotiates employment and endorsement contracts for an athlete.In return, the sports agent generally receives between 4 and 10% of the athlete's playing contract, and 10 to 20% of the athlete's endorsement contract, though these figures vary...
, and the press corps all in on the joke. Kendrick was completely fooled until Myers jumped in from behind, shouting "You know what I say? You just got punk'd!
Punk'd
Punk'd is an American hidden camera/practical joke reality television series that first aired on MTV in 2003 and was created by Ashton Kutcher and Jason Goldberg, produced and hosted by Ashton Kutcher. It bore a resemblance to both the classic hidden camera show Candid Camera and to TV's Bloopers...
"
2008: Struggles arise
Myers was the Opening Day starter for the Phillies in 2008. Myers opened the 2008 season weakly; though he pitched deep into games, he did not receive enough run supportRun support
Run support is a baseball statistic used to assess a starting pitcher's good fortune. It measures how many runs were scored by his team on average when he starts. It is considered a somewhat important statistic because a team earn wins by holding its opponents to fewer runs than it scores...
to cover the number of runs he surrendered. Through the first two months of the season, Myers posted only three wins, as opposed to six losses. His statistics went into a downward spiral as the season progressed, posting a 3–2 record in March and April, a 1–4 record in May, and not winning a single game in June; he went nearly a month without notching a single victory. On July 1, Myers agreed to be optioned down to the minors to address his mechanical issues and focus on pitching. It was reported that he would make at least three starts for the Phillies' Triple-A affiliate, the Lehigh Valley IronPigs
Lehigh Valley IronPigs
The Lehigh Valley IronPigs are a minor league baseball team that plays in the International League. The IronPigs are the Triple-A affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies. The team plays their home games at Coca-Cola Park, which is located in Allentown, Pennsylvania...
, in Allentown, Pennsylvania
Allentown, Pennsylvania
Allentown is a city located in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is Pennsylvania's third most populous city, after Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, and the 215th largest city in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 118,032 and is currently...
. He did make one start for the Phillies AA affiliate, the Reading Phillies
Reading Phillies
The Reading Phillies are a minor league baseball team based in Reading, Pennsylvania, playing in the Eastern Division of the Eastern League. Since the 1967 season, they have been the AA affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies....
, and one start for the class-A Clearwater Threshers
Clearwater Threshers
The Clearwater Threshers are a minor league baseball team that currently plays in the Florida State League. Since 2004, the team competes in the West Division....
, to maintain his five-day pitching schedule. He returned to the Phillies and started against the New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
on July 23, but did not factor in a decision until his second game back against the Washington Nationals
Washington Nationals
The Washington Nationals are a professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C. The Nationals are a member of the Eastern Division of the National League of Major League Baseball . The team moved into the newly built Nationals Park in 2008, after playing their first three seasons in RFK Stadium...
on July 29, where he won his fourth game of the year. Myers pitched strongly through the second half of the season, posting a 7–2 record and a 1.80 ERA heading into the final month of the season. On September 19, he gave up five runs to the first five batters of the game. On October 2, Myers won his first playoff start by pitching seven innings against the Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
, giving up two earned runs. Myers' next playoff start highlighted his batting skills, as he posted three RBIs and won the game. In the 2008 World Series
2008 World Series
The 2008 World Series was the 104th World Series between the American and National Leagues for the championship of Major League Baseball. The Philadelphia Phillies as champions of the National League and the Tampa Bay Rays, as American League champions, competed to win four games out of a possible...
, he lost his only start in Game 2.
2009: Injuries
Myers complained of pain in his right hip during a May 27 game against the Florida MarlinsFlorida Marlins
The Miami Marlins are a professional baseball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. Established in 1993 as an expansion franchise called the Florida Marlins, the Marlins are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Marlins played their home games at...
. Tests revealed a torn labrum in the hip, which required surgery. Myers underwent the procedure in June and was placed on the disabled list.
On August 15, 2009, Myers was forced to miss his rehab start after an eye injury. The Phillies originally said Myers injured his eye while playing catch with his 4 year old son, but Myers changed the story and stated that he slipped out of his truck and hit his face on Friday night.
He returned to the Phillies on September 4 and pitched out of the bullpen the following day. It was speculated in the media that Myers would be used in the closer's role again because of Brad Lidge's struggles. However, the possibility was shot down by Phillies manager Charlie Manuel who said Myers "has soreness, which is kind of normal because he missed so much time." After the 2009 World Series
2009 World Series
The 2009 World Series was the 105th edition of Major League Baseball's championship series. The best-of-seven playoff was contested between the Philadelphia Phillies, champions of the National League and defending World Series champions, and the New York Yankees, champions of the American League...
, Myers filed for free agency after the Phillies informed him that they would not be pursuing a new contract with him.
Houston Astros
On January 8, 2010, Myers agreed to a one-year deal with the Houston AstrosHouston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
.
On August 1, 2010, Myers agreed to a two-year extension. The contract has been included with a club option for the 2013 season. Myers finished 10th in the 2010 NL Cy Young Voting.
Domestic violence incident
On June 23, 2006, Myers was arrested and charged with assault after witnesses saw him punching his wife, Kim Myers on a downtown BostonBoston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
street after an argument. The Phillies received criticism from some media members and women's organizations for not benching Myers. Myers took a short leave of absence from the team. During a pre-trial hearing on October 5, 2006, Kim Myers indicated that she did not want her husband prosecuted, and despite the prosecutor's insistence of filing charges, the case was dismissed. The couple has been in marriage counseling
Relationship counseling
Relationship counseling is the process of counseling the parties of a relationship in an effort to recognize and to better manage or reconcile troublesome differences and repeating patterns of distress...
since the arrest.