estrepe1
02-18-2007, 02:30 AM
No matter his talent, Miller will likely start in minors
Sunday, February 18, 2007
By Danny Knobler
LAKELAND, Fla. -- The first thing you need to know about Andrew Miller is that he does own a razor. Needs one, too, because the baby-faced Detroit Tigers pitcher of last year now owns a few whiskers, too.
On the tip of his chin, anyway.
"I have to shave,'' Miller said. "It's just that I have all these spots that I don't have to shave. I probably (shave) a few times a week, at least.''
Miller's whiskers aren't as important to the Tigers as his strong left arm, because as manager Jim Leyland said Saturday: "Talent-wise, he would be up near the head of the class in every camp in baseball.''
In fact, the 21-year-old Miller is so talented that in any recent spring, he'd have been at worst a long-shot candidate to make the Tigers' opening day staff. Remember, it wasn't that long ago that the Tigers came to spring training with only one definite starting pitcher.
This year, they have five definites, assuming Mike Maroth proves to be as healthy as he says he feels. Leyland talks now about who will be the Tigers' "sixth, seventh, eighth and maybe ninth'' starters, which is another way of saying he's auditioning candidates for jobs that may or may not exist at some point this summer.
Miller is one of those candidates, although as a No. 1 draft pick who has already pitched 10 1/3 big-league innings (and nearly made the World Series roster), he's of more interest than most of the others.
"That talent is extraordinary,'' Leyland said. "Guys like him, and (Justin) Verlander and (Joel) Zumaya.''
A year ago, of course, Verlander and Zumaya forced their way onto the Tiger roster with ultra-impressive spring trainings. The situation is different now, because the Tigers are a World Series team with a virtually set roster.
"It was good timing, on my part,'' Verlander said with a smile.
Miller doesn't look at it as bad timing on his part. He knows that he still hasn't started a professional game, that he pitched only five minor-league innings last summer, in three Class A relief outings.
"I've got plenty of work to do,'' he said. "I've had so little time. I think I've got a lot to learn. Watching these guys shows me how good they are, how much progress I have to make.
"I certainly think I can do it, but it's a process.''
That process will almost certainly continue in the minor leagues beginning in April. The Tigers want Miller to work as a starter, so it's extremely unlikely he could force his way onto the roster, no matter how impressive he is this spring.
He's in that sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth group, along with Chad Durbin, Zach Miner, Wilfredo Ledezma, Jordan Tata, Virgil Vasquez and Jair Jurrjens. Maybe Kyle Sleeth should be in that group, too, because the injury-plagued former No. 1 draft pick turned heads in Saturday's workout.
Miller stands out, and not just because he's the (still) baby-faced youngster who stands 6-foot-6. He's the biggest name in the group, and the biggest talent, too.
He's the one you definitely need to know about. You should know, for example, that even though he played baseball at the University of North Carolina, he's as rabid a Florida Gator fan as you'd ever want to meet.
"I lived (in Gainesville, Fla.) for 18 years,'' Miller said. "I think that counts as much as anyone who went there for four years.''
Miner and Ledezma, in addition to being candidates for a starter role, are also candidates for the bullpen, with Ledezma already penciled in for a spot. But Leyland said both would be stretched out with at least a three-inning appearance at some point during the spring. . . . Leyland raved about Jose Mesa, the 40-year-old right-hander the Tigers signed to pitch early setup innings in front of Zumaya and Fernando Rodney. "He's a true professional,'' Leyland said. "There'll be nobody in this camp that outworks Jose Mesa. His work habits are tremendous.'' . . . Leyland on Gary Sheffield: "He doesn't have a vicious bone in his body, not one. I can guarantee you these guys will love Gary Sheffield. His teammates will love Gary Sheffield. He'll be fine -- unless he doesn't hit.''
http://www.mlive.com/tigers/stories/index.ssf?/base/sports-2/1171748405250100.xml&coll=1&thispage=2
Sunday, February 18, 2007
By Danny Knobler
LAKELAND, Fla. -- The first thing you need to know about Andrew Miller is that he does own a razor. Needs one, too, because the baby-faced Detroit Tigers pitcher of last year now owns a few whiskers, too.
On the tip of his chin, anyway.
"I have to shave,'' Miller said. "It's just that I have all these spots that I don't have to shave. I probably (shave) a few times a week, at least.''
Miller's whiskers aren't as important to the Tigers as his strong left arm, because as manager Jim Leyland said Saturday: "Talent-wise, he would be up near the head of the class in every camp in baseball.''
In fact, the 21-year-old Miller is so talented that in any recent spring, he'd have been at worst a long-shot candidate to make the Tigers' opening day staff. Remember, it wasn't that long ago that the Tigers came to spring training with only one definite starting pitcher.
This year, they have five definites, assuming Mike Maroth proves to be as healthy as he says he feels. Leyland talks now about who will be the Tigers' "sixth, seventh, eighth and maybe ninth'' starters, which is another way of saying he's auditioning candidates for jobs that may or may not exist at some point this summer.
Miller is one of those candidates, although as a No. 1 draft pick who has already pitched 10 1/3 big-league innings (and nearly made the World Series roster), he's of more interest than most of the others.
"That talent is extraordinary,'' Leyland said. "Guys like him, and (Justin) Verlander and (Joel) Zumaya.''
A year ago, of course, Verlander and Zumaya forced their way onto the Tiger roster with ultra-impressive spring trainings. The situation is different now, because the Tigers are a World Series team with a virtually set roster.
"It was good timing, on my part,'' Verlander said with a smile.
Miller doesn't look at it as bad timing on his part. He knows that he still hasn't started a professional game, that he pitched only five minor-league innings last summer, in three Class A relief outings.
"I've got plenty of work to do,'' he said. "I've had so little time. I think I've got a lot to learn. Watching these guys shows me how good they are, how much progress I have to make.
"I certainly think I can do it, but it's a process.''
That process will almost certainly continue in the minor leagues beginning in April. The Tigers want Miller to work as a starter, so it's extremely unlikely he could force his way onto the roster, no matter how impressive he is this spring.
He's in that sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth group, along with Chad Durbin, Zach Miner, Wilfredo Ledezma, Jordan Tata, Virgil Vasquez and Jair Jurrjens. Maybe Kyle Sleeth should be in that group, too, because the injury-plagued former No. 1 draft pick turned heads in Saturday's workout.
Miller stands out, and not just because he's the (still) baby-faced youngster who stands 6-foot-6. He's the biggest name in the group, and the biggest talent, too.
He's the one you definitely need to know about. You should know, for example, that even though he played baseball at the University of North Carolina, he's as rabid a Florida Gator fan as you'd ever want to meet.
"I lived (in Gainesville, Fla.) for 18 years,'' Miller said. "I think that counts as much as anyone who went there for four years.''
Miner and Ledezma, in addition to being candidates for a starter role, are also candidates for the bullpen, with Ledezma already penciled in for a spot. But Leyland said both would be stretched out with at least a three-inning appearance at some point during the spring. . . . Leyland raved about Jose Mesa, the 40-year-old right-hander the Tigers signed to pitch early setup innings in front of Zumaya and Fernando Rodney. "He's a true professional,'' Leyland said. "There'll be nobody in this camp that outworks Jose Mesa. His work habits are tremendous.'' . . . Leyland on Gary Sheffield: "He doesn't have a vicious bone in his body, not one. I can guarantee you these guys will love Gary Sheffield. His teammates will love Gary Sheffield. He'll be fine -- unless he doesn't hit.''
http://www.mlive.com/tigers/stories/index.ssf?/base/sports-2/1171748405250100.xml&coll=1&thispage=2