Myers Situation Mishandled, Phillies President Says

The president of the Philadelphia Phillies says the team made a mistake when it let Brett Myers pitch a day after being arrested and charged with hitting his wife on a Boston street.

President Dave Montgomery, in interviews with two Philadelphia newspapers, said the team mishandled the situation.

“The decision to allow Brett to pitch was wrong,” Montgomery told the Philadelphia Inquirer. “And the reason I believe it was wrong was that an unintended message was sent that we are somehow indifferent to the matter of spousal abuse.”

Myers, the team’s best starter, pleaded not guilty to assault charges at his arraignment on June 23 in Boston Municipal Court. His next court date is Aug. 4

Myers was arguing with his wife shortly after midnight on a Boston street corner, according to a spokesman for the Suffolk County district attorney’s office. Police responded to a 911 call and found Myers’ wife crying and with a swollen face.

The team had been criticized for saying it would not take disciplinary action against Myers until the legal case was resolved.

Myers made his scheduled start on June 24 and pitched five innings in a game the Phillies lost, 5-3, in 10 innings.

On Tuesday, Myers decided to take a leave of absence through the All-Star break, saying he had embarrassed his family and the team.

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San Francisco Giants reliever Tim Worrell was put on the 15-day disabled list because of a bulging disk in his neck. The move was retroactive to Wednesday. Worrell is 3-2 with a 7.52 earned-run average. To fill his spot, right-hander Brian Wilson was recalled from triple-A Fresno.... Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Alex Rios remained in a hospital as doctors continued to treat him for a serious infection in his lower left leg. Rios, who was put on the 15-day disabled list, fouled a ball off his leg during Tuesday’s 6-0 victory over the Washington Nationals, and the area swelled.