Wade Miller to take Zambrano's spot.

[JeffH]

SAT prep:

 

Chris Carpenter is to Wade Miller as:

 

a) The St. Louis Cardinals are to the Chicago Cubs

 

b) Eva Longoria is to Rosie O'Donnell

 

c) Bryce Canyon, Utah is to Camden, New Jersey

 

d) A piece of beef tenderloin is to a plate of Scrapple

 

e) All of the above

[RichHillIsABeast]

SAT prep:

 

Chris Carpenter is to Wade Miller as:

 

a) The St. Louis Cardinals are to the Chicago Cubs

 

b) Eva Longoria is to Rosie O'Donnell

 

c) Bryce Canyon, Utah is to Camden, New Jersey

 

d) A piece of beef tenderloin is to a plate of Scrapple

 

e) All of the above

 

Miller pre-injury was far better than Carpenter pre-injury.

 

Carpenter also posted very mediocre numbers in his first 1-1.5 seasons post-injury.

[JeffH]

Oooh! I'm sorry, but the answer was 'e) All of the above'.

 

Thank you for playing our game.

[baseball7897]

Why are you writing off Miller? Give the guy a chance. You dont need to throw 90+ to have success in the big leagues. If he locates his fastball, changes speeds, and changes the eye level of a hitter he will do fine.

[JeffH]

Why are you writing off Miller? Give the guy a chance. You dont need to throw 90+ to have success in the big leagues. If he locates his fastball, changes speeds, and changes the eye level of a hitter he will do fine.

 

Well, he has never shown the ability to do any of those things before.

 

Maybe the shoulder injury will improve those aspects of his game.

[baseball7897]

Why are you writing off Miller? Give the guy a chance. You dont need to throw 90+ to have success in the big leagues. If he locates his fastball, changes speeds, and changes the eye level of a hitter he will do fine.

 

Well, he has never shown the ability to do any of those things before.

 

Maybe the shoulder injury will improve those aspects of his game.

 

Not true.

 

I remember Miller having some pretty solid years before he injured his shoulder.

 

16-8 in 01

15-4 in 02

14-13 in 03

[Ding Dong Johnson]

Remember when they said Miller would be back June 15?

 

Remember when they said he'd be ready by mid-May?.............

 

Hey at least we got him for the stretch run

We're 3.5 games behind Kansas City. Miller can help make up ground. :D

 

Stupid D-Rays killed Steve Irwin and now they're threatening to take our draft pick!

 

I say we dedicate the rest of the season to Steve Irwin, we will have the highest draft pick!

 

A sting ray killed Steve Irwin. Not a devil ray. A STING, ray.

 

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&safe=off&q=define%3Ajoke&btnG=Search

[JeffH]

Yes, because he had electric stuff.

 

Now, he's Jon Lieber without the control, command, and sink on his fastball.

 

In other words, he's breathing oxygen a good pitcher could be using.

 

Of course, he'll do pretty well these last few weeks and Harry will sign him to a big deal.

[baseball7897]

Yes, because he had electric stuff.

 

Now, he's Jon Lieber without the control, command, and sink on his fastball.

 

In other words, he's breathing oxygen a good pitcher could be using.

 

Of course, he'll do pretty well these last few weeks and Harry will sign him to a big deal.

 

Who are these good pitchers you're talking about?

 

And No, Hendry wont sign him to a "big deal". I see Hendry offering him a 1yr contract.

[JeffH]

Miller's great!

[baseball7897]

Miller's great!

 

First start in the big leagues in over a year. I would take a healthy Wade Miller over a guy like Angel Guzman.

[JeffH]

"Several years ago, we hit Miller around pretty good when he was a member of the Astros. Obviously, I still feel bad about that. So, to make amends, we have signed Wade to a three year, $24 million contract. It's the least we could do." - Jim "What's a comb?" Hendry

[Drew Doughty]

Miller's great!

 

First start in the big leagues in over a year. I would take a healthy Wade Miller over a guy like Angel Guzman.

 

I think most people would take a healthy Wade Miller over most pitchers. Problem is that he'll probably never be healthy.

[baseball7897]

Miller's great!

 

First start in the big leagues in over a year. I would take a healthy Wade Miller over a guy like Angel Guzman.

 

I think most people would take a healthy Wade Miller over most pitchers. Problem is that he'll probably never be healthy.

 

You would think. But, some people on this site actually would take Brady Clark over Vernon Wells.

[RichHillIsABeast]

Yes, because he had electric stuff.

 

Now, he's Jon Lieber without the control, command, and sink on his fastball.

 

In other words, he's breathing oxygen a good pitcher could be using.

 

Of course, he'll do pretty well these last few weeks and Harry will sign him to a big deal.

 

It takes time for pitchers to come back from that kind of surgery. I doubt he'll be 100% until after next season. Don't judge the finished product by the rehab version.

[JeffH]

It takes time for pitchers to come back from that kind of surgery. I doubt he'll be 100% until after next season. Don't judge the finished product by the rehab version.

 

When he was good, Miller was consistently 93-95 on the fastball (at least). I don't see him getting 5 mph back.

 

He's toast.

[RichHillIsABeast]

It takes time for pitchers to come back from that kind of surgery. I doubt he'll be 100% until after next season. Don't judge the finished product by the rehab version.

 

When he was good, Miller was consistently 93-95 on the fastball (at least). I don't see him getting 5 mph back.

 

He's toast.

 

I'm sure there were tons of Jays and Cards fans saying the same thing about Carpenter for 1.5 years, who went threw a much more serious surgery.

 

BTW, Miller was by far the better pitcher between himself and Carpenter before surgury and during his minor league rehab starts. Your negativity is premature.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

It takes time for pitchers to come back from that kind of surgery. I doubt he'll be 100% until after next season. Don't judge the finished product by the rehab version.

 

When he was good, Miller was consistently 93-95 on the fastball (at least). I don't see him getting 5 mph back.

 

He's toast.

 

I'm sure there were tons of Jays and Cards fans saying the same thing about Carpenter for 1.5 years, who went threw a much more serious surgery.

 

BTW, Miller was by far the better pitcher between himself and Carpenter before surgury and during his minor league rehab starts. Your negativity is premature.

 

What about the dozens and dozens of pitchers who have gone through surgery and never been the same? Just because there's a slight, slight hope doesn't mean it's premature to dismiss Miller, especially considering the other arms we have in the system right now.

[RichHillIsABeast]

It takes time for pitchers to come back from that kind of surgery. I doubt he'll be 100% until after next season. Don't judge the finished product by the rehab version.

 

When he was good, Miller was consistently 93-95 on the fastball (at least). I don't see him getting 5 mph back.

 

He's toast.

 

I'm sure there were tons of Jays and Cards fans saying the same thing about Carpenter for 1.5 years, who went threw a much more serious surgery.

 

BTW, Miller was by far the better pitcher between himself and Carpenter before surgury and during his minor league rehab starts. Your negativity is premature.

 

What about the dozens and dozens of pitchers who have gone through surgery and never been the same? Just because there's a slight, slight hope doesn't mean it's premature to dismiss Miller, especially considering the other arms we have in the system right now.

 

That slight hope is exactly what makes that negativity premature. Where would the Cards be without Carpenter? In the cellar, that's where. I know this season has sucked, but it's going to take something big like Miller panning out for us to contend in '07 and '08. MacPhail isn't going to let us land a top tier FA.

 

He's costing us a whopping 1M this season to throw a few crappy innings. How much did Wood and Prior cost us for their fine outtings? We're out of it so pitching Miller isn't a bad thing at all. Who's losing innings? Geez. Guys like Walrond and Guzman are getting their chances and flopping. The only guy with a legit shot at the rotation next season is Hill. Everyone else is going to be chilling in AAA or the bullpen.

 

If we're going to write off Miller b/c of lack of stuff, let's just release Guzman right now. He sure as heck doesn't have the 3 plus pitches he used to. You have to give people the time to prove they don't belong. Less than a season of rehab isn't enough to write Miller off. It's a low risk, high reward type of situation.

 

There are plenty of things to complain about this season. Miller isn't one of them.

[JeffH]

The Cubs signed Miller with no club option for next season.

 

That means they are paying him $1M to let him use their rehab facilities and get some games in the minors and perhaps a few here in September so he can then leave as a FA to the highest bidder.

 

Jim Hendry is dumb. Really, really dumb.

 

I expect that he will further demonstrate said dumbness by outbidding all other bidders for the 2007 services of Miller.

[RichHillIsABeast]

The Cubs signed Miller with no club option for next season.

 

That means they are paying him $1M to let him use their rehab facilities and get some games in the minors and perhaps a few here in September so he can then leave as a FA to the highest bidder.

 

Jim Hendry is dumb. Really, really dumb.

 

I expect that he will further demonstrate said dumbness by outbidding all other bidders for the 2007 services of Miller.

 

First you say that Miller will never get his velocity back and he's toast. Then you complain about Hendry not getting an option for next season? At least be consistent.

 

Resigning Miller won't be a problem. No one is going to offer him a multi-year deal, including us. An incentive laden one year deal will land him. I'd be fine sticking him in the 5 slot next season assuming we have a couple backup plans.

[JeffH]

First you say that Miller will never get his velocity back and he's toast. Then you complain about Hendry not getting an option for next season? At least be consistent.

 

No inconsistency whatsoever.

 

I wouldn't have signed him at all, but, if you're going to sign a rehabbing pitcher, there has to be some upside to the signing.

 

Having signed Miller for 2006 gives the Cubs exactly ZERO advantage over the 29 other teams going into the '06-'07 offseason.

 

Where's the upside?

[RichHillIsABeast]

First you say that Miller will never get his velocity back and he's toast. Then you complain about Hendry not getting an option for next season? At least be consistent.

 

No inconsistency whatsoever.

 

I wouldn't have signed him at all, but, if you're going to sign a rehabbing pitcher, there has to be some upside to the signing.

 

Having signed Miller for 2006 gives the Cubs exactly ZERO advantage over the 29 other teams going into the '06-'07 offseason.

 

Where's the upside?

 

Miller will resign with the Cubs, if that's what Hendry wants. He's not getting a multi-year deal from anyone. We can give an incentive laden 1 year deal just like anyone else and we're in his good graces for signing him at 1M. It's not like organizations are lining up to take risks on players. Hendry doesn't mind the several million dollar gamble on a starting pitcher. I don't either considering their worth to a ballclub.

 

Maybe Hendry did mess up. The future will tell. But, don't rag on Miller for being "toast" when he's still rehabbing. I can't think of a player who wasn't mediocre when rehabbing from a semi-serious surgery. So he doesn't have his velocity back. Big whoop. It'll come back or it won't. I'd be fine with the cubs spending several million bucks to find out. We spent how many millions on the likes of Neifi Perez and Glendon Rusch? At least Miller has a high upside. Will he reach it? Maybe. Maybe not. Let's find out. Be patient.

[YearofDaCubs]

First you say that Miller will never get his velocity back and he's toast. Then you complain about Hendry not getting an option for next season? At least be consistent.

 

No inconsistency whatsoever.

 

I wouldn't have signed him at all, but, if you're going to sign a rehabbing pitcher, there has to be some upside to the signing.

 

Having signed Miller for 2006 gives the Cubs exactly ZERO advantage over the 29 other teams going into the '06-'07 offseason.

 

Where's the upside?

 

Miller will resign with the Cubs, if that's what Hendry wants. He's not getting a multi-year deal from anyone. We can give an incentive laden 1 year deal just like anyone else and we're in his good graces for signing him at 1M. It's not like organizations are lining up to take risks on players. Hendry doesn't mind the several million dollar gamble on a starting pitcher. I don't either considering their worth to a ballclub.

 

Maybe Hendry did mess up. The future will tell. But, don't rag on Miller for being "toast" when he's still rehabbing. I can't think of a player who wasn't mediocre when rehabbing from a semi-serious surgery. So he doesn't have his velocity back. Big whoop. It'll come back or it won't. I'd be fine with the cubs spending several million bucks to find out. We spent how many millions on the likes of Neifi Perez and Glendon Rusch? At least Miller has a high upside. Will he reach it? Maybe. Maybe not. Let's find out. Be patient.

Big whoop? I would like to see a WS championship some time this century. It's time for a fully qualified GM to take over.

[RichHillIsABeast]

First you say that Miller will never get his velocity back and he's toast. Then you complain about Hendry not getting an option for next season? At least be consistent.

 

No inconsistency whatsoever.

 

I wouldn't have signed him at all, but, if you're going to sign a rehabbing pitcher, there has to be some upside to the signing.

 

Having signed Miller for 2006 gives the Cubs exactly ZERO advantage over the 29 other teams going into the '06-'07 offseason.

 

Where's the upside?

 

Miller will resign with the Cubs, if that's what Hendry wants. He's not getting a multi-year deal from anyone. We can give an incentive laden 1 year deal just like anyone else and we're in his good graces for signing him at 1M. It's not like organizations are lining up to take risks on players. Hendry doesn't mind the several million dollar gamble on a starting pitcher. I don't either considering their worth to a ballclub.

 

Maybe Hendry did mess up. The future will tell. But, don't rag on Miller for being "toast" when he's still rehabbing. I can't think of a player who wasn't mediocre when rehabbing from a semi-serious surgery. So he doesn't have his velocity back. Big whoop. It'll come back or it won't. I'd be fine with the cubs spending several million bucks to find out. We spent how many millions on the likes of Neifi Perez and Glendon Rusch? At least Miller has a high upside. Will he reach it? Maybe. Maybe not. Let's find out. Be patient.

Big whoop? I would like to see a WS championship some time this century. It's time for a fully qualified GM to take over.

 

Don't get me wrong. Hendry deserves to be fired. Dusty stinks, but he's only costing us a handful of games, not putting us in the cellar. That's all on Hendry.

 

However, not all of Hendry's moves have been poor. Miller is still in the undecided category. Rusch, Neifi, Jones, Pierre, etc are pretty poor moves. I'd much rather have Nolasco than Pierre, that's for sure. The most recent Nevin trade was good. Ditching Neifi (finally!!!) is great, especially since we picked up a decent catcher. And that's just recent history. Aramis, Lee, Murton, and Barrett were all great acquisitions.

 

We built a team around Prior and Wood. Honestly, I didn't expect Prior to implode like he did. He had a couple of freak injuries and now... I didn't have a problem with Wood's new contract at the time he signed it. Now it looks dumb, but hindsight is like that. Hendry should have added more starting pitching for this season to account for Wood's health concerns. He didn't. He definitely got raped in the Pierre trade. A few stolen bases isn't worth a major league ready starting pitcher. No way.