Andrew Miller debut thread

by drwmsu1 on May 18, 2007 6:30 PM EDT Comment 26 comments

Andrew is making his first Major League start tonight. While he may never cure cancer, stop the deforestation of the rain forest, or reverse global climate change (as I can only assume Tim Lincecum will do all of those things), he is one of the top 10 pitching prospects in baseball, and perhaps a thread dedicated to his debut is in order.

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well said

lets see how the kid pitches!

All hail Lincecum...the Expedition Sorcerer!

by realityconquest on May 18, 2007 6:28 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

He could throw BP to this team...

...and still put up a QS.

No dude, Metsin07

by uga007 on May 18, 2007 6:51 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

you know

there are those of us who think he's actually a better prospect than lincecum. (though tim was pretty damn impressive yesterday.) of course, there's infinitely less hype about him, partially owing to the fact that many of us already saw him pitch last year, either for UNC in the CWS or during his september call-up.

by jpahk on May 18, 2007 6:53 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I do

know. Sarcasm again loses its battle to be understood on a blog! I really don't think Tim will do those things I mentioned, but reading the fawning over him on this site, it might lead one to believe there is nothing he can't do.
I also know the Tigers, if they could do last year's draft over again, would pick Miller. They love his long term potential. Maybe Lincecum is better RIGHT now, but down the road, we shall see.

by drwmsu1 on May 18, 2007 8:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Miller's parents will cry

if they see that every thread with the word "Lincecum" has at least 100 posts in it (though to be fair, at least 50 of the are from SharksRog), and Miller's won't have more than 30.

I think he should do well. He's hitting a pretty weak team right now and no Edmonds and a poor-lefty-hitting Duncan will help things.

by Curtis Pride on May 18, 2007 7:49 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Hasn't been impressive

although not allowing a run yet.

Left the bases loaded in first, and got out of the 2nd with a runner left of 3rd, and also got out of the 3rd inning with a runner on 1st and 3rd.

So far has allowed 2 walks and 4 hits threw 3 innings.

by bigboy1234 on May 18, 2007 7:53 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

hmmm

You don't watch baseball much do you?

4IP 4H 0ER 1BB 2K

Not impressive?

Hmmmmm, really now?

by nate050904 on May 18, 2007 8:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Uh

To be fair, he had only gone through the third inning. When you add in a one-two-three fourth, Miller looks a lot more impressive.

But I'll agree with the original poster. Against a weak lineup, Miller's been OK.

by ajohnst1 on May 18, 2007 8:20 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Considering the circumstances....

The "weak lineup" criticism is being nitpicky. St. Louis is a big step up from throwing against Eastern and Florida State League opponents.

by sdbaseballfan on May 19, 2007 3:59 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

yea

it was impressive when he hit Encarnacion. which I incorrectly counted as a walk. Either way he had allowed 6 people on base threw 3 innings, not impressive. Also, he's pitching against one of the worst offenses in the game. The 4th inning was good for him though.

The game has already been decided though because the Cardinals have proved that they suck at offense.

Also, the difference between me and you is I'm actually watching the game.

by bigboy1234 on May 18, 2007 8:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

encarnacion

that pitch that hit him was one of those ridiculous sliders. it didn't even start out inside, it just moved like crazy until it hit encarnacion in the back foot.

by jpahk on May 18, 2007 8:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

He's look good

5 innings pitched. 0 runs. 2 walks. 4 hits.

His fastball has ranged from 89 to 96 (sitting around 93/94). His slider isn't as good as I've seen it in the past. If he ever gets that slider down pat and can locate his fastball (like he appears to be doing tonight)...he will be borderline unhittable.

by LickSplickidy on May 18, 2007 8:37 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Changeup

Has he also flashed a changeup today? I have seen 5 or so pitches with not nearly the movement of his slider, but they were in the 84-85 range, making me think he was using changeup today. If that is the case, good for him. A 3rd pitch will help him alot.

by CW on May 18, 2007 8:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Appears so...

He definitely has been using a 3rd pitch tonight (4th if you count the 2 seam and 4 seam FB's as two pitches).

But yeah, it looks like a changeup. Coming in between 84 and 86 on the gun with some decent drop at the end.

Control of those four pitches could take Miller a lonng way.

by LickSplickidy on May 18, 2007 8:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

one pretty surprising thing

through 5 innings, miller has 6 groundouts and 7 flyouts. that's very unusual for him. he looks like he's occasionally flashing the 4-seamer up in the zone and getting hitters to chase it or pop it up. i was under the impression that he usually threw the 2-seamer more.

by jpahk on May 18, 2007 8:43 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

dude, enough already!

i tuned in to this game to watch andrew miller pitch, not sit on the bench during a 45-minute bottom of the fifth involving two pitching changes.

by jpahk on May 18, 2007 8:57 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Seriously, lol

They might have to take Miller out just because he has been sitting for so long between the 5th and 6th innings.

14-zip in the 5th.

Damn!

by LickSplickidy on May 18, 2007 9:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

finally back

i thought he had rolen struck out twice--he offered at the 1-2 in the dirt, and the fastball on 2-2 looked to me like it was on the outside corner. then the next six pitches were fouled off before he finally walked him.

by jpahk on May 18, 2007 9:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

looks like he's probably done

6 4 0 0 3 2. 1 WP, 1 HBP. 94 pitches, 62 for strikes. 7 GO, 9 FO. not great, especially against a scuffling lineup, but certainly not bad.

by jpahk on May 18, 2007 9:16 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Considering

that Miller only has 1 start above single A, I'd say it was a very good performance.

by SBcaptain2 on May 18, 2007 9:55 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Better than I would've expected...

Being that he's had little experience above A-ball, I was expecting him to get rattled around as he's never faced quality hitters (not that the Cards are really quality...) consistently. Miller certainly has a high ceiling and he proved to be closer than expected with his start tonight. I wish I could've seen the game...I need MLB.tv

by Yankees338 on May 18, 2007 11:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

mlb.tv

is pretty cool. except when it is inexplicably blacked out. but it's definitely fun to be able to tune into any game you want.

by jpahk on May 18, 2007 11:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'd say

six innings of shutout ball and no hits qualifies as great

by nms on May 19, 2007 8:42 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

no hits?

he allowed 4 hits, 3 walks and a HBP.

by jpahk on May 20, 2007 9:19 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

er

i meant to say four hits. i knew he gave up 4 hits, i dont know how i typed no hits

I'd still call 4 hits, no runs great

by nms on May 20, 2007 9:53 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Sounds good to me

This sounds like a pretty good first start to me -- especially given that he finished stronger than he started. That September callup probably helped him avoid some of the jitters last night.

I believe we ARE leaving a hitting era and entering a pitching period. Andrew Miller apppears to have a good shot at being a significant part of it.

Three pitchers from last year's draft have all made the bigs and thus far done reasonably well for themselves.

by sharksrog on May 19, 2007 1:03 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs