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"We're hoping to see exactly what he's been doing his last four starts [at] Triple-A," Francona said. "One start doesn't make or break your career. But we just want to see him pound the strike zone with his good stuff. He's really done a terrific job.”
Daniel Bard, Miller's teammate while both pitchers were at the University of North Carolina, is looking forward to seeing what the left-hander can do for the Sox.
“I know he’s been throwing the ball really well these four or five starts in Triple-A,” Bard said. “But I’m just excited for him. It’s kind of been a long road back to the big leagues for him and I know he’s worked extremely hard to get back. As a friend of mine, just glad to see him personally get back, but also I think he can really help this team. I’m not sure what role it’ll be in the long term. But he’s too good to let go.”
Bard is hoping the Sox can get from Miller what other teams were unable to.
“Obviously the Marlins, for whatever reason, didn’t want him anymore and the Red Sox saw it as a great opportunity and jumped on it,” Bard said. “At this point, I think it’s worked out really well for both sides, for Andrew and for the Red Sox. But I think the biggest thing, when they did agree to that deal in the offseason, both sides want it to be a long-term partnership. Andrew, just to be with the same organization, the Red Sox because they saw him as a big piece of their future. So, I think that’s beginning of what we see this week.”
CSNNE: Miller: A tall pitcher with high hopes
With Clay Buchholz back still bothering him, Andrew Miller has himself a few chances to impress Terry Francona & the front office starting with tonight against the Padres. He's been throwing the ball really well down in Pawtucket, going 3-3 with a 2.47 ERA in 12 starts. He can throw hard and it seems like the control issues that he had in Florida are.. well.. under control.
He's still pretty young and it's surprising how quick both the Tigers & Marlins gave up on someone that was drafted 6th overall in 2006. Maybe if Detroit didn't rush him up to the Majors and kept him at Double A for a couple years we could be talking about Miller as someone to look out for. Fortunately their impatience turned out to be beneficial for the Sox. If everything goes right and Miller realizes his potential, this is one of Theo Epstein's best moves. He added a pitcher that could be in the rotation alongside Buchholz and Jon Lester for many years. Tonight may just be the start of something special.
Rest of the Links:
Globe:Full blast|Bruins honored at Fenway|Gonzalez's 1000th hit takes back seat to win|Buchholz latest to land on DL|Herald:Sox honor Stanley Cup champs before game|Buchholz out, Miller in|Sox score 6 in first, roll past Brewers|Back to the future|Trophy sample for Sox|A-Gon legs out 1000th career hit|CSNNE:Sox shell Gallardo in 12-3 win over Brew|Buchholz on DL|1000 hits for Gonzo|Wakefield likes his role|Fenway salutes B's|WEEI:Red Sox blow away Brew Crew|A-Gon to Ellsbury: "I have more triples"|Buchholz latest to DL|How Adrian Gonzalez became the biggest bargain in baseball
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