Marlins Movement: Andrew Miller Had To Be Sent Down

Andrew Miller had another poor outing in his start against the Phillies on Sunday afternoon, which he allowed four runs and six hits in two and two-thirds innings while walking four.

The Marlins finally had had enough so they sent him to the minors after that performance. He will be pitching in New Orleans in an attempt to get his control and his confidence back.

It was the right move to make.

The Marlins are in the business of winning games so if Miller can't get it done, they need to find someone else that can get it done.

Small-market teams like the Marlins have to rush their young starters so they can have a starting rotation not to mention they feel they can learn on the job despite their struggles, which is why the team has been patient with Miller.

It's one thing to be patient, but at some point, a starter has to make progress, and Miller was clearly not doing it.

Miller hasn't been good in quite some time now. He hasn't gone past the fifth inning in several starts, and that is something that can not go on or else the bullpen will be taxed in the next game.

Right now, Miller's pitches are easy to hit.

There is no movement on his pitches, and every hitter knows what he is going to be throwing.

What's the point of being a starter if he can't throw strikes?

Also, he is not throwing at a high velocity, which has contributed to why he has been struggling.

Miller was the player the Marlins coveted when they traded Miguel Cabrera as part of a cost-cutting move. The Marlins love to collect pitchers, and he was the top pick in the 2006 draft because of his ability to be ace based on his work as a starter for North Carolina in college, so the Marlins had a good reason to acquire him for Cabrera.

The problem is it hasn't worked out so far. He has shown he can do good things, but there are too many times which his outings have been horrible.

One has to wonder if the Marlins called him up too soon. He dominated the minors, but that does not exactly translate to success in the majors to right away.

It looks like it is going to take several more years until Miller pitches to his potential. Maybe he needs to learn more on how to pitch and develop several more pitches in his arsenal for him to do well.

Rumor has it that Miller will likely be called up again in August. That would be a mistake.

The Marlins can't call him up again until he really has the stuff to do well in the majors.

What he needs to do is know how to have a strong command of his pitches so that he won't have any more control problems.

There is no point calling him up if he is struggling or doing so-so in the minors.

Miller has to prove he is worthy of being called up.