Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, August 27, 1995 TAG: 9508280024
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: D-11 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RAY COX
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
Two words no pitcher wants to hear are ``hard knocks.''
Million, the left-handed prodigy drafted in the first round by the Colorado Rockies in 1994, hasn't exactly been banged around since he signed on the dotted line last summer. But then neither has he breezed as he did when he was the ace of the Sarasota (Fla.) High School staff.
``It's been challenging,'' said Million, 19. ``But's that's good. If it wasn't, then it wouldn't be any fun.''
Million wasn't having much fun early this season. From April 27 through May 22, he languished on the disabled list with a sore shoulder. Nothing really serious; the joint just wasn't working as it should.
All that time on the disabled list might have depressed Million, except that he was too busy. His employers weren't going to let him lounge for a month.
Instead, they took one look at MIllion's 6-foot-4, 210-pound frame and suggested he spend his time wisely by engaging in some earnest dieting.
Funny thing about it was, the previous summer Million had been told that he was too skinny. They might have had a point, too. Guys carrying 170 pounds - Million's weight when he signed - may not be up to the rigors of a lot of professional innings pitched. Or so many traditionalists say.
Although Million didn't use his dietary marching orders as a license to be a regular in a buffet line, the pounds started piling up.
``My father's a big guy - 225 pounds,'' Million said. ``I thought I would start gaining weight at some point. I just didn't think it would happen all at the same time.''
Million proceeded to lose 20 pounds while he was on the DL, mostly by judicious attention to a running regimen.
``It wasn't too hard to lose the weight,'' said Million, who is down to 190 pounds.
More difficult has been the curriculum of a professional pitching education.
After pitching almost 80 innings in his final high school season, Million had about a month off last summer before he signed and reported to Chandler of the Arizona League. He went 1-0 with a 1.50 ERA in three games there before finishing the season with Bend (Ore.), where he fashioned a 5-3 record with a 2.34 ERA, 75 strikeouts and only 21 walks in 572/3 innings.
Million reported for training camp in the spring feeling strong, but the sore shoulder was a setback.
``I feel fine now,'' he said. ``But it takes more time to warm up now. And my fastball isn't quite as good as it was. I just need some rest and I'll be fine.''
Million has gone 4-6 with a 4.49 earned run average this year and has 77 walks as opposed to 73 strikeouts in 1002/3 innings. Control never had been an issue for him before. He thinks the problem was his attempts to be too precise with his pitches
``I'm young and this is a tough league,'' he said. ``I didn't want to get beat around all over the yard, so I was trying to pitch on the corners a lot.''
Help came from many sources, among them Avalanche manager Bill Hayes, pitching coach Billy Champion and fellow pitching staff member and No.1 draft pick Jamey Wright. All said essentially the same thing: Be aggressive, because hitters are going to hit; let the defense help you.
Million has improved through the latter half of the season. Perhaps his best performance to date was a six-inning, one-hit effort Wednesday against Wilmington. Unfortunately for Million, he still lost the game 2-1.
``That was a tough one,'' he said. ``But I knew that [Wilmington pitcher Glendon] Rusch wasn't going to give up any runs. He may be the best pitcher in the league, either him or Jamey Wright.''
The Rockies think Million is going to be plenty good in time. He and Wright reportedly are on a short list of players Colorado officials consider ``untouchable'' for trade purposes.
The education, meanwhile, continues.
``Rookie league is like advanced high school,'' he said. ``Instructional league is like college. But this league is completely different. There are guys in this league who are 25 years old. I've learned a lot.
``I can't wait for next year.''
Don't look for him back here, though.
SHORT STUFF: David Groseclose, the former VMI and Alleghany High School shortstop, was hitting .267 through Thursday with the Colorado Rockies' affiliate in Bend of the short-season Northwest League. ... Another former All-Timesland infielder, Dee Dalton of Virginia Tech and Cave Spring High School, continues to struggle with St.Petersburg of the Florida State League, where he entered the weekend batting .206 with two home runs and 28 RBI. ... VMI's Marc Phillips was 4-2 with two saves and 3.06 ERA in 702/3 innings with Springfield (Ill.) of the Class A Midwest League. ... Doug Johns, a former University of Virginia pitcher, made three round trips between Class AAA Vancouver and Oakland this season before notching his first big-league victory. Starting after Ron Darling was released, Johns beat the Baltimore Orioles 6-3 with five-plus innings of work. Fourteen of the 17 outs he recorded came on ground balls. ...
Radford University's Duane Filchner was hitting .276 with five homers and 28 RBI through 53 games with Southern Oregon of the Northwest League. ... Shortstop Pokey Reese is considered the best infield prospect in the Cincinnati Reds' chain, but Ferrum's Eric Owens, who has led the American Association in hitting and steals this summer as a third baseman, reportedly has attracted plenty of trade interest himself. ...
Nice shot of old Calfee Park on the first two inside pages of the current edition of Baseball America. The doctored photo is in an ad for Bowman baseball cards. The negative has been reversed so it appears the grandstand is going down the right-field line instead of the left and the outfield fence has been painted with the names of presumably fictitious businesses. Otherwise, the old yard in Pulaski looks as though it still could be open for Appalachian League business.
by CNB