What is Wrong with Seattle Mariners' Bryce Miller? Here's a Possible Answer

The Seattle Mariners suffered a very tough defeat on Monday night, losing 7-6 against the Athletics in 11 innings. However, before the questionable decision-making at the end of the game, there was a another questionable start from M's pitcher Bryce Miller.

Miller, 26, was one of the best pitchers in the American League last season, going 12-8 with a 2.94 ERA. He struck out 171 batters against just 45 walks in 180.1 innings.

This year, it's been a different story, as Miller has a 4.15 ERA, and he's already walked 19 batters in 34.2 innings. His 1.47 WHIP is much higher than his career average of 1.09.

So, what's wrong? Well, Miller has complained of arm soreness and back stiffness at various points of the season, so there's always the chance that something is physically wrong.

But, we've pointed to a possible mechanical issue for Miller as well, at least in Monday's start.

And look, I was a Division III pitcher and a junior college pitching coach, I don't claim to have all the answers, but something stuck out to me on Monday. It wasn't just that Miller was missing location, it's that he was missing location in the same way each time: Either way up and in to a righty, or way down and away. It screams of "his arm is lagging," and here's what I mean, as stated in video form below.

​All ​right, ​let's ​start ​here. ​This ​was ​from ​his ​last ​start ​against ​the ​Angels (top right). ​And ​this ​is ​just ​one ​pitch, ​but ​this ​is ​a ​good ​pitch. ​This ​was ​a ​splitter ​to ​Mike ​Trout. ​That ​ended ​up ​being ​strike ​three. ​I've ​stopped ​the ​video, basically ​right ​where ​Bryce ​Miller ​is ​landing. ​When ​he ​lands ​you ​can ​see ​that ​his ​arm ​is ​out ​in ​front ​of ​him. ​He's ​clearly ​on ​top ​of ​the ​baseball. ​Okay, ​you ​want ​to ​throw ​the ​ball ​down ​in ​the ​zone ​on ​this ​pitch. ​He's ​able ​to ​do ​that. ​He's ​on ​top. ​His ​arm ​is ​out ​front.

Then ​we ​go ​to ​yesterday ​against ​the ​A's. ​Okay, ​again, ​the ​frame ​has ​stopped ​right ​where ​Bryce ​Miller ​is ​about ​to ​release ​the ​ball. ​You ​can ​see ​his ​arm ​is ​slightly ​behind ​where ​it ​should ​be. ​Again, ​it ​is ​slight, ​it ​is ​small, ​but ​that is ​a ​very ​big ​issue ​when ​you're ​talking ​about ​precise ​location. ​So ​this ​pitch, ​he's ​not ​as ​out ​in ​front ​of ​as ​he ​was ​with ​the ​splitter. ​This ​is ​a ​fastball. ​And ​look, ​your ​arm ​is ​going ​to ​release ​the ​ball ​no ​matter ​what. Your ​arm ​at ​this ​point ​has ​two ​choices. ​One, ​release ​it ​here ​and ​the ​ball ​sails ​on ​you, ​or ​two, ​you ​fall ​over ​towards ​the ​first ​base ​side, ​you ​carry ​the ​ball ​with ​you ​and ​the ​ball ​goes ​basically ​into ​the ​left ​handed ​batters ​box. ​Bryce ​obviously ​does ​the ​first, ​releases ​it ​here ​and ​the ​pitch ​ends ​up ​in ​the ​middle ​of ​the ​plate ​and ​up, ​and ​actually ​riding ​in ​because ​basically ​the ​ball ​has ​sailed ​on ​him.