Wade Miller to start for Chiefs June 22

[Chris]

Thanks Nathan!

 

Wade Miller Will Start for Chiefs Thursday June 22

Cubs righty will start and throw two innings.

 

PEORIA, IL— The First Half Western Division Champion Peoria Chiefs, in conjunction with the Chicago Cubs have announced that Wade Miller will begin a rehab stint with two innings of work Thursday June 22nd at O’Brien Field against Quad Cities.

 

Tickets for Miller’s rehab start are available online at http://www.peoriachiefs.com or by calling 1-866-MYTICKET. The O’Brien Field Box Office will open at 10:00 AM on Monday and remain open until 5:00 PM. The Box Office will be open from 10:00 – 5:00 on Tuesday and Wednesday as well. The Chiefs do not play again until Thursday due to the Midwest League All-Star Break. Tickets for Thursday’s 7:00 start are $10 for Club Box, $9 for Box, and $6 for Lawn Tickets.

 

Miller has yet to make an appearance with the Cubs after signing a free agent deal this off-season. He was injured last year while pitching with the Boston Red Sox. The 29 year old right-hander was 4-4 in 16 starts last season with a 4.95 ERA.

 

Miller was drafted by the Houston Astros in the 20th round of the 1996 draft out of Alvernia College in his hometown or Reading, PA. He pitched in the Midwest League with the Quad City River Bandits in 1997 posting a 5.03 record and a 3.36 ERA in 10 games. He moved quickly through the Astros minor league system and made his Major League debut on July 7th, 1999. His breakout season came in 2001 when he helped pitch the Astros to the NL Central Division title with a 16-8 record and a 3.40 ERA

 

Miller set a Houston franchise record in 2002 by winning 12 straight decisions from July 7th – September 21st en route to a 15-4 record and a 3.28 ERA. His final season in Houston was in 2004 when he posted a 7-7 record in just 15 games.

 

Miller has been plagued by right shoulder injuries over the last couple of seasons and was signed by the Cubs January 23rd, 2006. He began the 2005 season on the DL and was activated May 8th after making rehab starts in Greenville, Wilmington and Pawtucket. He tossed 91 innings for the Red Sox before being shut down for the season on August 8th. He has pitched in Mesa, AZ at extended spring training so far this year for the Cubs and threw a bullpen session at Wrigley Field on Friday.

 

Miller is the fourth pitcher to rehab with the Chiefs in 2006. Kerry Wood threw five shutout innings against Lansing in front of 8,426 fans on May 7th. Mark Prior lost to Kane County in front of 5,865 fans on Memorial Day and then fell to Fort Wayne inn front of 6,828 fans on June 3rd. Scott Williamson threw one inning and allowed a run at Kane County on Thursday night.

 

It is not yet known how long Miller’s rehab stint will last with the Chiefs or overall in the minor league system. He will throw two innings against the Swing at 7:00 on Thursday and then be re-evaluated by the Cubs. The first 1500 fans on Thursday night will receive a Grant Johnson Collectible Baseball courtesy of Ameren Cilco. Gates will open at 6:00 PM.

[YearofDaCubs]

I'll set the over/under on Miller's fastball at 89mph.

[texascub]

I'll set the over/under on Miller's fastball at 89mph.

 

I'll say over, the magic number so far seems to be 91.

[CUBZ99]

I'm going to try to make the Thursday game with Miller, can someone PM me directions to the ballpark. I'll be coming in from I-74. Also, any recommendations for hotels in Peoria? Thanks for any help.

[soccer10k]

Hopefully he'll recover fully and be up with the big league club soon.

[Laura]

I'm going to try to make the Thursday game with Miller, can someone PM me directions to the ballpark. I'll be coming in from I-74. Also, any recommendations for hotels in Peoria? Thanks for any help.

 

There are directions from I-74 on the Chiefs website that might help.

[karenmac]

The Radisson Peoria is the hotel the Chiefs put the guys up in at the beginning of the season. If you call them directly, you might be able to get a deal? The address is 117 Western Ave, Peoria, IL 61604, phone 309-673-8040 (this is a newly renovated spot - used to be the Jumers in town).

 

Another good couple of spots that are pretty close:

The Staybridge Suites is very near the park (a long walk), but not to much else

 

The final suggestion I have (although there are plenty more hotels in Peoria), is the Mark Twain. It's several blocks down Adams St from the park, but is where many folks Caterpillar hosts stay, so I think it's pretty nice since their massive renovation a couple of years ago.

 

For a full listing of lodgings, the Peoria Area Convention and Visitors Bureau has a pretty extensive listing. If you are wondering about a specific place, feel free to PM me and I'd be happy to let you know what it's like, neighborhood, etc.[/url]

[Balsa]

Hopefully he'll recover fully and be up with the big league club soon.

Why? So we can trade him? How long is his contract for, and how many starts do you think he'll take away from Marshall?

[NCCubFan]

Hopefully he'll recover fully and be up with the big league club soon.

Why? So we can trade him? How long is his contract for, and how many starts do you think he'll take away from Marshall?

I don't think it would be a bad thing if Miller did take some starts away from Marshall. Marshall was injured most of last year, so it would be good to somewhat limit his pitching this year (much like they did with Prior in 2002 when they shut him down for about the last month).

 

Miller is signed for just this season. Unlike similar situations in previous years (Dempster, Williamson) the Cubs don't have an option on Miller for next year.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

Hopefully he'll recover fully and be up with the big league club soon.

 

Amen, then we can start sucking slightly less.

[soccer10k]

Hopefully he'll recover fully and be up with the big league club soon.

Why? So we can trade him? How long is his contract for, and how many starts do you think he'll take away from Marshall?

I don't think it would be a bad thing if Miller did take some starts away from Marshall. Marshall was injured most of last year, so it would be good to somewhat limit his pitching this year (much like they did with Prior in 2002 when they shut him down for about the last month).

 

Miller is signed for just this season. Unlike similar situations in previous years (Dempster, Williamson) the Cubs don't have an option on Miller for next year.

 

Partly so Marshall doesn't get worked too hard and partly so we know what he could provide for next year. If he comes back and sucks, it's not a big deal because he's not signed for next year. But if he comes back and plays well, then he could have a spot in the rotation next year and make it easier to let Wood/Maddux go.

[Balsa]

Hopefully he'll recover fully and be up with the big league club soon.

Why? So we can trade him? How long is his contract for, and how many starts do you think he'll take away from Marshall?

I don't think it would be a bad thing if Miller did take some starts away from Marshall. Marshall was injured most of last year, so it would be good to somewhat limit his pitching this year (much like they did with Prior in 2002 when they shut him down for about the last month).

 

Miller is signed for just this season. Unlike similar situations in previous years (Dempster, Williamson) the Cubs don't have an option on Miller for next year.

Good points, I forgot that Miller wasn't signed for more than this season.