Stephen A. Smith apparently hasn’t been paying attention.
The polarizing ESPN personality took a shot at New York Yankees closer Andrew Miller late Tuesday night after the left-hander blew a save against the Toronto Blue Jays. Smith referred to Miller as “some Yankee non-closer,” clearly overlooking the fact that Miller’s been lights out this season.
The Yankees are 76-0 when leading after eight innings. Miller is 34-for-36 in save opportunities, and he owns a 2.04 ERA and a 0.86 WHIP to go along with 14.6 strikeouts per nine innings.
Sure, Miller almost coughed up Tuesday’s game against the Jays. But the blown save was a rare blemish for the former Boston Red Sox reliever. Plus, the Yankees won in 10 innings.
Some Yankee non-closer? Seems a little harsh, even if Miller, like every other reliever in Major League Baseball history, isn’t Mariano Rivera.
Thumbnail photo via Charles LeClaire/USA TODAY Sports Images
