First Surprise from Astro Camp--Myers to Closer!

Myers From Starter to Closer with Astros in 2012

When the word came out from Kissimmee Tuesday morning that Astro pitcher Brett Myers would move from last year’s opening day starter to this season’s closer a lot of speculation was unleashed.


Why is the move being made? Could it mean that Brandon Lyon is not sufficiently healed from his surgery of last season? Could it be a way to make Myers more valuable as a future trade pawn? Could it just be a way to open a spot in the rotation for non-roster veteran Livan Hernandez who is already being afforded elevated status as the first exhibition game starter?


Or could it just be that Myers is the best choice for the job?

It was not a spur of the moment decision. According to Myers he had been called at home about three weeks ago to be asked if he would make the move. “I told them I’d think about it. I had to think about it to see if I could do it since I haven’t closed in five years. I feel like I can do it. They told me it is probably best for the team, so I was all for that. I enjoy the chance to play every day. Every time that phone rings, it could be you. It’s a different mindset. As a starter you try to go 6-7 innings. As a closer, you need to get three outs.”


Manager Brad Mills said GM Jeff Luhnow brought the idea to him originally. After discussing it for a couple of days Mills agreed that if Myers was OK with it, making the change could be a good one.


Myers was much less effective as a starter in 2011 than he had been in 2010 when all but one of his starts lasted at least six innings and he was 14-8 with a 3.14 ERA. Last year his record fell to 7-14 and his ERA ballooned to 4.46. It seemed to take Myers time to get into a groove. He often had rough starts. According to stats dug up by the Houston Chronicle’s Stephen Campbell, Myers was quite ineffective with his first 25 pitches. A batting average of .350 with .382 on base and .571 slugging percentages might cause some concern as he now moves into a role in which his first 25 pitches are more important.


However, too much can be read into those numbers. The job of a starter and closer are different. Myers as a starter was far more concerned with longevity on the mound than immediate success. Perhaps the loss of two or three miles per hour off his average fast ball was a problem and the same pattern he has used in 2010 just didn’t work. In many of his starts his fast ball was well under his 88.4 norm in the first or second innings, but got up to that average and a bit more as the game progressed.

Now, Myers will not be trying to save anything—except the game—when he takes the mound. His job will be to get three outs and nothing more. If he can pitch at 90 with the FB to go with his good breaking balls he will be fine.


Remember, he HAS done it before. In 2007 with the Phillies he moved from the rotation to the pen early in the season and was effective. He saved 21 of 24 games while registering a 2.87 closer ERA. In 38 of 48 relief appearances he was unscored upon.


One caveat goes back to that fastball. In 2007 he had up to four more miles per hour on his average fast ball than he showed last year. Hopefully the return to the pen and objective of going one inning will result in the return of some of that velocity.

Moving Myers to the pen would seem to mean that Brandon Lyon is not deemed ready to return to the closers role. He saved 20 games for the Astros in 2010 before arm miseries began which led to surgery last summer. Of course, if Lyon does come back that could make Myers trade bait by mid season if he is effective.


Being able to start and/or relieve is a pretty valuable skill. Meyers would have it if one of the mid season contenders needs another arm and the Astros are not in a race.