• Tribe 2008 organization preview
• Just one more thing... • Full Spring Training coverage • Indians Minor League gear MiLB.com will be visiting each Spring Training site in the Grapefruit and Cactus Leagues this month to report on the most significant stories involving each club's Minor League system as players get ready for the 2008 season. We'll find out who's impressing the organization, who's hot and who's not, and sit down for an exclusive Q&A with a top prospect.
Team: Cleveland Indians Burning Question So, where are we going to see Adam Miller this season, and what can we expect of him when we do see him? The former supplemental-round pick (2003) had a rough season last year, spending two separate and long stints on the disabled list. He missed more than a month with an injury to the middle finger on his right hand, and when he returned, he promptly went back on the DL with an inflamed elbow. By the time he came back, near the end of August, his season was essentially shot. He finished 5-4 with a 4.82 ERA in 19 games (11 starts) for Buffalo. Miller followed his difficult season by pitching in the Arizona Fall League, but he got mixed results from his effort and, depending on whom you speak with, he was either good, bad or mediocre. The situation wasn't made any more clear this spring, when Miller developed a blister early on and was out of action for nearly a month. He got back on the mound last week, threw a batting practice session, and then started a Minor League game on Thursday, looking good and coming through it without any complications. Yet as Opening Day approaches, the folks in Cleveland are still looking for a handle on the 23-year-old's situation. "He fits in when he's healthy, and if he shows he can sustain that health, he gives us starting depth or a relief fill-in," Cleveland's director of player development Ross Atkins said. "Really what we're focused on now is not just showing that he's a healthy Adam Miller, but that he's able to stay 100 percent for a sustained period of time. And if he can do that, he can help in several facets, either in the back of the bullpen, the middle of the bullpen or by adding to our starting depth. "We're focusing on his health, and making sure he's got these past hiccups and injuries out of his head, clear and 100 percent. And he's handling it better than any other individual could, but he has had a lot to handle. From the finger to the elbow and back to the finger, it's been very trying. But I can't imagine anyone handling it better. He was a guy, this time a year ago, that was on the verge, with everyone saying, 'He belongs in the rotation.' A whole year later, we're just saying, 'Let's see if he stays healthy.'" Scouting reports, bullpen sessions and statistics only tell part of the story, though. Atkins couldn't talk enough about Miller's makeup, and how well he handled the adversity over the last 12 months. Being mired in an injury plagued season in Buffalo after going 15-6 with a 2.75 ERA the previous season in Akron might have gotten to some young pitchers, but not Miller. "He's how you write up makeup," Atkins said. But will Miller fall into a funk should he get off to a bad start this season, or should another nagging injury -- like a blister -- crop up? Atkins doesn't think so. #ques_include {width:300px;float:right;margin-left:5px;} #ques_content {border-top:1px solid #000000;border-left:1px solid #000000;padding-left:5px;} .ques_schedule {margin-top:5px;font-size:11px;} .ques_dates {font-size:11px;font-style:italic;color:#999;} 
"If I could answer that [the question of how to keep it out of your mind], I'd probably still be pitching," Atkins said. "If I could answer that, we'd have a lot more success. I just don't think there is an answer to that. We talk to the players and make them aware, have them think things through and give them a plan to deal with their emotions. "They have to be able to separate the injuries from the performance, and just go about the game. And Adam has handled it. You couldn't ask him to handle it better than he has. He's built for baseball. That's what he thinks about all the time. He's obviously exceptionally gifted. He's tough mentally and physically." Tough enough that no one in the Cleveland front office seems to have too many worries about him. Other News of the Day Southpaw David Huff, whose 2007 season was cut short because of elbow problems, got off to a marvelous start in camp. "He's been outstanding, and is working to convince us he belongs at an upper level," Atkins said. "He shows poise, he's doing well delivering the fastball, he's done everything we've asked him to do. He's making the decision for us. He'll probably start at Double-A, but that's not etched in stone. He's not so much of a surprise this spring, but he had the health setback and the pain in his elbow last year. We're going to take the next 10 days and determine what's best for him." Oft-injured former first-rounder Michael Aubrey has also remained healthy throughout the spring. He had what Atkins labeled a "minor hiccup" with his back earlier in camp, but otherwise has been playing well and staying on the field. "He's played every day, and it seems like he's hitting three doubles every day," Atkins said. Speaking of injuries, converted catcher Chris Gimenez has had a bit of a history with time on the disabled list, as well. But he's been healthy this spring and could be an option behind the plate in the not-too-distant future if he can stay healthy. "Offensively, he's been impressive so far," Atkins said. "He's a little older [25], but it's a commodity if he can catch. His bat is definitely there. He can hit, and he has some power and a good work ethic." 2007 first-rounder Beau Mills returned to Minor League camp last week, and will once again begin working out at third base after spending time playing first in Major League camp. Atkins said he figures Mills to play third base about half the time. No decision has been made regarding OF Trevor Crowe in terms of whether he'll start the season in Akron or Buffalo. Five Questions with Ryan Miller MiLB.com: If you could have dinner with anyone in history, living or dead, real or fictional, who would it be and why? RM: It would probably have to be Nolan Ryan. He was my idol growing up, and I was named after him. I've never met him, though he's always been someone I've looked up to. I've tried to imitate him throughout my career, even though I'm left-handed. I like how he went out there with that good work ethic. That's something I've tried to copy. I try to throw the ball 100 miles an hour like him. It's a goal of mine. It's probably a goal for a lot of guys. I have to say that I'm a drop-and-drive guy like him. I like to think of myself as more of a power pitcher than a finesse, Greg Maddux type. MiLB.com: What's your greatest accomplishment, on or off the field and why? RM: I'd probably have to say my last season in college. I was drafted in the 36th round [2006] and I knew I wasn't going to sign after that. I knew I had to come out after my sophomore year and have a good year, because it was the last year for the draft and follow. I knew I had to work hard and I did, going out, and that's what got me here today. I went 9-0 [at Blinn College]. MiLB.com: If you weren't a baseball player, what would your occupation be right now? RM: If didn't play baseball I'd still be in college. My major would probably have something to do with coaching. I also thought about going into business management or real estate. I had a couple of options. MiLB.com: What was the biggest difference between the Gulf Coast League (where you finished the season last year) and New York-Penn League (where you began)? RM: For me, I didn't find much difference between the two. I was just getting my feet wet in pro ball in the New York-Penn League. I got caught up in all of it [going 0-2 with an 18.69 ERA in three appearances]. I don't think I was prepared as well as I should have been. After three starts, I realized it was simply the same game, and that I just needed to go out and pitch. When I got down to rookie ball, that's what I did. I started to throw everything from the stretch to simplify things. I had an old pitching coach a few years ago who had me do that when I had control problems. It worked out, and I had a pretty good season in the Gulf Coast League [4-2, 2.40 in nine starts]. MiLB.com: What did you know about the Indians before they drafted you? RM: I knew that they were always a great contender in the AL Central, but I was a big fan of the Astros growing up. I was surprised that they drafted me, because I talked to their scout maybe once or twice before the draft. The team I was talking to the most was the Mets, and even had a pre-draft workout with them. So, I was surprised the second day of the draft when Cleveland took me. Lasting Impression Kelvin de la Cruz isn't one of Cleveland's better known prospects just yet. But, based on scouting reports and what he's shown so far, some day he will be. The 20-year-old native of the Dominican Republic is a hard-throwing southpaw who managed to stay under the radar last season, despite going 5-4 with a 3.11 ERA in 72 1/3 innings split between the Gulf Coast and New York-Penn Leagues. He'll hawk his wares at Lake County this season, in the hopes of continuing his ascent. "He's 6-foot-4 and he could get to 6-5," Atkins said. "He's still growing. His velocity is in the mid-90s at what, 19. He's got a feel for his breaking ball and his changeup. He has exciting life on his pitches. He's one of the most projectable guys we have. He can definitely get to Kinston this year. "I wouldn't want to limit him to a middle of the rotation guy. Everything we know about him says he can be a top of the rotation guy." Still, there are some issues that need to be worked out. He walked almost six batters per nine innings last year, a number that should decrease with time and experience. If he can gain some more consistency with his delivery, it shouldn't be as much of an issue this season. Parting Shot The Tribe will be headed west next year for Spring Training in Arizona. The folks in and around Winter Haven will miss Chief Wahoo and his cohorts but they still have a few more days to enjoy the Indians and the multitude of young prospects the organization has to offer. Kevin Czerwinski is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs. |
