Miller edges out Prior for Cubs fifth spot

Wade Miller won the fifth spot in the Cubs rotation, beating out Mark Prior. Miller went 2-0 with a 3.63 ERA over five spring starts. The 30-year-old right-hander allowed seven earned runs on 22 hits and four walks with 16 strikeouts over 17 1/3 innings. Though he's long since lost his plus fastball, Miller still has a knack for the K. And with the potent Cubs offense behind him, he could provide a decent return in NL-only play. Just keep in mind that his spot in the rotation is anything but secure with the talented Angel Guzman waiting in the wings and Mark Prior -- as always -- on the comeback trail.

Mark Prior will make one more Cactus League start Wednesday against the Rockies. What the Cubs do with Prior after that remains unclear. The fragile righty could open on the disabled list for the fourth straight year and stay in Arizona for extended Spring Training, or he might be assigned to Triple-A Iowa.
Source: MLB.com

Wade Miller: Front-Runner For No.5 In Cubs Rotation

Manager Lou Piniella said Wade Miller is the front-runner to win the No. 5 spot in the Cubs rotation. Miller has the edge over the talented but struggling Angel Guzman and Mark Prior, who's been battling mechanical issues and could begin the season on the disabled list or at Triple-A.
Source: MLB.com

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