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BP Annual Player Comments

Year		Comment
2012		Spots in the lineup don't get much more dead than when they're occupied by Miles, with whom Mattingly developed an unhealthy obsession amid the slew of injuries to the Dodgers infield. It was bad enough that Miles received more plate appearances than in any season since 2004, worse that more than 40 percent of them were in the lineup's top third, where he hit a crippling .262/.274/.318. Thanks to his below-average glovework, he rated as the eighth-least valuable player to receive at least 450 PA last year, outdone by some sudden collapses (Adam Dunn, Ichiro Suzuki, Casey McGehee, Kelly Johnson), ongoing boondoggles (Alex Rios, Alfonso Soriano), and old friend Ryan Theriot, with whom he essentially swapped places.
2011		A fine example of knowing a man by the company he keeps, Miles was traded twice last winter in deals involving Jake Fox, Matt Spencer, Ronny Morla, Jeff Gray, Adam Rosales, and (wait for it) Willy Taveras, before earning his release from the Reds two weeks into the 2010 season. Since other teams were paying the freight, the Cardinals latched onto Miles as free organizational depth and wound up having to use him more than they would have wished. He can play a number of positions, but not very well, and can hit an empty .270. Now that Miles will cost them actual cash, most GMs should be aware that signing him is approximately 1.6 kilometers from a good idea.
2010		One of the most ill-advised signings of the previous offseason, Miles is an aging middle infielder with no power or speed, a low walk rate, and the ability to play several positions at a slightly below-average level, all at the bargain price of two years and $4.9 million. While it’s certainly possible that Miles may again hit an empty .317, it’s hard to picture him as anything other than an non-roster invitee once he stops living off Jim Hendry’s largesse. Traded to Oakland with Jake Fox; after the Bobby Crosby experience, the A's are already used to the sounds of silence from a utilityman's bat.
2009		Miles had a career season, hitting almost identically well from both sides of the plate, with a .317 BA/752 OPS vs. RHPs and .315/755 vs. LHPs. The Cardinals nevertheless decided to non-tender him rather than risk paying a significantly larger sum than last year's $1.6 million in arbitration. That decision turned out well for Miles, who received a two-year, $4.9 million deal from the Cubs; he'll likely occupy the short side of a second-base platoon with Mike Fontenot.
2008		One of the Cards' problems last year was having way too many guys like Miles who have just one skill. Miles's skill is hitting for average, but it's an empty average as he doesn't hit for any power and isn't especially patient at the plate. He also can't play shortstop and doesn't have good speed. Miles has to bat .320 to help you; otherwise he's pushing you away from contention.
2007		Miles actually had a better offensive season in 2006 than he did in his two years playing in Colorado. It still wasn`t good enough to keep the Cardinals from looking elsewhere for a second baseman to carry them down the stretch run; enter Ronnie Belliard. Already moving toward professional marginalization, if Miles had a better fielding reputation he could delay that particular fate for several years. However, with no bat and a glove inadequate for short, he`s unlikely to stick as a reserve infielder.
2006		Acquired two years ago in expectation that he`d be the second baseman of the present, Miles was reduced to splitting time with Luis Gonzalez. He managed only a .292/.317/.365 line against righties, and his glove isn`t good enough to keep him in the lineup. He`s 30, and wasn`t likely to survive the next Rockies Biannual Youth Movement. Dan O`Dowd got a head start on that by packaging him with Bigbie to get Ray King.
2005		This is not a player who helps a good club. He's a slap hitter who hasn't held onto his gains as he's advanced, and a full-time player in Coors who hits an empty .293 had better be +20 runs with the glove, which Miles isn't. He could hang onto his job due to inertia and the dissonance created by that .293 number, no matter how little else is actually there. If his hand injury's healed, and he gets any sleep after the birth of his child, his offense might perk up, but it's not a good bet.
2004		Miles is a tiny little dude and a slap hitter, which leads to all the inevitable comparisons with David Eckstein. Eckstein reached the majors at 26 after his original organization waived him, and gave his new team a couple of good years. Miles was traded to the Rockies over the winter, and with little competition in camp, he could be their Opening Day second baseman. Achieving Eckstein's cult-like following, of course, will also require Miles to replicate some of Eckstein's success?so far as we're aware, Craig Grebeck never had a fan club. And that could be, if you'll pardon the pun, a tall order. Miles does not possess Eckstein's above-average batting eye, and while he has a hair more power, PECOTA intuits that his short stature cuts against the potential for a power breakout.

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