"The news was such a bitter disappointment for Brett Myers that he was at a loss for words.

"He just kind of looked at me, went like that, then he got up and left," Charlie Manuel said, shrugging his shoulders in a demonstration of Myers' reaction upon being informed Wednesday night that he was excluded from the Phillies' roster for the National League Championship Series.

Myers, still not in a particularly talkative mood before Thursday's Game 1 at Dodger Stadium, worked hard throughout the summer to recover in only nine weeks from right hip surgery that threatened to end his season and was hoping to contribute to the Phillies' postseason run by pitching in the bullpen.

But he hasn't been effective, especially after suffering a strained muscle in his upper back in September. He made just one appearance in the Division Series against Colorado, loading the bases on two walks and a hit batter in the eighth inning of Game 2.

And with right-hander Chan Ho Park ready to pitch after missing nearly a month with a strained right hamstring, Myers, a free agent this winter, was the choice to be replaced on the roster.

General manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said he talked to Myers separately from Manuel. Asked how Myers reacted during their conversation, Amaro said, "I'll keep that private."

"It was tough for him to take," Amaro continued. "He busted his [butt] to get back from his [hip] injury, and I know that was important to him, to get back and show us and show the industry that he was ready to go, which he is. We just felt like the makeup of our bullpen, the way we wanted to structure this particular series, he wouldn't be part of it."

Thus, the question must be raised: Will Myers be a part of the Phillies' pitching staff next season?

Amaro said the Phillies haven't ruled out re-signing Myers, who could fit in as either a starter or a reliever. Financially, though, it may be difficult. Myers made $12 million this season, and the Phillies already have $104.5 million committed to only 12 players in 2010."