Once again Billy Gasparino was following the recommendation of super scout Marty Lamb in drafting 1st round draft pick, Louisville RHP Bobby Miller. He was also responsible for scouting and drafting 2nd round pick, Landon Knack out of East Tennessee St. They were close to a third recommended player, Louisville OF, Zach Britton, but chose Carson Taylor instead. Britton went in the 6th round to Toronto.
Marty Lamb has been an area scout for the Dodgers since 1999, with a territory of Ohio, Tennessee, and Kentucky. How do you say no to an area scout who has engineered the drafting and signing of Walker Buehler, Will Smith, Caleb Ferguson, Zach Reks, Luke Raley, Jordan Sheffield, and Phil Pfeifer. He was responsible for the Dodgers drafting former Louisville RHP Kyle Funkhouser, but did not sign him. He was also responsible for former Dodger catcher AJ Ellis. There is a nice write up in the Athletic on him, and for those that have an account have probably read it. However, below is an article from the LA Times about Marty Lamb.
If Gasparino had listened more to Marty Lamb, the Dodgers would have drafted his third recommendation, Louisville OF Zach Britton. Gasparino listened to a different area scout and chose Carson Taylor instead.
But this post is about 1st round pick, Louisville RHP, Bobby Miller.
Bobby was drafted just about where he was placed in three top talent evaluation periodicals:
MLBPipeline – 26
Fangraphs – 27
Baseball America – 28
More importantly for Dodger fans, Marty Lamb believed he was worthy of the LAD #1 pick at #29.
In 2017, Miller was the 38th round pick of the Baltimore Orioles, but chose Louisville. He might have gone higher, however a week before the draft, Miller had surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee. Miller was the first player drafted out of McHenry-West (Ill) High School. However, the school did produce one former major leaguer. Many of us who followed MLB in the early 60’s will remember the name, Chuck Hiller, who was almost a hero for the Giants in the 1962 WS. In Game 4 of the WS, Hiller who had all of 20 HRs in his eight year ML career, hit a grand slam to push the Giants to a 7-3 win, evening the series at 2 games each.
As an 18-year-old in 2018 at Louisville, Miller appeared in 17 games, making nine starts with 6-1 record, a 2.97 ERA, a 1.050 WHIP and 55 strikeouts in 66 2/3 innings, earning Freshman All American honors. After his freshman year, he played summer ball in the Cape Cod League, making one start for the Brewster Whitecaps, with a 5.06, 1.563, 10 Ks in 16 IP. Great experience for a freshman.
Miller’s workload spiked at Louisville last year, with the right-hander making 12 starts in 20 appearances, with a 6-1 mark, a 4.05 ERA, 1.213 WHIP and 86 Ks in 80 IP. And he was off to a good start this season prior to the COVID-19 shutdown. In his first four NCAA games (all starts), Miller registered a 2-0, with a 2.31, 1.029, and 34 strikeouts in 23 1/3, which is good for a 13.1 strikeouts per nine.
Through his Louisville career, in his 41 appearances, including 25 starts, Miller was 15-2 with a 3.28 ERA and 175 strikeouts.
Matthew McGavic, who covers Louisville for Sports Illustrated, notes that
“Miller is Louisville’s 86th MLB Draft selection under head coach Dan McDonnell’s 14-year tenure as the head coach. He is the seventh first round draft pick, with all coming in the last five drafts. He is also the second Louisville player to be selected in the first round of this draft, as junior LHP Reid Detmers was selected by the Los Angeles Angels with the No. 10 overall pick.”
Something the Dodgers may learn to like even more is that Miller does not shy away from playoff games. Although his start was shortened due to rain, Miller pitched four innings against Auburn University in last year’s College World Series. In the Super Regional leading up to the College World Series, Miller took a no-hitter into the ninth inning against East Carolina University. He was still hitting 95 in the 9th inning.
Most of Miller’s scouting reports mimic the same: his fastball is a power offering that reaches the upper-90s consistently with heavy, sinking life. He pairs that pitch with a hard slider/cutter in the upper 80s that can touch 90 mph and flashes plus potential. Miller also has a developing power mid-80s changeup that is a solid offering and a fringy but usable curveball. His fastball spiked during the fall to reach 98-99.
Most scouts are unconvinced that Miller’s secondary pitches will improve enough to make him a mid-rotation starter. With the lack of a dominant secondary pitch and the excess effort in his delivery, many believe that there is significant “reliever risk”. He does show stamina to be a starter. This year in his four starts, only one was short if 6 innings. He had one start of seven innings and two starts that lasted eight innings where his fastball held up. While Bobby has his doubters, with his confidence combined with the Dodgers development team, I would not bet against him.
Miller was born in Elk Grove Village, Illinois, outside of Chicago. He grew up a Cubs fan. However, in a Zoom chat with reporters Wednesday night, Miller said his favorite big league pitcher is Dodgers right-hander Walker Buehler. And in high school, when in the Los Angeles area (Long Beach) for an Area Code tournament, Miller said he visited Dodger Stadium for the first time. He and his father sat in the first row in right field. He fantasized about playing there.
“This is my dream,” Miller said. “If I can pick, if I had the choice, this would be the one.”
Here is that Zoom chat:
The recommended bonus slot for the Dodgers #1 pick is $2,24,600. I fully expect that Miller will be offered that and maybe more. Last year, Kody Hoese at pick #25, signed for $2,740,000, while Michael Busch at pick #31 signed for $2,310,000. While Bobby has his doubters, with his confidence combined with the Dodgers development team, I would not bet against him.
https://gocards.com/sports/baseball/roster/bobby-miller/11316
I know there is a difference between Bobby Miller and Bobby McGee, but I can’t waste an opportunity to play my favorite song from one of my favorite artists.
Since we are starting a new post, I am again wishing Bear a very happy birthday #72. Enjoy your BBQ.
Thank you Jeff…
Welcome to the 72 club Bear. I think it is a sizable club in here. I’ve been a member for a half dozen months now. Interestingly, I had to correct my spelling of dozen as I first had it spelled dozed.
Good choice for music Jeff. I also like Janis Joplin and Me and Bobby McGee.
Written by Kris Kristofferson. Rhodes scholar and song writer extraordinaire. Funny, I do not feel any older…….YET! Had a great BBQ, homemade cake, and got a couple of very nice and useful gifts. A nice wooden box I can keep my baseball cards in and a 2 gallon jug for my iced tea……just no baseball this year.
Great write-up, AC. Thank you. Can’t resist mentioning that in the first picture of Bobby Miller on your article, he even resembles Buehler a little.
It is his favorite player.
Angels #4 draft pick (#111) was Prep SS Werner Blakely. Blakely is expected to sign a $900K contract with LAA. His bonus slot was slated just north of $522K. Blakely was selected 11 spots after LAD #3, Jake Vogel. Vogel’s slot is $581,600. Both players are committed to top collegiate programs. We will have to wait and see what happens with Vogel. The last day to sign drafted players is August 1.
If anyone was wondering why Baltimore may have selected Heston Kjerstad as a below slot but highly rated LHH power OF bat, an answer may have come forth as they have come to an agreement with their #5 pick (#133 overall), Prep RHP Carter Baumler. Baumler has agreed to a $1.5MM offer from Baltimore. His slot value was $422,300, thus an increase greater than $1MM. Per reports, Baumler apparently turned down two other teams before agreeing to Baltimore.
With signing undrafted FA beginning today at 6:00AM PT, a question was posed to Billy Gasparino as to how aggressive the Dodgers were going to be with this phase. Billy indicated that they have their eyes on several players, and in addition to college seniors, there are multiple college juniors on their list. But he did caution that they will be limited as to what they could do, because the organization has a lot of talent that the FA would have to jump over. As far as I know (and I could be wrong), the Dodgers have NOT been releasing MiLB players like almost every other MLB organization. They do not have as many slots to fill. If I missed any announcement of pending player releases, please correct me.
Dodgers sign their first undrafted Free Agent: RHP Robbie Peto, a redshirt junior from Stetson. He Went 3-0 with a 1.78 ERA in four starts, 25.1 IP, with 41/13 K/BB this year.
If I’m not mistaken both Kluber and deGrom attended Stetson. I hope something rubbed off on Peto.
5th rounder Gavin Stone signs with Dodgers. Don’t know the bonus he’ll receive
Happy birthday Michael
This place is better with you in it.
Hope we see some Baseball soon
Thank you Watford. I appreciate the sentiment. How are things across the pond?? Baseball would be nice right about now. I really miss it.
Happy birthday Bear. Hope it was another great one.
Nice report on Miller Jeff. I wouldn’t bet against him either.
Have to go with Roger Miller on the Kris Kristofferson song – “Me and Bobby McGee”.
2D2 – Where did you find the free agent signing news?
It is on twitter. Stone signed for 100,000. Way below slot. He also posted on twitter that he is happy to be a Dodgers. Birthday was really nice, BBQ was great. I prefer Kris and the original version. Joplin’s is more bluesy, and Miller’s a little too country. I think Kris’s is about right for what is basically a folk tune. Have sung it many times myself.
Thanks guys. I am not on Twitter.
Kristofferson is an amazing writer.
Bear got it right. I read it on Twitter. posted by Future Dodgers and Mike DiGiovanna.
https://dodgersway.com/2020/06/14/dodgers-sign-undrafted-free-agent-robbie-peto/
Kris Kristofferson is one of my favorites. He is 83 and in his 20’s was a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford University, where he was an outstanding Rugby player. Kristofferson graduated in 1958 with a Bachelor of Arts degree, summa cum laude, in literature. He was elected to Phi Beta Kappa his junior year. In a 2004 interview with Pomona College Magazine, Kristofferson mentioned philosophy professor Frederick Sontag as an important influence in his life. My favorite is the Pilgrim and this performance by The Highwaymen:
Kristofferson is one of my favorites as well. He was the name sake for my son Kris.
Like I said, Krs is 83 and here is in performing January of this year:
Not to detract from Bobby Miller but Kristofferson has made a dent in the comments.
Great songs – my favorites are:
For the Good Times – Ray Price (absolute #1)
Help Me Make it Through the Night – Sammi Smith
Why Me Lord – Kris
Sunday Morning Coming Down – Johnny Cash
Jody and the Kid – Roy Drusky
One Day at a Time – Christy Lane
I want to thank everyone for all the birthday wishes. I really appreciate them. One more Kristofferson note before I get back to baseball. Good list Harold. I perform Why Me Lord, and I also do Me and Bobby McGee. But one of my all time favorites of his is, Jesus Was a Capricorn. Great tune and very underrated. Now back to baseball. We should be hearing something soon, this week maybe, about a shortened season. The players lobed the ball back into MLB’s court, and the onus now is on the league. But when this is all over, the next CBA is going to be a real cat fight.
Bear – I’m still waiting on the fishing report. You did put a little pressure on yourself with your previous claim. But then again you could always do what most fisherman do when they report their success.
Finished the comment above, then had to get my mornin coffee before I wrote again. I reflected a lot yesterday. And one of the things I was thinking of is how lucky I am to have lived in the age I live in. And this is purely about baseball. Growing up in the 50’s and early 60’s, we did not have video games. We played outside. And since I lived in California, we could play baseball all year round. And a lot of us did. No grass infields, but empty lots with rocks and bumps, most of them not even level. And we played until we could not see the ball anymore, or mom was yelling dinner! I did not play organized baseball of any kind until I was 11. Our league was sponsored by 7 Up. And we all had t shirts and caps. I was on the Yankees. Played 1st base and the outfield. Left handed, so my options were limited. What is weird is that I was actually traded to the Yankees. I was living in a home for kids in Highland Park, and some kids I went to school with were on that team. So the only way the home would allow me to play was if the coach, who was one of the kids dad, would be responsible for me. So they swapped a kid on the roster to another team that was short a player, and got me. We played a 10 game schedule, 1 game a week on Saturday. We went 9-0-1. I hit .714. I had 15 hits in 21 at bats, and I only struck out twice. We played in a playoff and lost our only game 10-5 to the team we had tied, the Indians. Was a bitter pill to swallow. The next year I was set to play for the same coach in a different league on brand new fields that had been built. But a little technicality kept me off of the team. My birthday was June 14th, and I turned 12 that year. Under the guidelines, anyone born before the 15th of June was not eligible to play LL baseball. So the only way I could play that year was if I went up a grade and played in the Pony League. I did go to opening day. The mayor was there and Norm Sherry, the Dodger catcher threw out the first ball. Our coach got in touch with a Pony league coach and got me on a team in that league. But I did not know anyone on the team, had only practiced with them once, and felt like a total outsider. I played in one game, went 1-1….and then quit. I just was not comfortable. I did not play organized ball again until high school. But I never lost that love I felt for the game. Never.
Another thing of living in the times I have. I look back on the baseball I have seen. And I was blessed to see some of the games best ever. When the Dodgers came to LA in 58, it opened up a whole new world for me. My uncle had taken me to a couple of Angels PCL games, and one of the Hollywood Star’s games at old Gilmore Field. But MLB games in LA. That was exciting. I had seen the Dodgers a couple of times on TV. But this was living color. And on the radio, this silky smooth voice was describing all the action. Hodges, Snider, Neal, Cimoli, Roseboro, Drysdale…all those names that I had read about in baseball magazines right there at the coliseum in person. I only saw Pee Wee play in one game in 58. He retired that winter and became a coach. A position he only held for a year before leaving for NBC and the game of the week. One of my earliest memories of a game was against the Braves. Cannot remember the year, but I remember the game. Koufax started….not yet the dominant pitcher he would become. The Braves hammered the Dodgers 8-3. Aaron, Mathews and Adcock hit homers. I got to see Musial, Mays, Aaron, Clemente, Mantle, Marichal, Gibson, Wills, Koufax, Drysdale. Up until I went in the Army in Dec of 1965, baseball was pretty much the center of my universe, and Vin was my tour guide. I was listening on my transistor radio the night Sandy fanned 18 Giants. Dick Nen’s homer against the Cardinals in 63 which helped them rebuild their lead and go on to the World Series and the sweep over the Yanks. Sandy’s first no hitter, and Howard’s one handed HR into the loge in the 4th game of the 63 series off of Whitey Ford. During my service years, I rarely got to go to games unless I was home on leave in the summer. But I made it to a few. Stopped at SD on my way home to El Paso and took in a Padres-Cubs tiff that maybe 6000 people showed up to watch. Cubs slaughtered them. Got out in 74, and came back to Cali in 75. From then until I moved away in 94, I saw a lot of baseball. 3 pennants and no championships in the 70’s. New manager, new stars. 2 pennants and 2 championships in the 80’s. Saw all of the NL stars and many of the AL guys too because games were on TV a lot more than in the 50’s and 60’s, All the road games against the Giants were on the air, and had been since the early 60’s. I remember watching the Marichal-Roseboro fight. Saw Stargell hit two balls out of Dodger Stadium, one off of Alan Foster, his first, and the other off of Messsersmith. Saw many great players, some mediocre ones. One year wonders, and kids who made lasting impressions. Saw Buckner get the injury that robbed him of his speed. Mike Marshall, the pitcher, and Mike Marshall, the outfielder. Saw a kid in the early 90’s hit a rocket off of the left field wall for a double, I thought right then, this guy is a pure hitter. He went on to be ROY. Name was Piazza. Moved in 94 to Colorado, but still followed baseball as much as possible. When ever I was not working, I was watching or listening to the games. Moved to Arizona in 98. And got to go see some games. Lived through the roid era. Never liked Bonds. Guy with that much talent did not need to use PED’s, but he made that choice, and I still think he will never get in the hall. And I noticed the little changes in the game that were affecting the way I looked at the game. No bunting, at least a lot less than I remembered. Situational baseball was not played very often. And then the analytics boys showed up and changed how players are evaluated. As Mark can well attest, I am not big into analytics, but I do concede that is how it is done now. So it is all about launch angle, spin rate, and other stats and graphs that I as a fan of the other kind of game have no interest in. But that is where the game is now. The players are bigger, stronger, more fit than ever before, and they hit HR’s farther than in the past. Save a couple of real distance hitters named Ruth and Mantle. The labor disputes, the strikes, and most of all the animosity the two sides have towards each other. And then there is their lack of respect for the people who fund their existence. The fans. So that is why my view of the game as it stands today is more jaded than ever. I really do not care who wins this pissing contest they are engaged in. I just want to see some baseball played at it’s highest level. And they are denying me that.
The Dodgers have allegedly signed undrafted collegian Robbie Peto out of Stetson University. They had drafted him in the 30th round in 2016. He had gone 3 -1 , 1.78 with 41 K in 25 IP in 4 starts this Spring.
Absolutely Great Post, Bear.
“Where are we going today, Mr. Peabody?”
Never make up fishing stories Phil….not in my nature. But you do know how all trucker stories start right????? You ain’t gonna believe this%^^%%$#;….
This should prove to be interesting.
https://www.insidehook.com/daily_brief/sports/ex-fox-host-jason-whitlock-clay-travis-outkick
I hope it’s successful. They are two of the few sane voices in sports reporting/commenting today.
I try not to get down, but some of this stuff that’s going on today is sickening.