Will Wade Miller EVER pitch this season? Or Next?

by JFCubFan on Aug 10, 2006 11:29 AM CDT

This item caught my eye this morning...

"Wade Miller will make his next rehab start Friday for Double-A West Tenn."

I may be a tad cynical but here we are in mid August, 7 weeks of baseball left, and this guy is still a wreck in motion. Obviously the season is lost but will the Cubs still bring him up? And for what reason - trade bait or a spot on the 2007 rotation?

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or Al Yellon, managing editor (unless it's a FanPost posted by Al). FanPost opinions are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.

Tweet Comment 19 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Wade Miller

Looks to be a failed $1 million investment. The Cubs took a flyer, and it didn't work out. I can't fault Hendry and the Cubs on this one.

by Mike63 on Aug 10, 2006 11:34 AM CDT reply actions

Agreed

"Chicago baseball fans, who are composites of scar tissue and mortifying memories..." - George F. Will

by eswan9 on Aug 10, 2006 11:39 AM CDT up reply actions

The fault

will be if they are silly enough to bring this guy off the DL this year. The only thing that will accomplish is to take starts away from guys that need the work to continue developing like Marmol, Hill, and soon Marshall. Personally, I don't think they should be wasting any more time on this guy. The Cubs already have two SPs (Prior and Marshall) with a history of injuries, they absolutely do not need another one in Wade Miller.

by Thunderclap Newman on Aug 10, 2006 12:46 PM CDT up reply actions

I'd rather

have Miller get the starts than Prior.

by NO100 on Aug 10, 2006 12:48 PM CDT up reply actions

I might agree if

that was an option. But alas it's not. The Cubs are not going to shut down Prior to give starts to Miller. Any Miller starts will come at the expense of either Marshall, Hill, or Marmol.

by Thunderclap Newman on Aug 10, 2006 12:51 PM CDT up reply actions

I'm sure you're right

I'm just saying the less I see of Prior, the happier I'll be.

I'd be very happy with a few quality starts from here on out to build up his trade value and have him shipped out to somewhere else. I wish Saskatchewan or Siberia had a team.

by NO100 on Aug 10, 2006 12:59 PM CDT up reply actions

He'd have to clear waivers

and be traded by the end of the month to be eligible for a team's playoff roster. A non-contender would never trade for a ? like Miller who's going to be an FA in less than 2 months. Sorry, but there's not enough time to build up any trade value nor much of a market for him.

by Thunderclap Newman on Aug 10, 2006 1:30 PM CDT up reply actions

I'm not talking about a trade this season

I'm talking more in the off season. I also think that no matter what he does from here on out, the Cubs won't be able to get for him what they could have gotten for him last off season.

However, I do think that if he were to have a couple of real good starts between now and the end of the season, it would make trading him easier.

by NO100 on Aug 10, 2006 1:58 PM CDT up reply actions

not to be rude

but you can't trade someone who's not under contract. He's on a one year deal, so a trade would need to be consummated this season. Also, they signed him last offseason and by rule couldn't have traded him until a couple months into the season (can't remember the exact date).

by Thunderclap Newman on Aug 10, 2006 2:52 PM CDT up reply actions

Sorry

No, I was talking about trading Prior.

I'd like to give both of them starts, but If I had to choose one or the other, I'd rather give them to Miller. However, both of those guys are below the needs of Marshall, Marmol, Hill, and Guzman.

I'm seriously done with Prior and would like to see him out of town. Anything that could or should not be done to do that would have my blessing. Maybe the best thing to do would be to sit him because he looks more and more embarassing every time he steps on the mound.

From a value standpoint, the best thing would be for Prior to make a few successful starts and then trade him.

by NO100 on Aug 10, 2006 3:18 PM CDT up reply actions

I believe that..

..the trade in question is regarding Prior, not Miller.

My Immediate Kindness Eventually Sets Up Cool Kosier Status.

by santo for prez on Aug 10, 2006 3:20 PM CDT up reply actions

Agreed, but...

... why NOT DL Prior and try Miller for a month in the majors? He could hardly do worse.

by Al Yellon on Aug 10, 2006 8:11 PM CDT up reply actions

WHO

CARES

by tbizzle83 on Aug 10, 2006 11:57 AM CDT reply actions

The only reason I would care at all about Miller..

would be if Hendry decided to sign him to another cheap 1 year deal for 2007. I wouldn't be too surprised to see that happen, and it wouldn't be a bad move - if Miller does fully recover by next year, he could add some depth (just like we thought he would by mid-season 2006). Right now, he seems to be nowhere near the majors, and I wouldn't want him to be taking starts away from our young pitchers anyway, so it's just as well.

by mportsch on Aug 10, 2006 12:15 PM CDT reply actions

I agree

The Cubs have invested a significant amount of time, effort and money into bringing him into form. I'd at least want to keep him in the fold until he's either he's 'back' or until it's obvious that he'll never pitch again.

by Richie Hebner 18 on Aug 10, 2006 12:27 PM CDT up reply actions

That is ALL sunk cost

if he is not going to be a net benefit to the team (and he won't) not another second should be spent on him. He should have been released a month and a half ago.

by Santos Sorrow @ Bleed Cubbie Blue on Aug 10, 2006 2:25 PM CDT up reply actions

Take starts away from Prior???

Forget that nonsense! He needs to make as many starts as possible to either....

a.) Work out what ever is going on in that head of his. He is going through the worst stretch of his baseball career.....I'm not talking just college, high school, minors or MLB.....I am talking since he was in little league here. He is working on a new grip for his curveball and needs to either go back to what was working or, as someone else mentioned, hit up more bullpen sessions.

b.) Compile quality starts and prove to be healthy. I know I will get reemed for this....but the Tampa Bay Devil Rays have inquired a number of teams regarding major league ready pitching.....and have hinted at Carl Crawford being available for such......

by TheBeerBaron on Aug 11, 2006 1:07 PM CDT reply actions