Transforming the bullpen
In an ever-changing idea of how big league teams utilize bullpens, often the old becomes new again. When MLB teams first began using players primarily in a relief role in the second half of the 20th century, those relievers would typically toss multiple innings to close down a game.
With his mid-90s fastball and sweeping slider from his 6’7″ frame, Miller could dominate hitters from both sides of the plate. When he hit free agency, the New York Yankees came calling, and he spent one season as a traditional closer, saving 36 games in 2015, with a 2.04 ERA, striking out 100 over 61 2/3 innings.
He was even more dominant in 2016, though he was now sharing closing duties in the Bronx. He was moved mid-year to the Cleveland Indians, where he was slowly transformed from a single-inning setup man to a dominant reliever that could toss multiple innings.
In the 2016 postseason, as the Indians made a run all the way to the 7th game of the World Series, Miller was a catalyst for that run. He was the MVP of the ALCS along the way as he tossed 19 1/3 innings of relief over 10 appearances, his multi-inning appearances becoming a talking point.
While Miller’s role did not change significantly in the regular season (pitching 62 2/3 innings over 57 games) in 2017, he was an All-Star with a 1.44 ERA and striking out 95 hitters. He struggled with injury in 2018 and with his control once he returned, but he did strike out 45 over 34 innings.