Wade Miller now a Cub

[Ravenlord]

i thought it was his labrum in 2004. Because he had the frayed labrum in 2004 for sure, and he had shoulder stiffness last year which cut short that season too. are you thinking of oswalt who had the bum groin for awhile in previous years?

nope. but i was thinking 03, not 04. i remember it because the Reds ended up missing both Oswalt and Miller in Houston because they were having issues with their groins.

wow...that so doesn't sound right...

[rockin500]

it was his groin in 04.

i thought it was his labrum in 2004. Because he had the frayed labrum in 2004 for sure, and he had shoulder stiffness last year which cut short that season too. are you thinking of oswalt who had the bum groin for awhile in previous years?

[Ravenlord]

why? because he's had a bum wing the past two years. not many teams can afford to take a gamble that may not work out.

it was his groin in 04.

[rockin500]

I really like this though. He has great potential. I remember he used to be a kick ass pitcher for the Astros. I dont like his ERA though. His Home Run total in 2001 can be a little scary. I honestly dont know why he wasnt a big FA this year. I figured a lot of teams coukld use him.

why? because he's had a bum wing the past two years. not many teams can afford to take a gamble that may not work out.

its not really a gamble for the cubs, since if it works it costs them 2 million bucks, if it doesnt, it costs them one million, and thats chump change when the budget is near 100 million.

[Cubsfan97]

I really like this though. He has great potential. I remember he used to be a kick ass pitcher for the Astros. I dont like his ERA though. His Home Run total in 2001 can be a little scary. I honestly dont know why he wasnt a big FA this year. I figured a lot of teams coukld use him.

[Kessinger#11]

Miller signing a nice gamble.

Taking a gamble on a pitcher with Millers stuff, ok when healthy, is a great move. It worked out with Dempster so why not.

[Ravenlord]

cough Clemens cough.

not that he'd sign with them, or anyone who's not New York or Houston....

[Cubsfan97]

This could be a great move if he stays healthy and returns to good form. I wanted the Cubs to go after Miller. Now lets see if they go after any other former Astro pitchers. cough Clemens cough.

[Nomtoc]

Rusch and Williams are our only hopes as for 4th and 5th Starters. I just pray Dusty uses Rusch out of the gate and never sits him in the pen. I think that's what messed him up; i.e. not letting him start full time.

[burger eater]

I, personally, feel this move indicates a trade of either Rusch or Williams, and the other going to the pen.

I don't think it would it be wise to trade either of them at any point with Wood & Miller in the rotation. Unless Guzman or Hill (or both) prove beyond doubt that they're ready for a full-time MLB work load, trading Jerome would be a huge mistake. It would be dumb anyway, he's a cheap, quality pitcher who can already do what we hope Guzman or Hill can do and he'll be needed in 2007 when Maddux and Wood are gone.

[burger eater]

His mechanics are just as bad as Wood's, and just as harmful. More work for Rothschild I guess.

More work doing what? Calling down to the pen in the 4th-5th inning?
Never fear, Miller's in good hands. Larry & Dusty are tops at keeping pitchers healthy and pitch counts down. Dusty won't let him throw more than 120 pitches until he's had a couple starts.

Opening day rotation:

Zambrano
Prior
Maddux
Rusch
Williams
(livable... for a short time.)

May rotation:
Zambrano
Prior
Miller
Maddux
Wood

June rotation:

Zambrano
Prior
Maddux
Rusch
Williams

Wood & Miller making a formidable 1-2 punch in simulated games in the DL league.

[Ravenlord]

the Cubs finally do the thing i've been wanting the Reds to do since December when Miller filed for free agency. and gave him nearly the same contract i was pimping.

[RBi]

I also wouldn't be suprised if he simply works out of the bullpen in hopes of having him come out like Wood did in August of 2005.

Not likely... The contact is laced with incentives that will get him $1,000,000 depending on the amount of starts he makes.

With that clause in the contract, he is looking to be a starter...

Opening day rotation:

Zambrano
Prior
Maddux
Rusch
Williams
(livable... for a short time.)

May rotation:
Zambrano
Prior
Miller
Maddux
Wood

With Rusch/Williams in the wings (just in case)

I'll take it.

[RBi]

We are talking $2mil AFTER incentives ($1 million Base & $1 incentives)... yea I like this pick up as well..

[Nverve1]

I personally think it's a great signing. No harm on taking the risk with Wade Miller. I, personally, feel this move indicates a trade of either Rusch or Williams, and the other going to the pen. That would make a rotation of Zambrano, Prior, Wood, Miller, Maddux. Now granted the shuffling of the rotation would only take part once Miller & Wood are 100% healthy.

I also wouldn't be suprised if he simply works out of the bullpen in hopes of having him come out like Wood did in August of 2005.