Seattle Sports Insider

... Miller's Spin and Throw

The Tao of Jeet Kune (Dirt) Do(g)

Posted by

6/30/13

Also from his debut game, here's a grounder farrrr to his right. Miller succeeds on putting his personal stamp onto this play up the middle -- here's the video, dripping with personality.

On most plays up the middle, a shortstop leeaaaans over forward, perhaps leaving his feet to belly-flop the ball and be sure of getting it. Miller -- who slides headfirst when on the bases -- inverts the concept, does a gymnastics splits move, and kicks his feet out to "smother" a ball 10 miles away from him:

..............

In the second frame (you can just dial up the video if these images are useless) he cradles the ball in a type of base-stealer's slide. His one-point, his belly button, is pointed toward the INFIELD, the original direction of the energy. At the moment of gather, his weight is not directed at the ground while his glove is directed "at" the ball; his weight, and his glove, and his face, are in aiki harmony.

The kinetic effect is that of a river fishnet trap, and the tone is that of a mother cradling a baby.

...............

In pic 3, he hops up LIIIGGGHHHHTLY and EEEASILLLLY onto his feet, organizing himself to throw while ... wait for it, amigo ... gazing leisurely out to left field!

The attitude is one of extreme unhurriedness on a subconscious level. He's not whipping his eyes around to capture the target as soon as possible. He's a milkman walking up to a porch he's been to a thousand mornings on.

.......................

The next pic, Miller FLIPPPPPS the ball over to first base at a 75% velocity. Probably you should dial up the vid here. I mean this guy ran halfway across the left side of the diamond, got on the deck, did a burpee and got up again, faced his target, and it all happened in slow motion for him.

I don't say that Brad Miller is an excellent defensive infielder at the major league level -- although the scouts (notably super-scout Zduriencik) have certainly signed off on his SS glove. You don't hand Brendan Ryan's shortstop job to a AA ballplayer unless you have TOTAL confidence in the player you've got stepping in.

Tell you what though. I enjoyed watching Ken Griffey Jr. play as a teenager, and enjoyed watching Jay Buhner play baseball as a rookie, and enjoyed watching Omar Vizquel play shortstop as a kid, and enjoyed watching Julio Cruz play baseball when he came up. I just had a pleasant time watching them do what they did.

I enjoy watching Brad Miller and Nick Franklin play baseball, too. Those guys just are just playin' dyed-in-the-wool sandlot hardball out there. Maybe that's got a little something to do with the way they have gotten started.

Cheers,

Dr D

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Comments

Love Your Input... Reality or no... the energy is so contagious

Thank you. Go M's.
If I am Sr. Mgmt I sign Z and Wedge for two more years, knowing I might eat the last year.
I just think there is something here. Spend some money on 1B and OF. Spend some money. Let Wedge be Wedge with the young'ins. There is something here. I can feel it.
I am the same guy calling for Wedges head every time he puts Capps on the mound. And Z's for Ackley, Montero, and Smoak. But these true M's.... these pure young'ins... hmm.
One more year. Oh man... I said it. May I rest in peace

The future is here.

The shot of both Miller and Franklin talking in the dugout and that game ending double play with them running off the field together gave me goosebumps of anticipation.It's still a game instead of a job for them. I'm really looking forward to seeing them play together for years to come.

Wedge is a good fit for the

Wedge is a good fit for the latest generation. Franklin, Miller, Zunino. Those kind of dirt dog guys are going to be simpatico w/ Wedge. Wedge is not a screamer, he is a put your head down and work hard blue collar kind of guy. Let's focus on the strengths not the weaknesses of the men in the trenches, and put our fan criticism energy where it belongs: with the ownership and payroll. Couldn't agree more w/ you Michael.
Both Stone and Baker have fired off broadsides directly at LincStrong lately. One can only imagine how they really feel, I am sure this is just the tip of the iceberg. I think the guns need to be aimed a little higher though. Ownership cuts the checks, not LincStrong. Let's see some of that TV money spent on the field, give Z and Wedge a chance to do their jobs with some real resources, and if they still can't get it done, then let em go. Two more years sounds about right to me. If we are in the same position in 2015, Z will unquestionably deserve to go.
The only thing that would make me reconsider my support of Wedge is clear (not just anecdotal) analysis that he is a bad game manager and is costing us runs consistently. If such an analysis exists, I haven't seen it. As a person and leader, I like him and I don't think we'll find much better on the open market.