Andrew Miller Desires to be A Closer
The midseason acquisition of Andrew Miller was one that paid huge dividends for the Baltimore Orioles down the stretch run. Not only did he add another spectacular arm to a bullpen that already had plenty of those in it, but he completed what was the best 7th-8th-9th inning combo in baseball.
If the Orioles had the lead heading into the seventh inning, it was pretty much game over. You would have Andrew Miller coming in to pitch the seventh inning, Darren O’Day pitching with his 1.70 ERA in the eighth, and Zach Britton, who saved 37 games in 41 attempts and maintained a 1.65 ERA throughout the year, would come in to the shut the door and close out the game.
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Miller added a much-needed left-handed reliever to the bullpen as well. With Brian Matusz, who was the O’s top lefty last season, struggling to find his grove, the team needed help there. So they turned to Miller, and he put up absolutely fantastic numbers.
In 23 games with Baltimore, he pitched to an ERA of 1.35 with 34 strikeouts. In 20 innings pitched, he gave up just three runs and only one long ball. He ended the season with an ERA of 2.02 and a record of 5-5.
He was very close to unhittbale. He gave up just eight hits in the 20 innings that he pitched with the Orioles. Now, he wants an even larger role on whatever team is willing to give that to him.
I think there is undoubtedly a team out there that is willing to give him a job as a closer. Just think about how many teams are in desperate need for one. I think he is ready to take that step and that he will succeed greatly in it.
He recorded the first save of his eight-year career with Baltimore in 2014, so he obviously doesn’t have much experience doing it. But with that being said, there is a first time for everything, and I think that Miller will get the opportunity that he desires to receive.