Adam Miller's Career In Jeopardy
by drjayphd on Mar 19, 2009 2:17 AM EDT
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PrintAs seen on ESPN's spring training blog for the 18th:
Reliever Adam Miller is facing career-threatening reconstructive finger surgery if he is unable to find a new way to pitch effectively. Indians trainer Lonnie Soloff said Miller, who underwent surgery on his right middle finger last year, will spend the next seven to 10 days throwing to see if he can command his pitches without pain. If Miller can't, he will have a procedure where a tendon will be taken from his wrist to reattach the tendon in his finger. Soloff said the operation would cost Miller this season and perhaps end his career. Soloff said a buildup of scar tissue could make it impossible to pitch. The hard-throwing 24-year-old Miller came to training camp with a chance to win a job in Cleveland's bullpen.
Maybe he could borrow one of Antonio Alfonseca's? I'm sure he could spare a digit or two.
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Now that's funny.
"My mom always taught me it's better to laugh at yourself than to laugh at others. She was so wrong. ;)" -Pedrophile
Hello ScottAZ,
I can see that argument, but unlike the elbow injury and even the finger injury from 2008, this is considerably more serious – I mean, other pitchers have come back from elbow injuries (i.e. via Tommy John surgery), but the procedure involved here has no track record. There is no way to know how he may be after this procedure, which is why there is a legitimate chance that Miller’s career will end before it even got started. Even with the past injuries, I don’t think many were suggesting that Miller’s career would end, just that he may be the type who never stayed healthy, but I think most still thought he’d make his ML debut at some point and make some appearances in the MLs (which is in doubt now).
That’s why some at LGT have suggested that if, by good fortune, Miller would come back from this procedure and be the elite pitcher he was projected to be, or even just a solid to very good pitcher, they should name this surgery the “Adam Miller surgery.” Fans of his can only hope that this would be the case, but the situation does not look good right now.
Take care and have a great day!
The "cream of the crop" doesn't always rise to the top.
Hey you're back!
Good to see you Indiansfan, where have you been?
The 2008 Rogelio Moret League Fantasy Baseball Champions!
by The Congo Hammer on Mar 20, 2009 6:02 PM EDT up reply actions
well
its a shame that miller, who i have been reading about since 2003, will most likely never get to pitch in the Bigs. I would have liked to have been able to see that arm and slider in a closer or setup roll to Wood this year.
Maybe in an alternate universe
Alfonseca
http://www.theonion.com/content/node/41417
“Antonio went through a lot this year…but in the end, he just went out and had a lot of fingers.”
Pretty funny how people were arguing for him on the CPL
Staying healthy is an important attribute in a prospect.
If it's between...
two guys—one who is four years from sniffing the majors, needs to develop an offspeed pitch, and keep up the performance he has in rookie ball, and one who is injury prone but will likely be an impact pitcher if he can stay healthy—I’ll take the guy with poor health every time.
+1!
Hello DrunkIrish,
Agreed – Miller had/has all the tools, mental aptitude, and track record to project him as being an elite, not just a serviceable, pitcher, which is far different than a guy who is 4 years away from sniffing the Majors and still has to develop a breaking pitch and refine 2-3 pitches.
While certainly health is important, in some cases (including Miller’s), it’s more a matter of luck and good fortune – from what I’ve heard, his elbow injury in 2005 didn’t have anything to do with the finger. I really don’t know what Miller could have done differently to prevent this injury to his finger. It just happened, which is pretty much outside of a prospect’s control, unlike developing a good breaking ball and showing consistent command, elements a prospect can directly control.
Therefore, I too would take the guy with poor health but has all the other elements in place – you just hope he can establish himself as having good health – look at Beckett, for instance – all the tools, but had the constant blister problems – if not for that salve, he may not have become the ace and WS MVP he is today. Unfortunately for Miller, good health doesn’t look to be the case, and there’s no known salve that can cure his ailment(s).
Take care and have a great day!
The "cream of the crop" doesn't always rise to the top.
But he's got great stuff!!!
Who loves orange soda?
if they have to amputate the finger
imagine the crazy movement he could, in theory, generate. Mordecai Brown anyone?
"Sometimes Joe (morgan) doesn't like facts to get in the way of his opinions."- billy beane
"That was a great pick...if this was 2002" Me, to guy who selected Barry Zito in a fantasy draft
www.27ClubPeak.blogspot.com
Health is a skill
But I think he was still in the right place as a prospect, since it’s his only major question mark. Had he been healthy, he probably could be a top-20 prospect and not a top-100 prospect. 20/20 hindsight, but I still don’t regret pushing for him where I did.
The 2008 Rogelio Moret League Fantasy Baseball Champions!
by The Congo Hammer on Mar 19, 2009 8:09 PM EDT reply actions
+1!
Hello Congo Hammer,
I agree with your reasoning – there’s little question that Miller could have been/be an elite pitcher at the ML level – the physical tools, mental aptitude, and track record were all there, which a lot of pitching prospects don’t have.
The problem for Miller is health, which, as I’ve mentioned above, is more out of the hands of the prospect (unless you have poor conditioning, etc., which certainly was NOT the case here) – that’s more due to good fortune. Unfortunately for Miller, health and good fortune have not mixed for him.
Take care and have a great day!
The "cream of the crop" doesn't always rise to the top.
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