Andrew Miller progress thread

[Dojji]

OK let's get the obvious out of the way about last night's start.

 

Most pitchers don't walk 4 and surrender 6 hits over 5 innings and have it said of them, that they pitched well, much less getting compared to team aces.

 

On the other hand? That start by Miller? It reminds me a lot of some of the starts by Lester in 06 and 07 when he was just getting his stuff under control, back when I called him Teflon Jon for his knack of wriggling out of the big inning when something like this comes around. Little wild, left it up too often, but he battled, made some key pitches, fought his way through 5 innings and left with a lead.

 

For Miller, that's progress. This is a guy who's spent most of his major league career getting lit up when things get out of control and he showed the ability to buckle down and put the lid back on. I'll take that. I'd rather he dominate every start of course, but I still think this start is more of a good sign than a bad one when you consider what this kid has been and the maturity he showed pushing through a bad start to get 5 and a win out of it..

[SoxFanForsyth]

He's definitely got some work ahead of him. Had a hard time finding the strike zone last night, (57.7% strikes). First inning, the one that killed him, he got behind of just about every hitter he faced. I think he may have had 2 first pitch strikes in the 6 men he faced. After that, he seemed to settle down a little bit at least.

 

I'd say he was a little nervous facing an AL East opponent for the first time, and that's understandable. I think we'll have a better take as to what he can bring to the table in just a few more starts. His velocity that was advertised at 95-97 is really 89-92, which is confusing. Regardless, he's 3-0, the Sox are 4-0 in games he's started, and he's got a 3.57 ERA. He needs to work on getting ahead of the hitters better, and being more efficient.

 

The one thing he really needs to work on is a put away pitch. He doesn't seem to have anything that can mow someone down in an 0-2 or 1-2 count.

[Palodios]

His velocity that was advertised at 95-97 is really 89-92' date=' which is confusing.[/quote']

 

Is this true? I'm curious if the Red Sox management had him cut down on his pitch speed in order for him to better harnass his control. The lower pitch speed actually makes me more optimistic because it says he has even that much further to improve.

[SoxFanForsyth]

Is this true? I'm curious if the Red Sox management had him cut down on his pitch speed in order for him to better harnass his control. The lower pitch speed actually makes me more optimistic because it says he has even that much further to improve.

 

That's what I heard, namely from Peter Gammons -

 

Miller’s likely insertion into the starting rotation comes at the right time, and it allows the Sox to keep Miller from going elsewhere. Gammons noted that other teams aggressively pursued Miller, perhaps crossing the line in the process.

 

“They want to see exactly what they have in Miller,” Gammons said. “The other night [in Pawtucket] he was 93-98, he had seven swings and misses on fastballs. He’s had three walks in his last 26 2/3 innings. If this guy is back to where he was five years ago — by far the best college pitcher in the sport — then they really have something. He’s either going to be a really good reliever or a fascinating starter. You might as well start finding out now.

 

Also, here's another place where they claim he pumps about 97.

 

Change has done Andrew Miller a world of good

09:39 PM EDT on Saturday, June 25, 2011

By BRIAN MacPHERSON

Journal Sports Writer

Andrew Miller elicited Randy Johnson comparisons throughout his college career, showing off a 97-mph fastball and a hard, biting slider in the mid-80s. He didn’t really have a third pitch, but his two pitches were enough to make him a first-round draft choice in 2006.

[Palodios]

I was a little unclear there-- I knew he had the velocity. I was just surprised he's been throwing high 80s, low 90s.

[d-money]

I wanna know where the velocity has gone?I am not seeing 94.I am seeing more of 91.

[jacksonianmarch]

He's been bad and lucky, and only the biggest homer can look at his stint in the bigs thus far as anything but. He's walked nearly a batter every 2 innings, his WHIP is a tick under 1.60 and he's gone past 6 innings no times. And for a guy with a ton of advertised power, he's struck out only 13 batters in 22.2IP. And all of this against teams that cannot hit. His 4 appearances were vs the #19, #21, #23, and #29 offenses in terms of runs scored in the game. AND, two of those games had no DH. Guys, this kid has talent, but his first 4 starts have been unimpressive. Doesnt mean he wont kick it into gear, but there is no other way to put it right now

[a700hitter]

He has been underwhelming so far, but good enough to hold down the 5th spot.

[SoxFanForsyth]

He's been bad and lucky' date=' and only the biggest homer can look at his stint in the bigs thus far as anything but. He's walked nearly a batter every 2 innings, his WHIP is a tick under 1.60 and he's gone past 6 innings no times. And for a guy with a ton of advertised power, he's struck out only 13 batters in 22.2IP. And all of this against teams that cannot hit. His 4 appearances were vs the #19, #21, #23, and #29 offenses in terms of runs scored in the game. AND, two of those games had no DH. Guys, this kid has talent, but his first 4 starts have been unimpressive. Doesnt mean he wont kick it into gear, but there is no other way to put it right now[/quote']

 

I think Miller may be so afraid of walking hitters right now that he's not throwing the ball like he can. You gotta believe it's in the back of his head that he's gotta throw strikes or this may be one of his last chances, and so he may be cutting down on his velocity to try to have a little bit better control. As he develops and gains confidence, I think his velocity will increase, and with the increase in velocity, I think we'll see those AAA K numbers start to translate.

[jacksonianmarch]

That is very possible. I dont know what to think about him right now, as I have seen his FB reach mid 90s and have also seen him sit around 89-90 in his 4 starts. I've seen a changeup that looks solid and a change that flops up there like a batting practice pitch. His breaking ball the same way. His issue, as it is with all tall pitchers, is repetition. And he still doesnt have it down.

[redsoxbeatz]

Why do tall pitchers have more issues than shorter ones?

 

Miller has shown he has good stuff in AAA. I hope that "stuff" begins to translate. Red Sox have good, I assume I don't know, pitching staff to help Miller get into a groove.

[Dojji]

Is this true? I'm curious if the Red Sox management had him cut down on his pitch speed in order for him to better harnass his control. The lower pitch speed actually makes me more optimistic because it says he has even that much further to improve.

 

It's exaggerated. What I'm seeing from the radar looks more like 91-93 on the heat, not sure where that 89 is coming from at all. He definitely has the ability to crank it up, not surprised that he traded a few MPH for better command, a lot of young kids do that then if they get the command down the velocity magically returns and sometimes even increases. THat's what happened with Lester.

[SoxFanForsyth]

It's exaggerated. What I'm seeing from the radar looks more like 91-93 on the heat' date=' not sure where that 89 is coming from at all. He definitely has the ability to crank it up, not surprised that he traded a few MPH for better command, a lot of young kids do that then if they get the command down the velocity magically returns and sometimes even increases. THat's what happened with Lester.[/quote']

 

Not exaggerated at all. He was sitting around 89-91 the entire time @HOU.

[Dojji]

So, one start? Sounds like an outlier to me.

 

EDIT: YEah, beyond the question of the unfamiliar radar gun, which I would definitely suspect as one possible source of an outlier, I'm not seeing 89 that frequently. I'm seeing fastballs sitting anywhere from 89 (like 5 or 6 fastballs) through 94 with the vast majority of fastballs being between 90 and 92. You only need the gun to be off by -1 MPH there to achieve a "normal" result for Miller..

[Dawgma]

We as fans always have hope... This kid may have something we can brag about.