It pays to advertise.
Ray Miller, the distinguished Baltimore pitching coach, was strolling through the visitors’ clubhouse at Comiskey Park Monday night wearing his Orioles black and orange T-shirt.
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Written on the front in large square letters was the following message:
“WORK FAST.
THROW STRIKES.
CHANGE SPEEDS.”
So far so good. The Orioles, who had a fat 5.14 earned-run average last season, highest in franchise history, were leading the American League in a variety of categories going into Monday night’s game: most wins, 39; saves, 28; shutouts, 7; lowest opponents’ batting average, .238, and, you guessed it–lowest team ERA, 3.56.
Someone has to be responsible and so I swung into the Baltimore clubhouse in search of Ray Miller, who is in his 20th big-league season, either as a manager or coach. Last year and for the nine years before he was Jim Leyland’s pitching coach with Pittsburgh.
And so I asked how in little more than one-third of the season, he had accomplished this rare turnaround.
“I didn’t do nothing,” Miller replied. “The pitchers deserve the credit.”
C’mon, now, don’t be so modest.
“You can credit me for keeping them focused, for helping in their preparation. I’ll take credit for that.”
It is Miller’s opinion that many coaches spend too much time on instruction, teaching their pupils the basic mechanics, how to grip and throw the various pitches, where to stand, etc.
“If you’re teaching pitching fundamentals at the big-league level, you’re going to lose,” he advised. “What I try to do is get them to think right.”
In other words, it’s their approach?
“It’s 90 percent mental,” Miller insisted. “People who have been successful managers and pitching coaches can hang their shingle out: `Psychiatrist/Psychologist working here.’
“You’re dealing with people and they’re all different. No two pitchers are alike.”
The Orioles, like the Atlanta Braves (who may meet in the World Series) have three outstanding starters. Jimmy Key, Mike Mussina and Scott Erickson have combined for a 26-4 record.
The Orioles also have an outstanding bullpen and have two capable late-inning relievers, one more than most teams have. Randy Myers, the ex-Cub who usually gets the ball in the ninth inning, has converted 19 of 20 save opportunities. Armando Benitez, who throws in the mid-90s, works the eighth and would be the closer on most clubs.
“The difference between last year and this year is the pitching,” said center-fielder Brady Anderson. “We’re winning the 2-1 games.”
Last season, the Orioles set a major-league record with 257 home runs, 50 by Anderson, most ever by a leadoff man. He hasn’t been swinging with the same power this season, mostly because of a rib injury. He has seven home runs but has been hitting for an average (.326).
“I’m not completely healed,” Anderson confessed. “But I’m fine. Anyway, nobody’s completely healed.”
The Orioles already have opened an eight-game lead over the Yankees in the AL East. If they continue at their current .696 victory pace they would win 114 games, which is a ton. They qualified as the AL wild card last year with 88 victories, but lost to the Yankees in the playoffs.
To avoid another such failure, General Manager Pat Gillick and assistant Kevin Malone sacrificed power for pitching. Four free agents were cut loose: sluggers Bobby Bonilla, Eddie Murray and Todd Zeile, along with pitcher David Wells.
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Gillick, in his usual judicious manner, dipped into the free agent pool for pitchers Key, Scott Kamienicki and Shawn Boskie and shortstop Mike Bordick.
The result is that the Orioles now have exceptional balance and may have the best defensive infield in either league. Said Miller:
“It’s tough to have a very good pitching staff without a good defense. The team that plays well doesn’t give away extra outs.”