When Theo Epstein and the Boston Red Sox signed Andrew Miller in the offseason, they knew exactly what they were getting. A pitcher with all the talent in the world but some of the worst mechanics due to being rushed by his former teams in Detroit and Florida.
It seemed he had worked out his mechanical issues that led to poor control and command in Pawtucket that led to his callup with the Red Sox. And while he hasn’t been lights out, he’s done okay. But in his past few starts, those poor mechanics have crept back into play.
After being roughed in his last start against the Rays, Miller was facing the Orioles for the second time this season. Unlike the Rays start, this Miller was able to escape the now returned wildness that has plagued him throughout his career.
Miller worked himself out of a bases loaded jam in the 2nd, a jam created by him walking three straight batters. He was able to work out of the jam by inducing a double play ball off the bat of Craig Tatum to escape any damage. Of course Tatum may have helped him out by swinging at a few balls that were out of the strike zone.
He settled down after that because of adjustments made by himself, Jason Varitek and pitching coach Curt Young. He wouldn’t allow his first hit of the game until the 5th when the aformentioned Tatum connected for a single. He would give up a two-out single in the 6th to Derrek Lee followed up by a walk to Mark Reynolds and that ended his afternoon.
Matt Albers continued to show his former team how good he could be by striking out two over 1.1 innings including ending the 6th inning with Miller in trouble. Daniel Bard needed just nine pitches to get through the 8th and Jonathan Papelbon kept the 9th drama free by striking out one in a perfect inning of relief in a non-save situation.
Of course the offense made Miller’s job a little easier with 12 hits on the afternoon.
While Adrian Gonzalez broke out of his 2-for-24 post All-Star break slump with four hits on the afternoon, it was the new found power of Jacoby Ellsbury that was the big difference. Ellsbury got the Red Sox on the board in the 3rd with the first of two solo home runs. He added another in the 7th that pushed the lead to 3-0.
Josh Reddick continued to his push to make J.D. Drew expendable with another two hits. Carl Crawford continues to shine since returning from his hamstring injury with another two hits, a stolen base and a RBI on a bases loaded walk.
When you think back about the offseason and the signings in the bullpen, your first thoughts were that Dan Wheeler and Bobby Jenks would be the bridge to Papelbon along with Bard. Instead with Wheeler struggling early on and Jenks battling back injuries all season long, Albers has stepped up and done a brilliant job.
This is the same Albers who was 11-12 with a 4.60 ERA and 1.529 WHIP for the Orioles over three seasons. That’s a far cry from the 3-3 with a 2.29 ERA and a 1.195 WHIP for the Red Sox this season. Like Alfredo Aceves, Albers has had a bump in the road or two. But for the most part, those two pitchers seem to be the best offseason signings for the Red Sox pitching staff.
With the Red Sox being off today, we’ll be back in a short while with the pitching matchups for the upcoming series with the Seattle Mariners. But for now, enjoy the overnight links from the media by clicking on the read more button below if you’re on the home page.
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Andrew Miller walks the unusual line [Alex Speier – WEEI.com]
Power lifting [Boston Globe]
Gonzalez hits his stride [Boston Globe]
Far from a control freak [Boston Globe]
That’s a wrap: Reddick, Crawford contribute to Sox’ 4-0 win over O’s [Boston Herald]
Not so fast on Carlos Beltran [Boston Herald]
Southie pitching all in for Tim Burke [Boston Herald]
Empowered Jacoby Ellsbury teeing off [Boston Herald]
Changeup from Andrew Miller [Boston Herald]
Sox reliever Dan Wheeler recalls last time Carlos Beltran got traded [Clubhouse Insider]
Sox finish trip with 4-0 win over O’s [CSNNE.com]
Hottovy clears waivers; outrighted to Pawtucket [CSNNE.com]
Pumping up and winding down with the Sox [CSNNE.com]
Jones ‘sick and tired’ of losing to Red Sox [CSNNE.com]
Tension remains high between umpires, teams [CSNNE.com]
Notes: Miller, Ellsbury carry Sox to victory [CSNNE.com]
Reddick earning his keep in right field [CSNNE.com]
Draft of 2012 Red Sox schedule [ESPN Boston]
Good time had by all in Baltimore [ESPN Boston]
Theo: Best Sox acquisition a healthy Buchholz [ESPN Boston]
Boston Red Sox like Carlos Beltran, but price too high, source says [ESPN Boston]
Theo: Sox have depth to make deal [ESPN Boston]
Theo: Best acquisition a healthy Buchholz [ESPN Boston]
Epstein: The ‘light’s gone on’ for Reddick [ESPN Boston]
Why the Sox aren’t yet considering a call-up for Ryan Lavarnway [Full Count]
Closing Time: Red Sox 4, Orioles 0 [Full Count]
Red Sox Ticket Price Increase on Secondary Market Greater Than Average Cost of Dodgers Ticket [NESN.com]
Injuries to Red Sox Rotation Make Pitching A Higher Trade Deadline Priority Than Right Field Help [NESN.com]
Jacoby Ellsbury Joining Superstar Teammates in Game’s Upper Echelon [NESN.com]
Video: Andrew Miller Picks Up Another Win, Despite Battling More Control Issues [NESN.com]
Video: Jacoby Ellsbury Credits Aggressiveness in Strike Zone for Jump in Power This Season [NESN.com]
Red Sox’ Deep Lineup, Solid Starting Pitching Means Team Doesn’t Need to Make Big Trade at Deadline [NESN.com]
Josh Reddick Proving His Worth As Everyday Right-Fielder With Trade Deadline Approaching [NESN.com]
Ellsbury’s power display all Sox needed [Providence Journal]
Reddick thrilled to be part of master plan [Providence Journal]
Red Sox Journal: Quick fix helps Gonzalez bust out [Providence Journal]
Impressive discipline and eye-popping results have put Ryan Lavarnway on big-league track [Providence Journal]
Francona: ASG activities might be a bit much [RedSox.com]
For more slices of Red Sox goodness, head over to the Boston Globe, Boston Herald, CSN New England, ESPN Boston, NESN, Providence Journal, RedSox.com and WEEI websites.
And if you must check out the enemy news, head over to the Baltimore Sun website. You can also check out our Bloguin brother, the Oriole Post.
Photo credit: AP Photo
