Andrew Miller packed the last of his stuff, grabbed a red Indians tote bag and began to venture toward the exit of the Tribe clubhouse. At the same time, reporters began to file into the locker room and sauntered toward the space of Wednesday’s starter, Adam Plutko.
Noticing the approaching group, Miller silently motioned to a few of the writers, nonverbally sending signals that he was prepared to chat about his latest stint on the disabled list.
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Understanding typical postgame protocol — the day’s starter is usually prepared to chat with reporters almost as soon as the clubhouse opens — Miller set down his bag on a stack of magazines, glanced over at the dressing Plutko, then looked back at the writers.
“I can wait,” he said.
Unfortunately, the scene after the Tribe’s loss to the Twins spoke to more than just Miller’s accommodating ways, particularly when it comes to waiting.
You see, Miller has been waiting for his balky body to cooperate.
Cody Allen has been waiting for his results to mirror the work he’s put into correcting his mechanical flaws.
And fans have been waiting for a bullpen with tons of potential to finally settle into place and instill confidence.
For each, patience will continue to be tested.
Miller’s comes through the continued grasp for health, a factor that has evaded the slider-slinging lefty for much of the season.
Just when the dominant reliever appears to have checked an item off his mounting list of maladies, something else emerges, ready to stymy his effort to return at nearly the same rate he’s befuddled opposing hitters over recent years.
This season, he’s dealt with …
[*Glances at notes*]
Left hamstring? Oof.
Right knee? Ouch.
This time, it’s an external impingement in his left shoulder, something he compared to the feeling experienced during a normal build in spring training. Miller received a cortisone shot in hopes of “knocking out” the issue, enabling him to return to action well before the start of the postseason.
But, given how the rest of Miller’s season has progressed — three separate issues have limited him to just 27 appearances this season (and only 9 2/3 innings since the end of May) — it’s tough to say much about his ability to help the club in October is a certainty.
With no exact timetable in sight (at least beyond the upcoming four to five days without throwing), the latest development adds to the frustration.
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The fact the issues are largely out of his control doesn’t exactly help his outlook. So, how does he avoid mentally beating himself up over the continued setbacks?
“I’m trying every trick in the book,” Miller said, offering a smile to deflect more unpleasant emotions. “I’m bouncing ideas off everybody. We fortunately have a lot of good people in place to deal with the kind of mental side of this. I think, ultimately, I’m excited that I feel I’ll be in a place where I can contribute at the end of the year. It’s frustrating, it’s been a tough few days to not be able to be out there, but I’ll be all right.”
Allen’s battle, on the other hand, doesn’t appear to be for health, but he’s still locked in a war of sorts with his own body. Mechanical and command issues have randomly plagued the club’s all-time saves leader this year, leading to some frustrating conversations with reporters in front of his locker following a handful of gut-wrenching defeats.
Once again, Allen was peppered with questions about a tough outing (and to his credit, answered each one without a hint of annoyance or irritation), this one coming after he retired the first two hitters in the seventh inning before eventually surrendering two runs on two hits and two walks.
“It’s been a number of things this year,” Allen said. “Fastball doesn’t necessarily have the finish through the zone or being able to make a pitch when you need to. The feel really hasn’t quite been there. So, we’ll make some adjustments.”
But it’s not as if he hasn’t tried a few.
He’s even resorted to changing the position of his hands in the set position.
Typically, Allen clutches the ball in his glove, hands resting below his waist before firing toward the plate. Perhaps with a hint of desperation, he attempted to raise them closer to his chest about a month ago, but he ultimately decided to cross that attempt off the list, gravitating back to the set position he’s used for his entire career.
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“I thought it put me in a better spot timing-wise, but I think it was more of a band-aid than an actual fix,” Allen said. “So, it just got to where it was uncomfortable. I feel like I’ve done pretty well here for five and a half, six years, doing it a different way. I think that adjustment wasn’t the cure.”
Unfortunately, he’s still searching.
Recently, he’s left many of his pitches up — some elevated way out of the zone — and he’s been unable to spot his knuckle-curve down for strikes. At times, that’s made him a bit predictable, and the additional traffic provided by a few extra free passes hasn’t helped.
On top of that, his velocity is down a bit from the past two years, leaving a little less room for error.
2016 Fastball: 94.8 mph
2017 Fastball: 94.3 mph
2018 Fastball: 93.7 mph
To their benefit, the Indians have built up a large enough lead in a noncompetitive division, giving Terry Francona opportunities to deploy Allen in uncharacteristic spots — and they have no plans of shying away from using the righty. That said, working through delivery inconsistencies can be even more challenging for relievers, hurlers who don’t typically get more than 20-25 pitches each outing to refine their craft.
“But that’s part of it,” Allen said. “That’s part of the job. You’ve gotta kinda make adjustments on the fly. And the guys who consistently year in and year out pitch well are the ones who do it best. When you get to a good spot, (you) try and bottle it up and go as long as you can.”
The frustrations Miller and Allen feel are amplified when considering the possible outlook of the Indians’ revamped bullpen.
The deadline deal for Brad Hand and Adam Cimber helped fortify a group that needed upgrades. The unexpected contributions of veteran lefty Oliver Pérez have been a pleasant blessing.
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When one looks at the potential of the group — one featuring a healthy Miller and mechanically sound Allen — the club’s relievers appear to have the tools necessary to boast one of the postseason’s most formidable bullpens, capable of employing any combination of their three-headed monster they so desire. But with their most reliable weapons still serving as their biggest question marks, that potential remains, at least for the moment, out of reach.
But sometimes patience is rewarded.
And thankfully, October is still a month away.
Whether they add to the group through a waiver deal in the next two days or their talented arms eventually return to form, they’ll hope to make better days worth the wait.
“Sometimes it can literally be one pitch that locks you in, and then you go,” Allen said. “That’s why you gotta kinda keep grinding, grinding, grinding. You go out there, one time, make a couple really good pitches, and you’re able to follow that up and take it out there the next time. The same way that momentum or things can snowball you in the wrong direction, they can definitely go in the right direction, too.”
— Reported from Cleveland
Photo: Carl Willis, Cody Allen (Jay Biggerstaff/USA Today Sports)