There is speculation that beleaguered pitcher Brett Myers could move back to the bullpen, a role in which he appeared much more comfortable last season.

Myers has been down right awful this year, going 3-9 on the year with a 5.84 ERA. According to a comcastsportsnet.com article, “Since winning consecutive decisions in mid-April, Myers (3-9, 5.84 ERA in 17 starts) is 1-8 in his last 13 starts. The NL East-leading Phillies have won only two of those games.”

Phillies’ manager Charlie Manuel and pitching coach Rich Dubee had a lengthy conversation with their struggling starter before Saturday’s game against the Texas Rangers.

“I talked to (Myers) for quite a while. He’s struggling and trying to find it. Whatever he tries doesn’t seem to work,” Manuel said. “I’ll think about what I want to do the next few days and we’ll come up with something. We don’t have a lot of options.”

The conversation came a day after Myers gave up five runs in two innings in an 8-7 loss in Arlington.

Myers refused to speak with reporters after Friday’s game and has declined subsequent interview requests.

With an off day Monday, the Phillies could skip Myers’ next turn in the rotation, Thursday at Atlanta. Or they could move setup man Chad Durbin (2-1, 1,47 ERA in 30 games) into the rotation.

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