Eric Milton has yet to throw a pitch in 2003. In fact, the last I had heard, he was still on crutches recovering from the knee surgery he undertook during Spring Training. Normally, I feel for players when they are hobbled by injuries, but Milton really needs to accept the blame for his own shortcomings. You see, Milton has been injured for awhile. He missed most of the second half of last season before returning, and pitching very well, in time for the postseason. Rather than admit that he was still hurt in the offseason, Milton tried to live with the pain (he is known for his warrior mentality) and deal with it. Unfortunately, the pain became unbearable during Spring Training and he went Under the Knife.
Milton has been teasing Twins fans for years with his great potential, but he sadly has been a very mediocre pitcher for his entire career. In some starts, he has a great breaking curveball, in others a Radke-esque changeup, and he usually can dial up some pretty good gas on his fastball. However, he never quite seems to put it together. Well, that's not entirely true. He obviously did "put it together" in one start. His no-hitter at the end of the 1999 season.
Hopefully, Milton can recover in time to be a useful member of the bullpen by September. In addition, he needs to recover enough to not be an expensive disappointment in the rotation next year. After all, there is already one expensive bust in the rotation. Two worthless and expensive starters would drag down the payroll and team. The worst thing a small-market team can do is make an expensive mistake, and Milton is running the risk of becoming one.
Finally, I have never seen him wearing the facial hair that he has in that picture above. He typically is either clean-shaven (and looks like crap) or goateed (and looks good). I guess he was trying the Rock look, but not it is not very flattering.
Updated September 12, 2003
Milton will be making his first start of the year on Sunday against the Cleveland Indigenous Peoples. I really hope that he was not being rushed back, but Injury-Guru Will Carroll of Baseball Prospectus believes that there are no significant health-risks in him making the start. Milton will be a huge addition down the stretch as the fifth-starter spot has been a black-hole recently as Rick Reed got injured and Grant Balfour both have struggled and no one really wants to rely on Carlos Pulido.
Updated September 12, 2003
The first start was a resounding success as he kept the team in the game and was in line for a win until Mr. Disinterested stepped to the mound. Honestly, could one player undermine a team more than Reed has done? Oh right, there is always Jose Mesa.