Miller working on consistency in AFL

Miller working on consistency in AFL
Left-hander in Arizona hoping injuries, struggles in past

By Joe Frisaro / MLB.com

11/02/09 11:32 AM EST

MIAMI -- In a career that has been mired with injuries and instabilities, the Marlins are foremost trying to establish some consistency with Andrew Miller.

The 24-year-old left-hander is getting some extra work in the Arizona Fall League, where he is in the Mesa Solar Sox rotation, pitching, on average, once a week.

For the most part, pitchers in Arizona are on pitch-count limits, and a good outing may be a maximum of five innings.

Thus far, Miller has made three starts, and his most encouraging one was his most recent. On Oct. 29, the 6-foot-7 Gainesville, Fla., resident gave up one run on three hits in 4 2/3 innings. He struck out four and walked one.

"He's doing well. We're making progress with the delivery," said Jim Fleming, the Marlins vice president of player development and scouting. "We wanted two things out there: to make the delivery a bit more consistent, and also to give him some extra innings. On both fronts, that's working."

The rangy lefty has struggled for consistency throughout his pro career.

He's dealt with some injuries along the way. This year, he was sidelined in April with an oblique strain. And after he was optioned to Triple-A New Orleans in late July, he dealt with a right ankle sprain.

The injuries, along with mechanical issues on the mound, limited him to 14 starts and 20 appearances with the Marlins in 2009. Unable to find a rhythm, Miller was 3-5 with a 4.84 ERA.

A former first-round Draft pick of the Tigers, Miller has been up-and-down in his first two seasons with the Marlins. Acquired in the Miguel Cabrera/Dontrelle Willis trade during the 2007 Winter Meetings, he is 9-15 with a 5.43 ERA as a Marlin.

In 2008, he made 20 starts and had 29 appearances with Florida. He missed substantial time due to right patellar tendinitis.

Because of injury and inconsistency, he has thrown 187 1/3 innings at the big league level the past two years.

The Marlins are hopeful the left-hander can become a significant part of their rotation in 2010.

Miller first pitched in Arizona on Oct. 17, giving up one run with three walks and two strikeouts in two innings.

Finding his groove has been a process. In his second Fall League start, he yielded two runs on three hits with two walks and two strikeouts in 2 2/3 innings.

"His first start was a little rough," Fleming said. "I was there for his second start, and [Minor League pitching coordinator Wayne Rosenthal] was there for third start."

Newly hired pitching coach Randy St. Claire at some point will be in Arizona to watch Miller as well.
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The Marlins have four pitchers on the Mesa roster, and three position players.

Jay Buente has appeared in five games, throwing 6 1/3 innings of relief. He has four strikeouts and one walk, but he's given up four earned runs.

Garrett Parcell has been getting work regularly in relief, appearing in six games, throwing 5 1/3 innings. After giving up five earned runs in two-thirds of an inning on Oct. 23, he has posted successive scoreless-innings stints.

Lefty Jay Voss also has six appearances, and he's tossed 7 2/3 innings, giving up eight earned runs. He's had two 1 2/3-innings outings, including one on Oct. 31.
Third baseman Matt Dominguez, Florida's first-round pick in 2007, has been struggling at the plate in Arizona. Thus far, he is 5-for-36 (.139), with a double and home run in eight games.

Greg Burns, a speedy outfielder, has played in six games, and he is 4-for-15 (.267) with a triple.

Left-handed-hitting outfielder Bryan Petersen, who is someone to watch when the Marlins open Spring Training in February, is batting .385 (20-for-52) with five doubles and two home runs.

Petersen was a standout on Double-A Jacksonville's championship team. His numbers are among the best of all players in Arizona.

Joe Frisaro is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.