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Peter Gammons on M&M: Andrew Miller ‘either going to be a really good reliever or a fascinating starter’ 06.17.11 at 2:26 pm ET
By Jerry Spar

Peter Gammons

MLB Network and NESN analyst Peter Gammons made his weekly appearance on the Mut & Merloni show Friday to talk about the Red Sox. To hear the interview, go to the Mut & Merloni audio on demand page.

With Clay Buchholz pulling up lame in Tampa, Gammons said he expects the team will play it safe and put the youngster on the shelf.

“I think they’ll disable him,” Gammons said. “I just think it’s cautionary. They’ve got some time here. They’ve got an off day next Thursday. They’re probably going to pitch Andrew Miller on Monday. If Clay sits for a couple of weeks, it probably isn’t a bad thing. The important thing is how good is Clay Buchholz going to be in August and September.”

Miller’s likely insertion into the starting rotation comes at the right time, and it allows the Sox to keep Miller from going elsewhere. Gammons noted that other teams aggressively pursued Miller, perhaps crossing the line in the process.

“They want to see exactly what they have in Miller,” Gammons said. “The other night [in Pawtucket] he was 93-98, he had seven swings and misses on fastballs. He’s had three walks in his last 26 2/3 innings. If this guy is back to where he was five years ago — by far the best college pitcher in the sport — then they really have something. He’s either going to be a really good reliever or a fascinating starter. You might as well start finding out now.

“I know this: There were a lot of teams that tampered and tried to get him to do the opt-out, including the New York Yankees. A lot of teams wanted him to opt out on Wednesday. Because of his trust for the Red Sox and how much they’ve invested in him — not in terms of money but in terms of effort to just get his delivery back and be patient with him, he stayed. In some ways, their fortunate. Because I think he could have gotten twice as much money if he had left.”

Josh Beckett‘s turnaround this season has been impressive, and Beckett was never more dominant than Wednesday night, when he allowed only an infield single in a complete-game shutout of the Rays.

“He’s such a pedal-to-the-medal guy, gets in trouble, tries to throw 97. I wondered if he’d ever re-invent himself the way Curt Schilling re-invented himself. And that’s exactly what he’s done,” Gammons said.

“I remember he kept saying to me in spring training: ‘It’s about command of my fastball and my changeup. Because they both come out of the same arm slot, same arm speed, all the rest. If I’ve got a good changeup, my fastball’s going to get better.’ And all the other pitchers come off the that — the curveball, the cutter that he sometimes uses. And it’s amazing. Watching the other night … he’d get behind, 1-0, 2-0. Instead of trying to throw 97, 98, [he threw] breaking ball, changeup, curveball. He’s a totally different guy.

“I find him to be someone that I’ve had immense respect for, because it’s never been anybody else’s fault. But I never thought that he’d be able to re-invent himself that was he has. … He can throw any pitch in any count. He’s got that wonderful swagger that he had in 2007.”

Added Gammons: “He went through the oblique pull two years ago. He hurt his back on the mound in New York. He admitted to me that he also hurt his back swinging for interleague play. So, he had two years in which he wasn’t himself. But he certainly has devoted himself to being great again. He’s one guy that can carry greatness. Not many players can.”

Kevin Youkilis hasn’t produced this season as he has in years past. Gammons said the move to third base might be part of the reason.

“I sometimes wonder if it’s not his hip, from the times he’s been diving at third base,” Gammons said. “He had a couple of problems with his hip. I just wonder if he isn’t beaten up a little bit and he’s not the same. … I think at times this year he hasn’t looked the same. I think it will come back.”

Asked about the future of David Ortiz in Boston, Gammons said he expects the Sox will attempt to re-sign the slugger.

“When you consider what he means in this community, the fact that he’s recaptured his strike zone, is driving the ball,” Gammons said, “He’s not hitting the ball the way he was five years ago. Nobody at 34, 35 is going to do that. But he’s still become a very good hitter again. He’s using the whole field. He’s hitting singles when he has to hit singles. He’s hitting left-handers.

“I think there’s going to be a great deal of pressure. I don’t think he’s going to get 3-5 years; DHs don’t. We’ve seen the last couple of years, there’s been a depreciation for DHs. But he’s such an icon in this town, he’s so beloved, and he’s been so good. I never thought they’d re-sign him. I think they will now.”

Gammons also said Jonathan Papelbon has boosted his stock and might return, after being considered a goner in spring training.

“He’s back to the point of being a dominant closer,” Gammons said. “Do you want to take [Daniel] Bard and make him the closer? Or do you want to try to get Papelbon two more years and then make your decision on whether Bard starts or continues to relieve?”

Added Gammons: “I think they have to think about it, because his stuff is certainly back. His delivery is back. He’s still got that great reliever makeup. It’s hard to beat that kind of makeup.”

The Red Sox open a three-game interleague series with the Brewers Friday night. Milwaukee has become one of the top teams in the majors. Said Gammons: “I think they’re going to be there [in the hunt for a pennant],” Gammons said. “I would say that next to the Phillies, the Brewers right now are the best team in the National League.”

Read More: andrew miller, Clay Buchholz, Curt Schilling, David Ortiz Print  |  Email  |  Bark It Up!  |  Digg It
  • Mark Kelley

    Gammons should stick to something he’s good at, like biting the heads off rats with those yellow shards he calls teeth, instead of spewing man-love for the Sox. The Sox are a very good team – but you’d think they were invincible listening to that hack.

  • Katie Sullivan

    Didn’t Peter say Casey Kotchman would be a hall of famer for the Sox as well?

    Find me some Red Sox that Gammons said were not going to be “really good” or “fascinating” before I give much attention to what he has to say.

    It’s a shame how useless and embarrassing Peter has become since his stroke. Unfortunate. He used to be great. Now he’s a joke :(

  • Jason P.

    Yeah, ok Gammons. What’s next, teams are tampering with Scott Atchison?

    We get it. You wish you could have a sleepover party with Theo Epstein every night. But enough with the flat out lies.

  • http://www.badamitv.com Frank Badami

    Mr. Gammons, What proof do you have that “The Yankees and other teams” tampered with Andrew Miller? GoodThoughts, Frank

  • Melanie D.

    This stuff happens ALL the time.

    Its NOT tampering and Gammons only called it such because it involved one of his beloved Red Sox players.

    Gammons, at this point in his career, is a pathetic excuse for an analyst and reminds me of an actor who stays on stage way too long after winning an award – so they need to usher him/her off.

    Close the curtains and start the music. Gammons career should have ended 5-6 years ago. He’s embarrassing himself.

    I wish we could just say Gammons is drunk all the the time. But no. He’s really just that pitiful.

  • Mike Russell

    Crazy enough, asking if Peter Gammons is one of the biggest laughingstocks in sports journalism these days has become a rhetorical question.

    “Hey, did you hear that announcer babbling on? He “Gammonsed” it”

  • george

    the guy is so biased it shows how come he never had the nerve to question pedro martinez when it was so obvious he was trying to hurt the yankees by hitting there best players have another drink for me

  • Nathan Z.

    I’ve been a Sox fan for over 50 years, and after reading the above comments, I wonder why so many have negative comments about a distinguished journalist who has the right to express his opinions, and contrary to some of the comments, is well respected in the sports community. Other than Gammons view of Papelbon (I’m not sure Papelbon is the reliable closer the Sox need, as he has been very inconsistent lately), I find his comments bang on and insightful.

    I realize that this is a public forum and that anyone can comment, but I find many of the comments very cruel and uncalled for.

    Didn’t Albers look great finishing off the Brewcrew tonight? Clean inning, two strikeouts. I’d rather see that than the nail biting innings that Papelbon is pitching. I would not want to see Papelbon closing if the Sox only have a one run lead. I’m also not sure that Bard has a “closer” makeup, as he has often given up leads and let inherited runners score, resulting in the loss of potential wins from some excellent starts by Becket and Bucholz.

  • David Burnes

    Gammons has forgotten more about baseball than his detractors above will ever know…Bias? Please. To understand Rome you must read Gibbon. To understand Red Sox Nation you must read Gammons. He named it. ’nuff said.

  • biggjonn75

    If they want to diss Gammons, that’s OK. Just shows the rest of us their own ignorance. He’s one of the most highly decorated sports writers ever.

    I do feel saying he’s “useless and embarassing” after the man recovers from a brain aneurysm (not a stroke moron) shows why Katie S. is probably walking the combat zone at 3 AM. Go back to Vancouver Katie.

  • BenInL.A.

    So is this officially the Yankees’ fan’s website now? I’m guessing some sports talk show in NY mentioned Gammon’s comments, and with nothing better to do after watching their beloved 2nd place team lose to the mighty Cubs yesterday, they came over here to pull their puds.
    A couple more sweeps should drive them to another site- maybe one with information about tying a noose.
    Next!

  • Chris

    I’m guessing all of those posters were the same ignorant, drunk, bitter jackass just using different names to try to be clever and make it appear as if there are just SO many people that have such a horrible view of Peter Gammons. The man IS baseball journalism, you clown! But since, that little stunt is probably the most intelligent, thought-out thing you’ll ever do…. maybe we should all congratulate him/her/it for reaching the high point of their life!! But, unfortunately it’s all downhill for you from here, enjoy!!

  • harryspo

    Its okay ill take the redsox hall of fame version of Yankee suck up Buster onley

  • Cal

    Peter Gammons is in Cooperstown. He is there for a very good reason, in fact many good reasons. The people who put him there know a little something about baseball. Until you can make the same claim, it would be better to hold your tongue about your superiors. As the Chinese proverb goes, better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt.

  • Fernando

    I’ve always considered Gammons pretty fair in his coverage of the Yankees even though he’s a Red Sox fan. He deserves to be in the HOF, but it doesn’t mean he gets a free pass when he makes a stupid and irresponsible comment.

    It’s obvious that Gammons is playing to his Boston Red Sox audience by singling out the Yankees for “tampering” with Andrew Miller. Why not name all the teams and provide some proof of what exact tampering took place?

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