Jai Miller Clears Waivers/Neshek Assigned to MiL Camp

[RZNJ]

BTW, hopefully this means Xavier Avery to Bowie where he belongs. Unless the O's make another move, I would think the AAA outfield would be some combination of Jamie Hoffman, Jai Miller, and Scott Beerer.

[Frobby]

BTW, hopefully this means Xavier Avery to Bowie where he belongs. Unless the O's make another move, I would think the AAA outfield would be some combination of Jamie Hoffman, Jai Miller, and Scott Beerer.

Right there is a good reason to keep Miller. It avoids us having to rush Avery until his AA performance merits a promotion.

[atomic]

I can't agree more. Why don't people get the lack of depth in this organization? He has raw talent. Like Tony says a guy like this will probably never learn to stop swinging at bad pitches but you never know. He certainly isn't taking a better player's spot that is just about ready to play at the major league level.

Well you could say he took Matt Angle's spot.

[NCRaven]

Neshek was sent down for several reasons. First, he was signed to a minor league contract and is not on the 40 man roster. Second, he is out of options. So if they add him to the 40 man roster now and try to option him later in the season, he'll have to pass through waivers. O'Day and Phillips are already on the 40 man and both have options, so they can both be sent down any time during the season and not be exposed to a waiver claim. Finally, Neshek is still coming back from Tommy John surgery and they probably want to give him time to make sure he's fully recovered and back to full strength.

[NCRaven]

Well you could say he [Jai Miller] took Matt Angle's spot.

Accinfo said he "isn't taking a better player's spot" and Matt Angle is not a better player. Milller could do everything that Angle can do and will ocassionally run into a pitch and knock it out of the park. At best, Angle vs. Miller is a wash.

[RZNJ]

Neshek was sent down for several reasons. First, he was signed to a minor league contract and is not on the 40 man roster. Second, he is out of options. So if they add him to the 40 man roster now and try to option him later in the season, he'll have to pass through waivers. O'Day and Phillips are already on the 40 man and both have options, so they can both be sent down any time during the season and not be exposed to a waiver claim. Finally, Neshek is still coming back from Tommy John surgery and they probably want to give him time to make sure he's fully recovered and back to full strength.

Just for the record, Neshek's TJ surgery was in November of 2008. So, that's over 3 years ago. I know there have been comments about him throwing harder than he has in a long time. I also read something about him finding the right arm slot. I don't know if he's better, all of a sudden, than he's been the last couple of years but control, at the ML level, seemed to be his downfall the last few years.

[RZNJ]

Accinfo said he "isn't taking a better player's spot" and Matt Angle is not a better player. Milller could do everything that Angle can do and will ocassionally run into a pitch and knock it out of the park. At best, Angle vs. Miller is a wash.

Dan Duquette sure seems to favor power over no power, speed guys. He's gotten rid of Matt Angle, Kyle Hudson, and Greg Miclat in short order.

[NCRaven]

Dan Duquette sure seems to favor power over no power, speed guys. He's gotten rid of Matt Angle, Kyle Hudson, and Greg Miclat in short order.

Or he favors players that still have some projection. Along with the players he traded away for Teagarden and Eveland, I'd say he was cleaning house in the minor leagues. If you want an Angle or Hudson, you've got Avery right behind and guys like Mummey and Glynn Davis further down the chain. Miclat wasn't significantly better than someone like Blake Davis. Guys like Angle, Hudson, and Miclat profile as utility options - as their ceilings. At least the Mummey's and Davis's still have some projection. And if someone like Jonathan Schoop doesn't pan out as a starter, he'd certainly be a better bench option than Miclat, as does Flaherty.

[RZNJ]

Or he favors players that still have some projection. Along with the players he traded away for Teagarden and Eveland, I'd say he was cleaning house in the minor leagues. If you want an Angle or Hudson, you've got Avery right behind and guys like Mummey and Glynn Davis further down the chain. Miclat wasn't significantly better than someone like Blake Davis. Guys like Angle, Hudson, and Miclat profile as utility options - as their ceilings. At least the Mummey's and Davis's still have some projection. And if someone like Jonathan Schoop doesn't pan out as a starter, he'd certainly be a better bench option than Miclat, as does Flaherty.

Yeah, plus guys like Hoffman, Miller, and Beerer reportedly are not one dimensional in that they are considered (from what I've read) good defensive outfielders who can run a little too.

[accinfo]

Accinfo said he "isn't taking a better player's spot" and Matt Angle is not a better player. Milller could do everything that Angle can do and will ocassionally run into a pitch and knock it out of the park. At best, Angle vs. Miller is a wash.

That is what I was saying. LOL. Thanks for making it clearer. You just hope a guy like Miller who has some just raw natural abilities just somehow figures it out and learns how to hit the "curve" ball. It probably won't happen but as NCRaven says he will occasionally run into a fastball over the fence more times then a Matt Angle.

[Frobby]

Just a note -- Miller has struck out in 9 out of 13 at bats (15 PA) so far at Norfolk.