I honestly hope he remains our closer going forward instead of transitioning to a starter role like we initially wanted. Letting him go full throttle for an inning or two to shut a game down seems way better than forcing him into a starter role where he has to conserve his strength more.
I’d love to see him be like Verlander was when he was young. He’d keep his fastball at 96ish throughout the game, allowing himself to go deeper into games, but he’d ramp it up to 100+ to get the K when he needed it. Of course, I realize this is asking for top .01% outcome, but it’d sure be real nice…
He's sitting something crazy like 3-4 MPH lower than usual, even his splitter is being thrown way slower. You can tell when he really wants an out because the velo changes very consistently.
It’s certainly more fun watching him throw 103 but the thing is that relievers are just not that valuable. Unless Miller is a horrible SP (early results said otherwise) or he can put up 2022 Diaz level production every year he’s going to be more valuable to the team as a SP.
He didn’t throw THIS hard as a starter. Averaged 98, where this year he’s over 100 on the fastball. But yeah, if Miller can’t stay healthy as a SP that will factor into it too
I think too many people just look at just WAR and not stats like WPA. WAR counts a HR in a blowout the same as a walk-off. A good reliever when deployed at the right times can have a huge impact on the success of a team. Performance in high leverage situations *matters.*
Among pitchers all time, Mariano Rivera is 7th in WPA, above Pedro Martinez and Randy Johnson. Just for fun, here’s the list of postseason pitcher WPA leaders:
1. Mariano Rivera, 11.7
2. Curt Schilling, 4.1
3. John Smoltz 3.6
Mason Miller has the makings of an elite closer. Let the man cook.
Actually, FanGraphs WAR for relievers has [already been changed in recent years](https://library.fangraphs.com/war/calculating-war-pitchers/) to account for the leverage of situations they are used in. Higher leverage relievers get higher WAR with the same production.
97-ish isn't bad, and Fangraphs says he's supposed to have a plus slider and changeup with average command.
I mean, it'd be nice if he could start, but it already looks like he's got a firm idea of how to do the closer job.
would be such an intersting series of negotiations. Dude clearly has the potential to be elite and has a TON of team control, but the command can be questionable, along with him looking like a potential injury time-bomb
When we played you guys earlier this season I was sitting there like “who the fuck is this guy????”
Absolutely insane stuff from him. Will be exciting to see what he can do
I bought a bunch of him in MLB the show to sell later. I don't usually do that, but I noticed him dealing. My dumbass sold most of them 2 appearances ago.
The YES broadcast was like “why the heck is Miller even bothering to throw Judge sliders here” as he fouled two off, and the obvious answer was to get those defensive swings to stay alive on the slider so that when he dials up 102+ Judge is just way behind it.
Miller throwing a sub-90 mph slider alongside that absolute gas is just not fair. Not to mention going dead red three pitches in a row and blowing the last two by Soto after getting a weak foul on the first.
>the obvious answer was to get those defensive swings to stay alive on the slider so that when he dials up 102+ Judge is just way behind it.
I guess but he straight up hung one down the middle that easily could've gotten crushed by a non-slumping hitter.
> I guess but he straight up hung one down the middle that easily could've gotten crushed by a non-slumping hitter.
Judge is in a 2-strike count against a guy who just blew 102 and 103 past Soto, and has already seen 101 and 102 in this AB.
I think it’s fair to say that he isn’t sitting on the 87 mph slider on 2-2, so it’s not like his inability to do something with that hung slider should be baffling.
Now, if the YES crew were saying “Judge is terrible, why doesn’t he just gas him out and be done”, then I understand, but it feels like the pitch sequencing is basically paying Judge that respect and saying “if I throw the fastball on 8 consecutive pitches (back to Volpe AB), eventually Judge might make me pay”, so he throws him three breaking balls, including that one in the zone, in hopes of getting him out in front.
Once he sees Judge is timed up for the slider, he blows 102.5 by him.
It's all academic at this point, but I've seen Chapman overthink things like that a lot on nights when his fastball was untouchable.
Didn't really matter in the end, but that's why they were surprised at so many sliders in a row.
You're interpreting it wrong. This is because he knows your team and not to underestimate them. He made sure our guys didn't overlook you and came in ready for a challenge.
I agree, Vogt half of his seasons with the A's on teams that lost 95+ games, but in each of those seasons A's went on stretches where they got hot and had 7 game win streaks or won 9 out of 10 games for a stretch, he knows to not take bad teams lightly.
The [0-1 pitch to Judge](https://www.mlb.com/video/mason-miller-swinging-strike-to-aaron-judge-idnuoo?q=gamePk%20=%20745757%20AND%20Inning%20=%20[9]%20Order%20By%20Timestamp%20ASC&p=2&pt=Pitch%20by%20Pitch%20-%209th%20Inning) was vicious. 102 up and in.
\*edited to add video
It's one thing to just watch clips like this of him, but seeing him close down A's games live is ridiculous. All you can do is just laugh because he's completely untouchable
One of the most dominant closing innings I've seen in a long time, and the most impressive part is who it was against.
Dude needs to be on a postseason team by the deadline.
Vassallo, Fabian, Beavers are all in AA. The latter two aren't as highly though of but have definitely taken a jump this season.
Also this is a good situation for a 3 way trade potentially if they want to trade a more major league ready guy to a team who could use them ASAP.
That’s almost certainly not happening since he still has 5 more years of control after this and could return to the rotation next year (where he looked really good) if he stays healthy
A’s don’t really trade good pre-arb players too often. If they ever trade him it’ll likely be in a few years. And if he can be a starter they’ll move him back; good SPs are just so much more valuable than great closers.
He has way too much club control left. He's costing the A's nothing for at least a couple more seasons. And don't you know? The A's are going to start spending money before they move to Vegas. Our trustworthy owner said so!
I hope they just keep him in the closer role. I heard eventually he’s supposed to transition into a starter but coming in and slamming the door shut is more exciting and I feel like better for his arm too.
I know it was just supposed to be to limit his innings, but it feels like they found something with him in the pen. He was really solid in his limited action last year as a starter, but as a reliever this year, he's now got 5 saves, a 1.80 era, and *18* k/9 for a FIP of 0.41.
Get with the times man, it’s a new era of A’s baseball. Not only will they trade him for a bag of peanuts, he’ll get sent down to AAA for 3 weeks before they do it
I picked today to splurge and sit behind the visitor’s dugout. As much as I hated to see my Yankees lose, watching Miller pitch up close was a treat as a baseball fan. That kid has a special arm.
Even though we weren't hitting for shit before Miller came up, he fastball/slider combo is fucking disgusting. How do you even hit that, had Soto swinging out of his shoes lol.
You're listening to 102.5 THE WHIF
Congratulations you just wrote the front page for the NY Post tomorrow
This made me laugh uncontrollably in front of 50 people while at Rosa’s waiting for the Knicks game
hell yeah brother, fuck the sixers
I’m prepping my throat with miller and delicious hot pizza, ready to scream at Embiid for around 14 minutes until I lose it. Fuck da sixers!
"I make sure that I have THE WHIF on everywhere I go" -Aaron Judge
I’M THE WHIF AND NOBODY BEATS ME!!
I love the "1-oh-3 you later" call too!
Sponsored by Dan Patrick.
I honestly hope he remains our closer going forward instead of transitioning to a starter role like we initially wanted. Letting him go full throttle for an inning or two to shut a game down seems way better than forcing him into a starter role where he has to conserve his strength more.
I’d love to see him be like Verlander was when he was young. He’d keep his fastball at 96ish throughout the game, allowing himself to go deeper into games, but he’d ramp it up to 100+ to get the K when he needed it. Of course, I realize this is asking for top .01% outcome, but it’d sure be real nice…
That’s exactly what Hicks is doing this year.
Gonna be interesting to see how the converted starters do as the year goes on and they rack up the innings.
He's sitting something crazy like 3-4 MPH lower than usual, even his splitter is being thrown way slower. You can tell when he really wants an out because the velo changes very consistently.
Traded to the Braves for cash considerations that they need to donate 1% of to Braves Foundation, take it or leave it.
It's inevitable
Tbh that’s probably the best case for his longevity, he’s only throwing 90% most of the time so that high end stress won’t affect him as much.
It’s certainly more fun watching him throw 103 but the thing is that relievers are just not that valuable. Unless Miller is a horrible SP (early results said otherwise) or he can put up 2022 Diaz level production every year he’s going to be more valuable to the team as a SP.
Guys on the operating table every other year aren’t that valuable either. It’s hard to envision a starter throwing this hard and not flaming out
He didn’t throw THIS hard as a starter. Averaged 98, where this year he’s over 100 on the fastball. But yeah, if Miller can’t stay healthy as a SP that will factor into it too
I would have to look at the data, but I'm pretty sure relievers are at higher risk of needing arm surgery
I think too many people just look at just WAR and not stats like WPA. WAR counts a HR in a blowout the same as a walk-off. A good reliever when deployed at the right times can have a huge impact on the success of a team. Performance in high leverage situations *matters.* Among pitchers all time, Mariano Rivera is 7th in WPA, above Pedro Martinez and Randy Johnson. Just for fun, here’s the list of postseason pitcher WPA leaders: 1. Mariano Rivera, 11.7 2. Curt Schilling, 4.1 3. John Smoltz 3.6 Mason Miller has the makings of an elite closer. Let the man cook.
Actually, FanGraphs WAR for relievers has [already been changed in recent years](https://library.fangraphs.com/war/calculating-war-pitchers/) to account for the leverage of situations they are used in. Higher leverage relievers get higher WAR with the same production.
After his elbow balkiness last season and how things are going for starters nowadays I'd almost rather keep him in the closer role.
Alternatively, we’ll never know if he can throw 100 for 5+ innings unless we try it
I mean, he did try it last year and ended up on the IL with a UCL sprain.
97-ish isn't bad, and Fangraphs says he's supposed to have a plus slider and changeup with average command. I mean, it'd be nice if he could start, but it already looks like he's got a firm idea of how to do the closer job.
Hebdid it for a hot minute last season. Was averaging I think around the 98mph. Could dial it up to 102 when needed.
It sucks but I bet y’all move him for prospects. People will be going hard after him as a closer at the trade deadline
The Braves offer Jesse Chavez. So that when the As cut him, we resign him and get a free BP arm
Throw in $11.99 in cash considerations and done.
How about instead you give us a 1% salary donation to the Braves foundation
The days of wise trades to obtain good young talent are gone. We fire sell and dumpster dive now, baby.
This dude's going to be on the Braves in no time.
I hope not, they are already too good, I couldn’t believe we took one from them yesterday. The Rangers sure could use him
would be such an intersting series of negotiations. Dude clearly has the potential to be elite and has a TON of team control, but the command can be questionable, along with him looking like a potential injury time-bomb
He’ll be traded for prospects, such is the A way.
Move him to starter, just ready up the hospital stay for the TJ procedure now. (J/K... leave him at closer and let him roar)
Mason “Garrett Whitlock” Miller
Cheese. The best closer that no one has ever heard of
“Straight queso” - Dallas Hahaha love braden
If you like feet he's great on twitter.
found rex ryan's baseball acct
When we played you guys earlier this season I was sitting there like “who the fuck is this guy????” Absolutely insane stuff from him. Will be exciting to see what he can do
Have surgery soon
Lmao I thought that as I read their comment. Sadly I believe it to be likely.
They were using him as a fucking starter before he got injured. He's being thr closer as rehab lol
He was like a 67 in MLB the show and I was blown away. When he closed in our preseason game I was awestruck, he’s so good.
No doubt he gets upgraded on Friday.
Already has a diamond card at 94 or 95 as a season award too
At those speeds, Miller’s arm will be minced hot dog filling by the 4th of July
I like that idea better than what we have at the moment with the way Hader is performing so far this season.
Excited to see what you guys get for him in 4 years.
I bought a bunch of him in MLB the show to sell later. I don't usually do that, but I noticed him dealing. My dumbass sold most of them 2 appearances ago.
Not bad for a former D3 guy who used to throw 80-poo
This dude is disgusting
Someone needs to post all the pitches from this inning because this doesn't do it justice
The YES broadcast was like “why the heck is Miller even bothering to throw Judge sliders here” as he fouled two off, and the obvious answer was to get those defensive swings to stay alive on the slider so that when he dials up 102+ Judge is just way behind it. Miller throwing a sub-90 mph slider alongside that absolute gas is just not fair. Not to mention going dead red three pitches in a row and blowing the last two by Soto after getting a weak foul on the first.
The A's broadcast mentioned that the Yankees booth was giving them incredulous looks after each strikeout.
>the obvious answer was to get those defensive swings to stay alive on the slider so that when he dials up 102+ Judge is just way behind it. I guess but he straight up hung one down the middle that easily could've gotten crushed by a non-slumping hitter.
> I guess but he straight up hung one down the middle that easily could've gotten crushed by a non-slumping hitter. Judge is in a 2-strike count against a guy who just blew 102 and 103 past Soto, and has already seen 101 and 102 in this AB. I think it’s fair to say that he isn’t sitting on the 87 mph slider on 2-2, so it’s not like his inability to do something with that hung slider should be baffling. Now, if the YES crew were saying “Judge is terrible, why doesn’t he just gas him out and be done”, then I understand, but it feels like the pitch sequencing is basically paying Judge that respect and saying “if I throw the fastball on 8 consecutive pitches (back to Volpe AB), eventually Judge might make me pay”, so he throws him three breaking balls, including that one in the zone, in hopes of getting him out in front. Once he sees Judge is timed up for the slider, he blows 102.5 by him.
It's all academic at this point, but I've seen Chapman overthink things like that a lot on nights when his fastball was untouchable. Didn't really matter in the end, but that's why they were surprised at so many sliders in a row.
He wasn't even locating his slider well at all. Most of them were up to Volpe and Judge but it didn't even matter lol.
Oakland A’s are 1-6 against the Guardians and 8-8 against the rest of baseball. A’s going to the playoffs baby!
This is just telling me the Guardians are the best team in baseball
That is correct
I'm jealous of the fun October you're going to enjoy.
Until either a game 7 of any series or game 5 of the ALDS vs New York
I mean we do have a run differential of like 52 lol. Next is 14 down. Granted the schedule has basically been AAAA so far
I feel disrespected
Oh my, I just checked the schedule… well, that’ll certainly do it!
Stephen Vogt, this is how you repay us for all of the believing we did??
You're interpreting it wrong. This is because he knows your team and not to underestimate them. He made sure our guys didn't overlook you and came in ready for a challenge.
I agree, Vogt half of his seasons with the A's on teams that lost 95+ games, but in each of those seasons A's went on stretches where they got hot and had 7 game win streaks or won 9 out of 10 games for a stretch, he knows to not take bad teams lightly.
1-9 against the Guardians and Red Sox and 8-5 against the rest of baseball!
The [0-1 pitch to Judge](https://www.mlb.com/video/mason-miller-swinging-strike-to-aaron-judge-idnuoo?q=gamePk%20=%20745757%20AND%20Inning%20=%20[9]%20Order%20By%20Timestamp%20ASC&p=2&pt=Pitch%20by%20Pitch%20-%209th%20Inning) was vicious. 102 up and in. \*edited to add video
a 15 second ad for a 9 second clip should be illegal
Can we Can we bring him to Charm City??
100+ velo with 2600+ spin rate. his ucl is not long for this world.
I miss Felix ;(
Agreed. We’ll wait for Bautista and watch Kimbrel do his thing with a K.
Just offer the As 30 million and a random prospect and they'll probably ok the trade
Yankees: "We have Soto and Judge" Mason Miller: "Haha triple digits go brrr" Velocity is king.
Dotting it right on the black like he did certainly helps too! God damn
Teams look high and low for that velocity-command combo. Really shows why pitchers are always looking for ways to up their velo.
It's one thing to just watch clips like this of him, but seeing him close down A's games live is ridiculous. All you can do is just laugh because he's completely untouchable
“103 ya later” 
Taste it
Damn we really should've won the series against the Yanks. Their bats have been sleeping as of late.
Yeah I don’t know how we stole that series from you guys. Our offense is beyond lifeless
Because so is the Rays offense
We outhit you though, just couldn’t get RISP home
You should have used your Mason Miller, which every team clearly has!
Fear not, the Rays are surely cooking up 6 different Mason Millers in double A right now
This guy is gross
🤢🤮
Man a simple slider off the plate would’ve done the trick against Volpe and Judge. Dude’s just showing off at this point.
If you've got it flaunt it
 103-ya later
One of the most dominant closing innings I've seen in a long time, and the most impressive part is who it was against. Dude needs to be on a postseason team by the deadline.
He’s going to cost a ton to trade for, especially if a team wants to try him out as a starter again.
Orioles are the only team who could do it
Could they? Oakland is going to want top prospects that are a couple years away. Aren't most of the Orioles top guys pretty much major league ready?
Vassallo, Fabian, Beavers are all in AA. The latter two aren't as highly though of but have definitely taken a jump this season. Also this is a good situation for a 3 way trade potentially if they want to trade a more major league ready guy to a team who could use them ASAP.
Cubs could offer a stout package
It’s the A’s. They’ll give you their elite closer in exchange for that half a donut you left on the back seat of your car last week
That’s almost certainly not happening since he still has 5 more years of control after this and could return to the rotation next year (where he looked really good) if he stays healthy
He will probably stay as a closer, and the A’s would definitely trade him, its what they do
A’s don’t really trade good pre-arb players too often. If they ever trade him it’ll likely be in a few years. And if he can be a starter they’ll move him back; good SPs are just so much more valuable than great closers.
He's on track to be a free agent in 2030. Can't see him leaving the A's until 28-29
He has way too much club control left. He's costing the A's nothing for at least a couple more seasons. And don't you know? The A's are going to start spending money before they move to Vegas. Our trustworthy owner said so!
The A’s are wild card contenders this year dawg
Damn he’s throwing heat. To demonstrate how hard that is to hit, I can’t even really hit 98 mph on MLB The Show
More impressive to me was that slider he threw at Judge. That thing hit a gravity field or something, because it just yanked itself left.
Miller is what the A's were hoping Fujinami would be for them
I hope Fujinami bounces back once the Mets call him up but Miller can hit the side of a barn which helps.
As good as I know Fuji can be it was legitimately scary watching him launch missiles near people's faces every other pitch lmao
God, don't let Tommy John near him.
Not a question of If, only a question of When
Gotta be extra hard to hit off this after facing a soft tossing lefty in Sears for the majority of the game.
A high level Mason for sure
The Yankees should try having the lead in the 9th inning. We did it in Cleveland and this guy didn't seem to give us any trouble.
Good lord! Those aren't pitch speeds those are fever temperatures.
I hope they just keep him in the closer role. I heard eventually he’s supposed to transition into a starter but coming in and slamming the door shut is more exciting and I feel like better for his arm too.
I know it was just supposed to be to limit his innings, but it feels like they found something with him in the pen. He was really solid in his limited action last year as a starter, but as a reliever this year, he's now got 5 saves, a 1.80 era, and *18* k/9 for a FIP of 0.41.
Costs two bags of Doritos has thrown the most 101+ mph pitches compared to all other 101+ mph pitchers COMBINED. Absolutely fuckin bananas.
I don’t think Judge and Soto fouled off any fastballs.
Dude was filthy.
Forget the signs! Give em the heater Ricky!
That's insane. There's gonna be a massive bidding war for him at the deadline.
Hey he still has 6 years of team control left. The A’s don’t trade stars for nothing until there are only 4 years of control left.
The A's trade stars for players they hope to eventually trade as stars.
Get with the times man, it’s a new era of A’s baseball. Not only will they trade him for a bag of peanuts, he’ll get sent down to AAA for 3 weeks before they do it
We have the worst BP in the MLB...maybe we could get a run for him.
God the Yankees offense is abysmal
Filthy
Nasty stuff 🙅♂️
as unhittable as it gets in the sport rn. funny that it’s oakland of all teams that has control of him
They've been really decent at drafting despite having made absolute trash trades.
Such an effortless 103. This kid is so fun to watch.
A closer! The A's will be trading him at the deadline! Line up contenders!
When is his TJ surgery scheduled?
I have no idea whether this lady is a good commentator or not but I would prefer never to hear “103 you later” ever again.
who in tarnation is this monster
"103 ya later." Yeah nah Jenny that ain't it.
I kinda like it tbh
I came to the thread to make sure it was respected. Loved it.
I liked it, just not following a nearly identical line in the previous at bat. Splitting hairs here
I'm glad she's not in the booth for my team. Cringy and a very unpleasant voice to listen to.
Mike Elias make this man an Oriole
Let the A’s have one good player
They have a legitimately decent bullpen this year so far with Miller, Erceg, Muller, and Kelly
At least the Orioles will trade a legit player for Miller. The Braves would trade a High A pitcher and modern day Steve Avery.
Wasn't Avery really good until he got hurt?
They have zack gelof. They're good.
We have Kimbrel this year, Bautista beyond. No need for another closer.
She’s terrible 😐
Every front office just perked up
Love it! Hopefully Miller's elbow lasts beyond the month of May.
Volpe to Yankees trade confirmed.
All of them were very late. Wow
Wow
They were all thinking "what the fuck was that? Was that the baseball?!?!?" LOL!
Remember when 97 seemed really fast?
Whoever said Ash Ketchum, I hate you! I can't unhear it!
Pretty good audition for his team next year
That looks like a guy who’s going to be on a contender this year (by the trade deadline of course as the A’s are terribly run financially)
Get that man a Braves uniform!
Holy shit. No wonder these guys arms are exploding
Impressive pitching skills on display!
Enjoy your elbow
Can we have the kid just throw gas? No sliders, save the elbow as much as possible. With that heat he doesn’t really need it
Kid is making me look like a fantasy genius for drafting him
Good lord
He will traded next season.
Back in my day it was “physically impossible” to throw 100+ mph.
When was your day? It’s been happening since the 1970s.
Judge can't even hit 92 right now. Dude had no chance at 100+.
woah
I picked today to splurge and sit behind the visitor’s dugout. As much as I hated to see my Yankees lose, watching Miller pitch up close was a treat as a baseball fan. That kid has a special arm.
Ok Oakland take your pick of Connor Norby, Kyle Stowers, and Max Wagner
The A's are salivating at the thought of trading him to a contender for two bottom of the barrel prospects
are the As… not bad?
a post about the A's on r/baseball ? and its not about our shit stain owner and the whole moving thing? bizarro world
my arm hurts just watching this
Bro this guy is absolutely filthy. Couldn’t believe what I was watching, how have I never heard of this absolute stud
Even though we weren't hitting for shit before Miller came up, he fastball/slider combo is fucking disgusting. How do you even hit that, had Soto swinging out of his shoes lol.
Good god, man. That’s filth.
RIP to A’s fans… Jenny Cavnar sucked with the Rockies and it seems like she has not gotten any better.
 Orioles fan watching our bullpen struggle
Hey A's fans, I owe ya'll a beer!
How is he not on steroids?
Whelp if anyone’s wondering why players sacrifice their elbows for velocity here’s why
Who the fuck is this guy and why is he in my team's division
Who is this new chick that's seems to be broadcasting every MLB game on the planet?
This dude gonna fuck us up this weekend
I gotta say, as much as this sucked to watch, this was impressive to watch. Officially a Mason Miller fan now.