Fellow Brandywine Heights Area High School product Wade Miller may be a lost cause for the Chicago Cubs, the Sun-Times has reported. On rehab assignment in Iowa, his velocity has been clocked in the low-80s and his breaking pitch hasn't been effective. [Link]
A native of Topton, Berks County, the 30-year-old right-hander signed a one-year, $1.5 million deal to stay with the Cubs this offseason and won the fifth starter job in spring training. He made three starts (0-3, 10.54 ERA) before landing on the disabled list April 23 with back spasms.
According to the latest report, the Cubs might option Miller to Triple-A Iowa, or they could release him. Club GM Jim Hendry said he's open to an arrangement that would allow him to catch on with another club.
Miller has never been the same since severing his rotator cuff in 2004. In 2005, the Astros non-tendered the former 16-game winner and he was picked up by the Red Sox, finishing 4-4 with a 4.95 ERA. The Cubs signed him to an incentive-laden deal in 2006. Still recovering from shoulder surgery, he didn’t see action with the club until Sept. 9.
At this junction, his career is flaming out. It sounds as though he and the Cubs have some choices to make. In nine seasons, he’s 62-46 with a 4.10 ERA. The last I heard, he was living in the southern Berks area. Perhaps there’s a match to stuff him in the Phillies’ system as veteran inventory, or keep him in mind next season as a cheap backup plan when Jon Lieber and Freddy Garcia test free agency.
Don't know much about his stuff or his ability to get his stuff back, but his future is almost certainly as a reliever. That of course means he should get a look by a number of clubs, but if you can't break 85 mph as a righthander, you better be really good at some other aspect of pitching. Otherwise, forget it. Perhaps he can still learn a knuckleball.
Posted by: gr | Tuesday, May 29, 2007 at 03:12 PM
Sign him...sign everyone...I want Jesse Orosco!
Posted by: GM-Carson | Tuesday, May 29, 2007 at 03:59 PM
is fernando valenzuela still alive?
Posted by: bathtubhippo | Tuesday, May 29, 2007 at 04:21 PM
So, what is the Brandywine to Boyertown MLB Player tally at now?
Posted by: Willard Preacher | Tuesday, May 29, 2007 at 04:29 PM
Even with a bum arm, he's still better than Mad Dog.
Posted by: Crazy Jon | Tuesday, May 29, 2007 at 05:39 PM
Lineups
Dobbs starting at 3B, batting 6th. Otherwise standard lineup with Ruiz behind the plate.
Phils
1. J Rollins, SS
2. S Victorino, RF
3. C Utley, 2B
4. R Howard, 1B
5. P Burrell, LF
6. G Dobbs, 3B
7. A Rowand, CF
8. C Ruiz, C
9. J Lieber, P
Dbacks
1. E Byrnes, LF
2. C Jackson, 1B
3. O Hudson, 2B
4. M Reynolds, 3B
5. S Drew, SS
6. C Young, CF
7. A Callaspo, RF
8. M Montero, C
9. M Owings, P
Posted by: Billy Mac | Tuesday, May 29, 2007 at 05:55 PM
Chatter on local Astros sports talk radio is Brad Lidge for Aaron Rowand. I don't think there is any actual discussion between the teams on this. I believe it's more like fans seeing a team with a need (Phillies need relief help) that has a position of need for them (Astros need a CF or a catcher). I'll give them Barajas!
Posted by: CJ | Tuesday, May 29, 2007 at 05:58 PM
Lidge for Rowand? please...
Posted by: ae | Tuesday, May 29, 2007 at 06:11 PM
to be clear, that's "please (rolls eyes)". don't want to give the wrong impression.
Posted by: ae | Tuesday, May 29, 2007 at 06:13 PM
Send them Burrell and eat some of his contract! Of course, Burrell won't want to go there... No Rowand for the Stros!
Posted by: Jon | Tuesday, May 29, 2007 at 06:20 PM
How about Barajas, Rowand, and Cholly for Lidge?
Posted by: bay_area_phan | Tuesday, May 29, 2007 at 06:45 PM
Rowand's not any better than Burrell, you know, he's just performed better over the past two months.
Posted by: Tray | Tuesday, May 29, 2007 at 07:06 PM
Tray, I know. I am just tired of the whole Burrell act. At least Rowand brings some tenacity to the ballpark and would rather swing the bat than take the free pass.
Posted by: Jon | Tuesday, May 29, 2007 at 09:43 PM