SAN DIEGO -- Mason Miller doesn’t think he was tipping his pitches on Sunday in Milwaukee. But he’s certainly not going to rule out the possibility.
Especially not when he looks back on that 1-2 slider below the zone to Jackson Chourio. That’s the one that has him a bit unsure.
“That,” Miller said from Petco Park on Monday afternoon, “just seemed like a really confident take.”
This riveting National League Division Series between the Padres and Brewers shifted to San Diego on Monday, with Milwaukee leading two games to none. And there was no buzzier topic during the off-day workout than the possibility that Miller, the sport’s premier closer, tipped his pitches during his blown save in Game 2.
Miller has seen the videos. He’s seen the still images. He’s seen even more than is publicly available. At the very least, he wouldn’t divulge if he thought he was tipping. But he was clear about one thing: It was his lack of command that hurt him -- far more than any tell.
“I don’t really know what to make of it,” Miller said. “I feel like there was only one pitch that it would have had an impact. [The Chourio take.] If you’re tipping your pitches and it’s a ball -- I just don’t think it had anything to do with the walks. I also have a hard time believing I just magically started doing it.”
In the fateful ninth inning on Sunday, Miller walked three Brewers -- including Sal Frelick and Gary Sánchez -- with a runner already on second base. Internet still images suggest Miller’s hand was perhaps a bit farther from his glove on the fastballs he threw than on the sliders. There’s also video of Frelick touching his neck with Chourio at the plate, before that 1-2 slider. A pitch later, Chourio lined his walk-off, two-run single into center field on a 101.3 mph fastball.
Miller was quick to note that those three walks were almost certainly the result of noncompetitive pitches. Whether the Brewers knew what was coming, those were takes that Miller said he would have expected -- especially from a Milwaukee lineup that makes some of the sport’s best swing decisions.
Still, that Chourio take …
Speaking ahead of Monday’s workout, Miller said he and the Padres would reassess and make any changes, if necessary. Manager Craig Stammen wouldn’t divulge whether the Padres uncovered a tendency with Miller, but he indicated he was confident that they would make an adjustment if there was one.
“We've got a crew of people that are dedicated to that every single day,” Stammen said. “That is their sole job. We're well aware of what's going on with our pitchers, well aware of what's going on with the Brewers’ pitchers and how they do things. It's part of our daily acumen.
“The internet can go crazy and take things farther than they need to go. We feel good about our process within that situation.”
Notably, there was no denial from Stammen there. Another reporter followed up: Was Miller tipping?
“Like I said, we've got a lot of guys on top of it, and we're not really worried about it,” Stammen said.
As for the specific still images, Miller said he thinks they were probably blown out of proportion, taken at different times during his set.
“Yeah, the screenshots look like I’m here to here -- like really noticeable,” he said. “But I don’t feel like I am. … I’ve pitched with guys at second base all year. If that was there, I feel like it would’ve been picked up on a lot sooner than yesterday.”
Miller remained adamant that his lack of command was far more impactful than any potential tell.
“If you execute pitches,” he said, “you’re still going to get guys out.”
Stammen offered a theory for that lack of command. The Padres’ bullpen was pushed hard in Game 1, and Adrian Morejon was unavailable for Game 2 after throwing 31 pitches. The Padres needed Miller for six outs. He was his usual sharp, dominant self in the eighth. He was significantly more erratic in the ninth.
“We've seen some of that from Mason, and it mostly happens in the appearances where he goes more than one inning,” Stammen said. “I think that's definitely something strategy-wise that we were very comfortable with going into the game, but something going forward that we may have to adjust as the playoffs go.”
For the most part, the Padres have tried to limit Miller to the ninth inning exclusively this season. Stammen wouldn’t commit to a specific usage pattern for Miller going forward in this series. But presumably, he’d still be comfortable using Miller to cover multiple innings. Even a slightly erratic Miller is usually a better option than some of the alternatives.
On Monday, Miller reiterated what he’d said Sunday night in Milwaukee: He doesn’t think that second inning of work had any impact.
“Your adrenaline is so high, so I don’t think it was a conscious part of things,” he said. “I didn’t throw strikes. Whether it was for that reason or not? I don’t know.”
Game 3 is slated for Tuesday night at Petco Park. The Padres, with their season on the line, would love to hand Miller the ball with a lead again.
As of Monday afternoon, Miller wasn’t planning on making any adjustments. But what if he finds out he was tipping?
“Once you’re aware of it, for sure,” Miller said. “But it kind of seems like a bad time to try to change everything, too.”