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Pittsburgh, Pa. -
Longtime Millers ace Jamie Thomas prepared for his start in Denver the same way he normally would. He arrived at the park around 10 am, went into the kitchen at the park and ordered his usual 3 egg omelette, got dressed, and sat at his locker listening to his pregame music via his beats by dre, Miller gold and black, headphones. He was ready to face the powerful Denver lineup, hoping to propel the team to a series win and keep the ball rolling for the Millers.
The warmup went as it usually does, Thomas and first year catcher Gong Huang warmed up in the pen until Thomas felt ready.
The first two innings went by as any other Jamie Thomas start would. Economical with his pitch count, accurate with his pitches, and imposing on the bump.
The third inning came. Pat Verba laces a single up the middle, Thomas is unfazed.
The next batter flies out... Up comes Antonio Capeles, a career .218 hitter, he works a 3-1 count, and Thomas delivers the last pitch of his season.
As he delivers the pitch, the loudest scream heard in the park of 33,000 strong that day was by the monstrous, mountain of a man standing on the rubber.
As the ball is hit on the ground, Thomas falls to a knee holding his left arm.
Immediately, Miller trainer Mel Rico runs out to the mound to check on the man who's spent he's spent so many years keeping on the field. Without hesitation they walk off the field.
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Thomas will miss the next 10 months with a stretched elbow ligament, and it's fair to assume he won't be the same pitcher when he returns to the field.
"It's disappointing. We all worked so hard to fight and win a title, and I'll have to spend the next season watching from the bench. You guys know me, there's nobody who wants the ball more than I do, and I won't be able to contribute." Thomas said after the game.
Thomas will leave massive shoes to fill in the Millers rotation, both figuratively and literally.
When asked about how he felt about his longtime teammate and friend's injury, Tubby Mileski said: "Brutal...absolutely brutal. That's my brother. We will all feel for him but at the same time ol' Fudd don't need nobody's pity. He's gonna demand that we go out there and perform. And we got some studs in that rotation that are ready to step up, between (A)J (Hightower), Brooksy, Jarrod and JD, we've got a lot of talent that's ready to go."
The Millers responded with a sweep over Dallas, rolling into a big early series with Syracuse and the defending Champs, and current best team in baseball, Washington Bats.
Losing Fudd will be a challenge, but only time will tell if they can overcome the loss.
Longtime Millers ace Jamie Thomas prepared for his start in Denver the same way he normally would. He arrived at the park around 10 am, went into the kitchen at the park and ordered his usual 3 egg omelette, got dressed, and sat at his locker listening to his pregame music via his beats by dre, Miller gold and black, headphones. He was ready to face the powerful Denver lineup, hoping to propel the team to a series win and keep the ball rolling for the Millers.
The warmup went as it usually does, Thomas and first year catcher Gong Huang warmed up in the pen until Thomas felt ready.
The first two innings went by as any other Jamie Thomas start would. Economical with his pitch count, accurate with his pitches, and imposing on the bump.
The third inning came. Pat Verba laces a single up the middle, Thomas is unfazed.
The next batter flies out... Up comes Antonio Capeles, a career .218 hitter, he works a 3-1 count, and Thomas delivers the last pitch of his season.
As he delivers the pitch, the loudest scream heard in the park of 33,000 strong that day was by the monstrous, mountain of a man standing on the rubber.
As the ball is hit on the ground, Thomas falls to a knee holding his left arm.
Immediately, Miller trainer Mel Rico runs out to the mound to check on the man who's spent he's spent so many years keeping on the field. Without hesitation they walk off the field.
--------
Thomas will miss the next 10 months with a stretched elbow ligament, and it's fair to assume he won't be the same pitcher when he returns to the field.
"It's disappointing. We all worked so hard to fight and win a title, and I'll have to spend the next season watching from the bench. You guys know me, there's nobody who wants the ball more than I do, and I won't be able to contribute." Thomas said after the game.
Thomas will leave massive shoes to fill in the Millers rotation, both figuratively and literally.
When asked about how he felt about his longtime teammate and friend's injury, Tubby Mileski said: "Brutal...absolutely brutal. That's my brother. We will all feel for him but at the same time ol' Fudd don't need nobody's pity. He's gonna demand that we go out there and perform. And we got some studs in that rotation that are ready to step up, between (A)J (Hightower), Brooksy, Jarrod and JD, we've got a lot of talent that's ready to go."
The Millers responded with a sweep over Dallas, rolling into a big early series with Syracuse and the defending Champs, and current best team in baseball, Washington Bats.
Losing Fudd will be a challenge, but only time will tell if they can overcome the loss.
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