Bob Nightengale of USA Today has a story about the guy who is probably the biggest bust of all of the players who were involved in prominent offseason transactions: Shelby Miller.
Miller, who was traded from Atlanta to Arizona for a VERY big package of players over the winter, has been stinkin’ it up for the Diamondbacks, posting a 1-3 record and a 7.36 ERA in seven starts. He leads the league in walks issued with 21. And he’s only struck out 20 batters. Any way you slice it, it’s a mess.
The article is framed via Miller’s return to Atlanta last weekend, where he faced the Braves. In it some of his former Braves teammates talk about how perplexed they are that Miller hasn’t been doing well. Dave Stewart and the Diamondbacks, however, continue to say that Miller will come around. Stewart says that if he had to do the trade over again right now he would. Which, well, of course he’d say that.
I did get a chuckle from it all, however, given that Miller’s best start of the season came on Saturday against the Braves. As a result I pictured the whole situation like the sale of a bad appliance or something with the Braves being the salesmen.
Diamondbacks: “Hey, this thing you sold me? It doesn’t work.”
Braves: “That’s crazy, it’s top notch! You got a bargain!”
Diamondbacks: “I’m tellin’ ya, it’s defective.”
Braves: “Bring it here.”
[Miller pitches fantastically against the Braves, gets the win]
Braves: “See? Like I told ya, top notch. Workin’ just fine as far as I can tell. No refunds.”
Diamondbacks: [grumbling]