“It’s easy to get to the big leagues, it’s even harder to stay.” It’s about the fire of competition.
So many of us can have success, the harder part is continuing that success. The biggest part in any person that really succeeds?
Consistency and motivation. It’s motivation and showing up every day, that helped Brett Myers to pitch 12 years in the big leagues; even win a World Series with the Phillies in 2008. Myers also spent time with the Indians, White Sox and Astros.
Just as fast as you can create success, it can disappear. Have the vision for the future and the humility to learn when it isn’t working. That’s what being World-Class is all about.
Myers attributes his toughness and drive to time spent boxing in his youth, deciding as a teen that he would follow his passion as a baseball player and hang up the boxing gloves.
“My whole philosophy was those people were trying to steal my lunch money and I didn’t like it. You know? I feel like you know the day but they were great players, but I had to have that mentality to that was just a competitor, you know, I did not like to lose. I didn’t care. Still, in that mindset that everybody told me is easy to make it to the big leagues, but it’s not but I mean, you know, it’s just but it’s harder to stay. You know, I’ve had I’ve had ups and downs; and in 2008, they sent me down to the minors for you know a month to get my stuff right basically my head right and everything like that.”
– Brett Myers
The Art of Pitching
Myers came up to the big leagues in 2012 for the Phillies, posting a 14-9 record in only his second season. He moved to the closer role in 2007, posting 21 saves. In the 2008 season, Myers spent a month in the minors in an attempt to stretch back out as a starter; an instrumental part of the Phillies 2008 World Series championship.
Myers struggled with elbow trouble in his 30’s, spending time with Houston, Chicago (White Sox) and Cleveland, before eventually retiring.
When I spoke to Myers about the difference between starting and coming into the game from the bullpen, he said he preferred the latter. He explained that it was easier to focus on throwing hard and getting a few hitters out, rather than pitching to an entire lineup multiple times. Typically, the third time through the lineup is difficult for most pitchers and their energy is lower and hitters have had time to study their pattern.
In fact, the third time through the lineup is why Yankees manager, Aaron Boone has gone to the bullpen much quicker this season. A fact referenced by his removing Masahiro Tanaka from game 1 of this year’s American League Championship Series, after only throwing sixty-eight pitches.
Life as a Musician
After 12 seasons playing Major League Baseball, Brett Myers retired to his Florida hometown to be with his family.
What baseball fans didn’t realize, is for years Myers had been playing guitar and writing songs in the off-season.
From the time he was a young boy, Myers always had a love for country, classic and hard rock. However, with his rigorous baseball schedule, he never had a chance to pursue songwriting in a serious manner.
One day while playing golf, he shared some ideas with his musician friend and producer Damien Starkey (Puddle of Mudd, Burn Season), who was blown away by his clever concepts. The two began collaborating and crafting songs in Starkey’s studio.
Before long, it was undeniable that they had a great chemistry and the songs to prove it. Since then, Brett has collaborated with several heavy hitters in the industry including Colt Ford, The LACS and Bottleneck.
In September of 2017 Brett released his 3rd album “Home Brewed”, a perfect blend of Southern Rock and Country anthems about drinking and life in the south. Myers has also been taking his show on the road with his band “The Backwoods Rebels.”
This lineup includes former Shinedown and Fuel guitarist Jasin Todd, Puddle of Mudd guitarist and bassist Adam Latiff and Damien Starkey, Dylan Hess on drums and Zac Gilbert on slide.
With the great response that the shows and albums have received, it is apparent that Myers continues to grow his fan base in both the Country and Southern Rock markets.
Brett Myers sits down with me, Jeremy Ryan Slate, on the latest episode of the Create Your Own Life Show, to talk about baseball, boxing and music.
