Wade Miller Rehab Update

Tonight, Wade Miller made another rehab start for the the Cubs class A minor league team, The Peoria Chiefs.  The Chiefs played the Kane County Cougars at Kane County, so me and my fiance made the 20 minute drive from the  Naperville/Aurora area to go see him pitch.  

Some observations:  Miller is not throwing very hard. The "pitch speed" display was not working at Elfstrom Stadium, so I can't tell you exactly how hard Miller was throwing, but he clearly wasn't getting much over 87 or maybe 88 mph.  He retired the first two Cougars he faced in the first inning on a ground out and then a strikeout (looking).  Miller then proceeded to walk the next three hitters to load the bases.  Not good.  He got out of the inning by inducing a short fly ball.

Miller then labored through the 2nd inning, allowing a single, going to a 3-2 count on a couple of hitters, and allowing a long flyball that was maybe 2 feet from going out of the park for a home run.  He got out of that inning unscored upon.  Miller was much better in the 3rd and 4th innings, walking one more batter in those two innings and not allowing another hit.  Miller was removed after the 4th inning, I'm sure due to pitch count.  His line was four innings, allowing no runs on one hit, but the four walks (three in succession) and lack of control overall are of concern to me.  I don't think Miller will be ready to come up to the big club this year.  I hope he proves me wrong, but to me, it appears he has more rehab work to do before he is ready.

As for the other Cubs, rightfielder Jesus Valdez impressed me, despite the fact he went 0 for 4.  He showed good speed and had quality at-bats, fouling off pitches and making Cougars pitchers work.  The Cougars ended up beating the Chiefs by a final score of 4-2.

A few words about the Kane County Cougars should be said as well.  The Cougars do an excellent job of providing family entertainment at a reasonable price.  Parking was free.  Tickets were only $8.00 each for lawn seats.  The lawn seats are actually down the foul lines, so you aren't stuck behind the outfield fence.  The Cougars mascot "Ozzie" liberally dispences frisbees, mush balls and other giveaway type items inbetween innings while riding around the warning track on his ATV.  It's a very family oriented expirience.  They had a fireworks show after the game as well; a good display at that.

Then after the game, every fan received one of the strangest give away items I've seen at a sporting event - loaves of Sara Lee brand bread.  You had a choice of wheat or white as well!  For what ever reason, Sara Lee was sponsoring "bread night" so me and the fiance went home with a loaf of wheat and a loaf of white.  They aren't the small loaves either, they were the regular sized loaves of bread.  Funny stuff.  That's all for now, I'm going to make myself a sandwich.