Miller Time Is Measured One Inning After Another

Normally, a pitcher facing big league hitters for the first time a few months after his 21st birthday would be labeled a phenom.

Greg Miller has been there and back, however. He was the hottest left-handed pitching prospect in baseball at 18 and just another sore-armed rehabilitation project at 20.

So the elation he felt after sailing through an inning against the Baltimore Orioles on Saturday was tempered by the realization that it was the first small step in a long journey.

“This is my third big league camp but the first time I’ve faced hitters,” he said. “I’m feeling stronger and stronger every day.”

A first-round draft pick from Esperanza High in 2002, Miller created a huge buzz when in 2003 he struck out 40 batters and had a 1.01 earned-run average in 26 2/3 innings at double-A Jacksonville after an 11-4 record and 2.49 ERA at Class-A Vero Beach

He was invited to big league camp the next spring amid predictions he would break into the Dodger starting rotation by midseason. But before he could even make a spring appearance, he injured his shoulder, had two surgeries and sat out the 2004 season.

Last season his climb was slow and steady. He became a reliever and finished the season in a setup role at Jacksonville. He continued to average more than a strikeout per inning, but his velocity was down, primarily because he changed his arm angle from over the top to nearly sidearm.

Now he is back to a three-quarter delivery. There is zip on his fastball and bite to his breaking pitches. His cut fastball was especially effective, running in on the hands of right-handed batters.

Again there is talk that he might be ready for Dodger Stadium at some point in the season, but the tone is more cautious, the words measured.

“I’m searching for consistency,” he said. “Today was a positive.”

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Some of the best swings the last two days have been by first baseman James Loney, another touted prospect. He drove two balls into strong winds in the Dodgers’ 6-3 loss to the Orioles, and both were caught. Friday, he hit four balls hard, getting two hits and having two line drives caught.

The knock on Loney, 21, has been a lack of power. He hit 11 home runs at Jacksonville last season and batted .284. But Dodger officials believe he will get stronger as he matures.

“I think Loney is going to be an outstanding big league player,” scouting director Logan White said. “His glove has been major league-ready for two years and he has a very fluid, effortless swing. I think enough power will come for him to be a productive everyday player.”

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Eric Gagne will return today after taking two days off for family reasons. He is scheduled to appear in a game later in the week. . . . After talking with coach Manny Mota, reliever Yhency Brazoban decided not to play for the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic. . . . Tickets for opening day were sold out in 15 minutes at Dodger Stadium.