Phillies pitcher Brett Myers threw a rehab assignment in Lakewood today with the single A BlueClaws. Brett pitched a scoreless inning, walking one and striking out one, while throwing all his pitches from the stretch. His fastball touched 94 on the generous Lakewood speed gun. Fox 29, Asbury Park Press, Comcast Sports Net, and other outlets were also in attendance. The following is a list of varying topics that Brett spoke on during his time spent speaking with the media.CSN was live on air and ran the first several questions.
Brett spoke on his assignment for the day being a one inning outing, but seemingly lobbying after the one inning, to go out for another...
Yeah. I wanted to go out for another one just, 'cause it went by too quick for me. Wanted to try to get another inning in there, but, hey- I'll take what I can get. Ya know, I feel good. That's the main key.
Brett spoke about the velocity on his pitches...
It's coming along. I'm up a couple miles an hour from when I threw last. I feel really good. I feel like I can get two innings in the next time and be ready to go, hopefully.
Brett spoke on Ruben Amaro's initial desire to have Brett throw about 5 rehab appearances, and if Brett would try to convince the team to shorten that assignment...
Yeah, I mean I want to get back up there as quick as possible, but as soon as the doctor clears me I think I'll be ready to go. I'll do what they need me to do, but I don't feel like that I need to throw too much down here. I feel like I'm close now and give me two innings the next time and we'll see where we can go from there.
Brett spoke about his hip and if he's got any lingering effects the day after pitching...
I haven't felt anything, luckily enough. Which is a good sign. The doctor did a very good job and my velocity is definitely a lot better than it was when I was hurt, so that's not in the back of my mind- pain in the hip or anything. I feel fine. Location was a lot better than it was the other day..the last time I was probably trying to over throw a little too much and today I just tried to go out and let the ball lead and try to hit my spots.
Brett spoke on when his next outing might happen...
It's not clear from the rain out yesterday, so I'm not 100% sure. I'm sure I'll get a phone call later today and they'll let me know.
Brett spoke about what it was like being out so long...
Not too bad, because we're winning up in Philly. I mean they're playing really good ball right now. It's fun to watch on TV, but the only thing that's really tough is watching their success and knowing that I'm not a part of it right now...it's pretty tough for me. They're doing just fine, I just hope I can get back and be able to contribute a little bit.
Brett spoke on being used as a reliever as opposed to a starter...
Like, we said before...for me to come back and be a starter right now would be kind of far fetched. Hopefully, I can just get back and help in the bullpen. Just to be a part of the team and help the team as much as possible.
I asked Brett if he thought his rested body and rested arm would be advantageous or outweigh any rust he might experience during the coming weeks.
I've been throwing for two months now, so it's, everything feels good, everything feels healthy. When you start throwing again, it feels a little rusty at first, but after a week or so of throwing every day, and getting on the mound and stuff like that, and me having 4 or 5 bullpen (sessions) in Florida, then me having simulated games, it's a little bit easier to go out there in game situations to be able to pitch. We'll just see what happens.
Brett spoke on the time table...team wants him to go slow, he might wish to push faster...
I think it more or less goes on how I feel and so far, so good. I think they want to take it a little slower because what happened with the surgery and it's major surgery so...I haven't had any problems with the hip. I've been running on it, I've been doing PFP's (pitchers fielding practice) and stuff like that. I haven't felt anything and each time out I've pushed a lot harder.
I asked Brett what he missed most, aside from the competition during his time away from the team.
Like I said, just being around my teammates and everything. But, you know, it is good to come down here and watch some of the younger kids and help them and see if they have any questions, which is always fun for me too. Just to show them different grips or something like that. Just to try to talk with them and keep their spirits high and tell them what their main goal is. They're working toward the big leagues to help and win a championship.
Brett spoke about his interactions during his two days in Lakewood with the BlueClaws players...
Yeah. I've been here two days and we just talk about stuff, and if they have questions, or whatever, it's fun to talk about baseball with guys and that's one of the things I probably missed the most- just talkin' baseball.
Brett spoke on the changes with the team with the acquisitions of Pedro Martinez and Cliff Lee...
They're lights out right now. I think Cliff definitely helped out a lot of the guys with way he was pitching. They say hitting's contagious, well so is pitching. I think Joe Blanton's stepping up real well, and "Jay" Happ's throwing the ball well. It's fun to watch these guys play, but it's more fun to watch them from the dugout or the bullpen, instead of watching TV.
I asked Brett if he thought anyone on the big roster was underrated at this point.
I don't know. I haven't been there in 3 months. I haven't got to see them play, I'm just watching TV, man.
On when he'd like to rejoin the club...
I'd like to be back tomorrow. If I had the say so, but I know that's not going to happen. But hopefully, I can get through these next rehab starts healthy and help them out in September.
On if he's free of worry from the hip before, during or after an outing..
Yeah, I'm not even worried about it anymore. Usually, the first couple months, or so- how's it gonna feel today? And at this point in time, I'm rolling out of bed, not even worrying about if it's going to be sore or not. There hasn't been any soreness for about two months now. I'm making this progression normally. Everything feels great.
On how much the hip bothered him early this season...
A lot, obviously. Today my velocity was 93/94 and when I was starting is was 88-91. And it definitely was a factor in the back of my mind, if I let one go, I was worried it would lock up or be painful. I'm not even thinking about it anymore.
Brett spoke about difficulty of measuring his progress, when his outing was so brief...
No, 'cause I just go off of how my velocity was and I don't really care about what the final result was. I just wanted to make sure the ball was coming out well, my pitches were working well and trying to get acclimated to coming out of the bullpen.
Brett spoke on how important the final weeks of the season might be, with his impending free agency, on his career...
I'm not even really worried about next year. Right now, we're in a playoff race and we're trying to win the division, and I want to get back and be a part of that again for the third straight year. I just want to be able to contribute to the team.
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