When left to choose between a left-handed reliever with craftsmanship or conflagration, Alex Rodriguez has his mind made up.
As a former Yankee teammate to Cleveland Indians’ reliever Andrew Miller and Chicago Cubs’ closer Aroldis Chapman, Rodriguez has provided unique insight as an interim Fox Sports analyst this postseason, and has wasted no time in voicing his opinions.
According to a report from John Harper of the New York Daily News, Rodriguez has placed Miller above Chapman as the best reliever in baseball, largely based on Miller’s professionalism and selfless demeanor.
“I played for 22 years and I’ve never seen a clubhouse hurt so much when a guy was traded,” A-Rod said of Miller. “It wasn’t just because he’s great. He is the best reliever in the game. He has the best slider. He throws 94. He can get righties and lefties out.
“He’s (also) extremely intelligent. He went to the University of North Carolina. He’s a leader, he cares, he speaks out in meetings. I don’t think the world knows what a special guy Andrew Miller is.
“What he does as a leader, what he does for the young teammates, and how he sets the tone for starters and relievers, he’s off the charts.”
Both Miller and Chapman were traded by New York at the trade deadline, and have struck out a combined 60 hitters since changing uniforms this summer.
