just heard on 1270 that Andrew Miller will start for Bonderman on Friday

Oooooo. I assume that will be Bonderman's last day off?

Let the hype begin. That won't be a part of this series, but rather game 1 at home in a World Series rematch with the Cardinals. Should be plenty of hype surrounding the game anyhow because of that, but Miller making his first big league start makes it even bigger. St. Louis is struggling but still has weapons. Let's hope Miller does better than Virgil Vasquez - yikes. I'm guessing they'll send Brydak back down to get Miller up. I like Brydak. He did a good job in the game he pitched in up here. Amazing how many decent arms this organization has now.

I'm excited to see Miller pitch...probably should've pitched on Sunday night instead of Virgil Vasquez who has a career Major League ERA in the 20's...


I hope he does well...

Yeah too bad Virgil was your tiger...

Roll call, who's goin to see the phenom pitch, Ill be there.

is this because hes next on the depth chart already or because hes the next big thing?

Oooooo. I assume that will be Bonderman's last day off?
No. They said he'd miss two more starts (uncluding the one Friday).

Who is Miller starting against?

And also Leyland said Miller cannot earn a spot regardless. he's just filling in right now. Maroth is the 5th starter basically and the Tigers are 7-0 when he starts I heard. So Miller really doesn't have a place on this team as a full time starter this year. Hopefully he can learn something to build on for next year though.

I read this morning that Bondo will be back for his next start in 8 days (when he is eligible to come off the DL).

Did something change?

Probably nothing changed. They said in the update that he was placed on the 15 day DL and that he'd miss two starts. Perhaps they counted the Vazquez one, but they were a little misleading if that is the case because I assumed he'd miss two starts from the time of the update. Why not just say he'll miss one more start?

I think May 24 is when he's eligible, and they'll probably get him out there right then if his blisters are ok.

As far as Miller coming just because he's the next big thing, I don't get the impression that Leyland buys into that too much. He's not going to bring a guy up just for hype. He's going for the guy most likely to win games.

Jethro is correct:


We think (Miller) is our best choice," Leyland said. "We're planning on Bonderman pitching the 24th, when he's eligible to come back, but we'll not option Miller out right away after this game in case Bonderman isn't ready.
"Most likely, though, this is a one-start situation."
Miller, who pitched in eight games out of the bullpen last year, is coming off an eight-inning start for Erie in which he allowed an unearned run on six hits while striking out seven.
Leyland said he's not ready to pitch regularly in the majors, but is the right candidate for this assignment.
"This is based on the fact we think he has the best stuff," Leyland said.
"His numbers in Lakeland (1-4, 3.48 ERA) were a little misleading. Then he went up to Double A and pitched eight tremendous innings. To be honest with you, this is who I want.
"I didn't call and say 'I want Miller,' though. The minor-league guys recommended him."
When asked if Miller could stay with the team beyond the starts he makes as Bonderman's replacement, Leyland said: "That won't happen.
"It's very unlikely that Miller will stay at this time whether he pitches a no-hitter or gives up 10 runs. It's not going to make any difference right now."
This wasn't the timetable the Tigers had in mind for Miller.
"For two reasons," Leyland said. "I'm not sure he is ready. I'm not saying he is. He probably isn't. I just think he'll give us the best pure stuff to take out there for a major-league game of anybody we have a choice of. That's what I'm saying.
"But I wish it wasn't right now because 1) it means you don't have Bondo and 2) I can't tell you he's ready for this. But when you see a tall, lanky kid who looks like he's five feet away from you when he throws it with nasty stuff, you get excited.
"What we're hoping is that it's a one-shot deal where we can get him right back to Double A to fall into his next turn. But I think he has the best stuff of any of our choices.
"I don't know if he's the best pitcher of any of our choices, but he has the best stuff and our reports are that his stuff in his first Double-A game was good enough to get big-league hitters out."
Despite favorable updates about Bonderman, Leyland had been skeptical about his chances to start Friday.
"I looked at it for one thing," he said about the blister. "You can usually tell.
"Plus, Bondo is a tough kid who wants to pitch because he takes it to heart so much that he's letting the team down. Everybody knows better than that."

damn, this is the but kicking of the season. tigers just batted around with only getting one out. and the kid is cruising!

Holy crap, it's 14-0 in the freaking 5th inning! We're decimating all their pitchers. At this rate, St. Louis should just leave this guy out there the rest of the game or else they won't have any other relief for the rest of the series.

Actually, with regards to pitching, anyone know how long the bottom of the 5th lasted? That might not be good for Miller, to have all that time between innings. We'll see.

Dang. The long time off didn't seem to hurt him, but Rolen fouled off at least 7 pitches before walking. He had 11 or 12 pitches at least in the AB, driving Miller's pitch count up. He's out of the inning without a guy getting past first base, but he's right around 100 pitches now. Guessing he doesn't come back out for the 7th. With this lead, they can throw any guy from the pen in there and it's safe. Get some innings for whoever needs them but may be struggling.

Well, Miller is certainly better than Grilli. Grilli comes in, gets the first guy out, then the next three all end up on 2nd base. 2 runs allowed and still only has the one out. I guess Grilli certainly fits the description I gave above.

Miller looked really good out there. He seemed to have pretty good control and throws a ton of strikes. His fastball has good velocity but he really looks like he's one pitch away from being a major leaguer. He threw a ton of balls but doesn't really have a pitch to get people out. He got away with it tonight but until he sevelops a better change-up or a splitter or some out pitch, he won't be that good. he repeatledy would get two strikes on a batter only to have them foul off several pithces because he's missing that "out" pitch.

Well, his slider is the out pitch against lefties, as it goes down and away. If he can get better command of that same slider, he can use it as his out pitch to righties as well, a la Big Unit.

A better changeup would be nice as well, and I don't think you can just pick up a splitter as an out pitch at this point. If he can command his slider, that will work well. Damn good outing today.

Hernadez talked about his changeup after the game. He said Miller did well, but he basically did it without a decent changeup and once he learns that he'll be really effective.

Pudge said it was like being a hockey goalie catching Miller. Neither of them knew which way the ball was going to go on a number of pitches. Apparently he only threw one changeup the entire game, and his self-critique of that pitch was not good.
Bottom line - he pitched 6 shutouts with limited stuff that he couldn't control. Imagine what he should be able to do by the end of the year after he gets more control and another pitch, all through work in the minors.

That's the norm for big lefties. They can't put it all together until they hit 25-27 years old at which time they click and scare the living shit outa everyone in the park.

He sure looked like the real deal to me. I should say unpolished real deal. The kid just needs to stay down and get starts/innings. I'm pumped about his future.

Back to the minors, as promised


May 23, Detroit Free Pres: "One hundred percent," he said, when asked about the chances he would start Thursday against the Los Angeles Angels. "I'm ready to go."

The Tigers plan to activate Bonderman from the disabled list before Thursday's game, and sent top prospect Andrew Miller back to Double-A Erie on Tuesday night to clear the roster spot.

Miller, who pitched six shutout innings in his first big-league start last Friday, will fly to Harrisburg, Pa., today and start for Erie on Thursday.

Afterward, Leyland announced that Robertson would be placed on the disabled list and left-hander Andrew Miller will be called up from Double-A Erie to replace Robertson for Sunday's start against the New York Mets.

And I'm watching from a suite. LOL @ U.

Anybody know if Miller is going to get another start or is he going back down?

I know they want to keep him as a SP, but I'd almost rather use Ledezma in the rotation and move Miller to the bully.

They will not use Miller in the bull pen. That made that very clear in numerous interviews I have heard. They really want him to pan out as a power lefty starter. I hadn't heard anything on whether he's going back or staying.

Anybody know if Miller is going to get another start or is he going back down?

I know they want to keep him as a SP, but I'd almost rather use Ledezma in the rotation and move Miller to the bully.


He's scheduled to pitch Sat. against the Phills.

Are you watching from a suite?

No, I will be watching NASCAR.

From a suite?

That one's your fault.

Leyland reiterated that Miller will only start for the Tigers or be in the minors this year.

So when Kenny comes back (Fri?) is Miller back to the minors?

I sure hope they change their tune on this if we need help in the bully once the rosters expand for the stretch run.

Watching his last start, he clearly has amazing stuff but is clearly a ways away. He has no control. We've already rushed him a bit, I say we back off a little. If and when he ever "gets" it, though, he's going to be amazing.

When someone is here to replace him (Rogers), he should be sent back down.

Agreed. I don't think spending a year in the minors will hurt at all. Nothing bad can come of it unless he gets injured, but that could happen anywhere.

Listening to him in interviews, you can hear that he knows he needs more seasoning and while he would love to pitch up here, it's better for him long term to improve the control of his pitches so guys aren't just teeing off on him eventually.

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070620/SPORTS02/706200409/1050


Miller stays in rotation -- for now
Maroth or Durbin skipped for Rogers

June 20, 2007
BY JOHN LOWE
FREE PRESS SPORTS WRITER

WASHINGTON -- Rookie Andrew Miller isn't returning to the minors to make room for fellow left-hander Kenny Rogers, at least not right away.

Tigers manager Jim Leyland said Tuesday that Miller will start Sunday night in the series finale in Atlanta. Rogers will start Friday, and Justin Verlander will start Saturday.

The Tigers could send Miller to the minors Friday to make room for Rogers' return to the roster. Instead, they must take someone else off the pitching staff by Friday to make room for Rogers.

But Leyland refused to say that Miller, 2-for-3 in quality starts with the Tigers, has won a spot in the rotation. "The only thing I can guarantee you is that Verlander, Bonderman and Rogers are in the rotation," Leyland said.

"We're not trying to get anybody antsy. We're not trying to get anybody all on edge. We're not trying out people for that spot. We think we've got guys who can do it in Durbin, Maroth and Miller. We just don't know which way."

Either Mike Maroth or Chad Durbin will miss at least one start to make room for Rogers' return. Leyland said either Maroth or Durbin will start Monday against Texas. Then Jeremy Bonderman will be due to pitch Tuesday and Rogers on Wednesday.

Rogers is pitching Friday because Leyland wants him in between Bonderman and Verlander. That puts a lefty who doesn't throw hard between two right-handers who do.

Robertson out? Sounds possible...

I think Maroth gets traded for a RP, even if it's not a great one.

Haven't been paying attention to baseball as much the last year or so. Had no idea Andy was the Yankees closer.