The MLB season is still in its early stages, but thus far, the Arizona Diamondbacks have been one of the league’s bigger disappointments. Chiefly among them is pitcher Shelby Miller.
Arizona parted with a considerable trade haul to acquire Miller, dealing away former first overall pick Dansby Swanson, a quality outfielder in Ender Inciarte, and pitching prospect Aaron Blair. Miller has struggled enormously through six starts with an 8.49 ERA. According to general manager Dave Stewart, Miller’s struggles are in part down to feeling pressure to live up to expectations.
“Shelby Miller, I think it’s more, really, he’s just feeling some pressure: of the trade, the players that we traded for him, trying to fit in,” Stewart told MLB Network Radio on Sunday, via ESPN. “I think the whole ordeal has just been different for him than it was leaving St. Louis going to Atlanta.”
Stewart has tried to help Miller adjust by reminding him that he has teammates to rely on.
“We’ve got four other guys in the rotation,” Stewart said. “I like our rotation. The reason why you have five starters is that one guy carries the weight one day and the next guy passes it on. So we’ve got time for him to fix whatever it is that’s going on.
“If it’s pressure, then there is no pressure. Take it off yourself and just go out there and be yourself and do what you’re capable.”
Miller isn’t the only Diamondback who’s struggling, but given the expectations and price, Miller may be the most disappointing. It doesn’t help that the team’s other marquee addition reportedly didn’t like the trade, either.
