Padres Manager Denies Pitch-Tipping Speculation Surrounding Closer Mason Miller
Craig Stammen dismisses theories that pitcher Mason Miller was giving away his pitches during a critical playoff outing.
San Diego Padres manager Craig Stammen has refuted speculation that his team's closer, Mason Miller, was tipping his pitches during a recent outing against the Milwaukee Brewers. The concern arose after the Padres' decision to have Miller pitch in both the eighth and ninth innings of a game they ultimately lost, putting them in a 2-0 series deficit.
Stammen, speaking before a team workout, stated that while he has observed instances of pitch-tipping from Miller in multi-inning appearances, it was not the reason for the struggles in this particular game. "I think that’s definitely something strategy-wise that we were very comfortable with going into the game, but something going forward that we may have to adjust as the playoffs go," Stammen told ESPN baseball reporter Alden Gonzalez.
Miller, a two-time All-Star, established himself as one of baseball's top closers, finishing last season with a 1.67 ERA and leading the National League with 38 saves. Over 66 regular-season games, he pitched 70 innings, making nine appearances of more than one inning. In seven of those extended outings, he did not allow a run.
Despite his strong season, Miller's performance in September showed a downward trend. In his ninth-inning appearance against the Brewers, he gave up two walks and a two-RBI single to Jackson Chourio, resulting in a 4-3 loss for the Padres.
Catcher Gary Sanchez also weighed in, indicating he was unaware of any pitch-tipping. "I think even if he was and we were aware of it, hitting 104 is not easy by any means," Sanchez said.
The Padres are set to continue their series against the Brewers, with Game 3 scheduled for Tuesday. Nick Pivetta is slated to start for San Diego.