Wade Miller: Velocity Gone

Miller (shoulder), whose fastball routinely reached the mid-90s early in his career with Houston, had trouble reaching the mid-80s when he returned to the mound late last season, and it doesn't look like that has improved early in camp, the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

It has been clear for some time that the Cubs aren't counting on Miller to do much for the club this year. But Saturday was the first time anyone in the organization acknowledged publicly that Miller's 2005 shoulder surgery cost him his fastball, probably for good. ''Velocity's not the name of the game with Wade,'' manager Lou Piniella said after the former power pitcher threw live batting practice to teammates. ''He doesn't have the arm strength that Kerry [Wood] and the rest of these guys have, obviously. But he's got good rotation on his breaking ball, and he's spotting his fastball really well.'' Miller's competing for the fifth slot in the Cubs' rotation, but at this point, he's a long shot.
Source: RotoWire.com