LOS ANGELES — Bobby Miller showed up at DodgerFest with the same broad shoulders and big arm, but with a noticeably sharper edge in how he talked about the year ahead. After a tough stretch that kept him mostly in the minors last season, he knows he’s walking into camp with something to prove. The Dodgers’ pitching depth doesn’t allow anyone to drift. Miller sounded like he understands the assignment, and like he welcomes it.
“First of all, I’m doing great,” Miller said. “It’s been a good offseason. The goal for me right now is being able to pitch with a chip on my shoulder. That’s kind of what I’ve been doing the last couple years. It’s kind of always the mindset whether it’s going good or bad. Always pitch with a chip on the shoulder and know you’re always fighting for a spot here.”
Miller didn’t try to hide from the reality of the organization he’s in. “There’s always going to be a next man up in this organization,” he said. “That’s motivation for me right now. Get back to how I was a few years ago. I know it’s still in there, and there’s more than that as well.”
And, truth be told, he didn’t do much to help his case last season. He got just a couple of bites at the apple for the LA club last season, and neither went particularly well. Let’s be honest. They were awful. A 12.60 ERA over just five innings of painful-to-watch work. That’s not gonna cut it going forward, and Miller knows it.
He kept circling back to why it matters to him, especially after watching the Dodgers keep winning without him being in the middle of it. “There’s a lot of motivation for this season, and especially seeing the team go back to back,” Miller said. “It’s something that I’m dying to be a part of. This is a place I want to be for life.”
When he was asked whether the fix is mental or mechanical, he didn’t pick one. “It’s kind of all the above,” Miller said. “Mental, physical, health a little bit. That’s not a big excuse for me. All the above, and really just focus on getting that mental strength back, mental health, getting strong. That’s been a big focus for me this offseason.”
He described the mindset as a reset, like he’s rebuilding his base instead of trying to skip steps. “Going into spring training with a big chip on my shoulder,” Miller said, “and not being a guy that’s going in too comfortable. Starting back from the bottom, working my way back up, starting back from rock bottom and working my way up like I did before.”
Looking back on the last couple years, he said the biggest lesson was learning how quickly panic can creep in when things start going sideways. “Big thing for me is just not trying to panic,” Miller said. “I found myself doing that a little bit last year, worrying so much about the events in the big leagues. So I learned a lot about myself last year.”
That reflection also changed how he’s thinking about his role. Miller said he’s open to whatever path gets him back in the mix, including a bullpen job if that’s what the roster calls for. “Whether it was going to the bullpen, starting, going to the bullpen, I haven’t really had to deal with that throughout my career until last year,” he said. “That’s something I’m willing to do this year, whether it’s a starter, reliever, or the hybrid guy, whatever they need. I can do it.”
He made it clear he’s not treating that as a consolation prize. “Whatever the team needs, I want to be there for them,” Miller said. “I want to make an impact this year with this team.”
When he talked about relieving, he sounded almost surprised by how much he enjoyed it. “I liked it a lot,” Miller said. “It’s a lot different than starting. As a starter, I find myself trying to be a little bit more calm before games, not getting too amped up too early. Then you come out of the bullpen and a big burst of adrenaline hits and you’re ready to go. You’re not feeling much in your body. It’s just a big burst of adrenaline.”
He paused, then doubled down. “That was a big change for me,” he said, “but I absolutely loved it. I love being a starter as well. But at the end of the day, you just got to do whatever the team needs and do whatever you can to help the team.”
He also noticed a difference in how his stuff played in shorter stints. “A little bit,” Miller said, when asked about pitch mix and approach. “I do feel like my stuff played better. I found a little bit more velocity in the fastball, a little more velocity in the curveball. I felt like my pure stuff was a little bit better.”
He didn’t pretend it was perfect, but he sounded encouraged by the feel of it. “There was a couple speed bumps out of the pen,” Miller said, “but I thought it went pretty well at the end of the year.”
Miller knows he’s fighting uphill in a room packed with arms, and he talked about that competition like it’s part of the deal you sign up for here. “There’s a ton of good arms throughout our whole farm system and in the big leagues as well,” he said. “That’s something we always have every single year, a lot of guys who can contribute to this team.”
He called it a challenge, but also a benefit. “That’s what you got to deal with as a Dodger,” Miller said. “It’s a blessing. It makes you better. Everyone wants to see everyone do great, but at the end of the day, you’re always fighting for a spot.”
Then he put it in plain terms. “The goal for me this year is to make the team,” Miller said, “and be with the team for a very long time.”
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