DOWN ON THE FARM | PAUL MILDREN, FLORIDA MARLINS

 

Everyone knows there's no crying in baseball. But perhaps less widely known that there are no guarantees, either.

 

Which is why left-hander Paul Mildren knows he might never get a chance to see how he would do against big-league hitters in a major-league game. Then again, that's not really much of a mystery anymore anyway. Not after the way he pitched against some big-league All-Stars in last spring's World Baseball Classic.

 

''It's massive in the first place for me to be able to pitch in a situation like that,'' said the 21-year-old Australian, who retired Frank Catalanotto, Willy Taveras, Alfonso Soriano and Miguel Tejada, among others, in two WBC appearances. ``. . . Just that experience seeing how my stuff, not changing anything, goes against them [was great]. And then using that confidence to come back here and throw in Double A.''

 

That confidence has obviously carried over for Mildren, who won his first two starts for the Marlins' Southern League team in the Double A Carolina League.

 

That comes after a 2005 season in which he went 10-3 with a 3.08 ERA for Single A Jupiter.

 

''I've learned in this game that you can't worry about other people,'' said Mildren, who is in his fifth professional season. ``I know if I put up some numbers, maybe there's a chance to get up there. But . . . I've got to do my game first.''

 

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/sport...ll/14408474.htm

I saw him pitch last year when the Hammerheads came up to Brevard, and I was impressed. He doesn't have great stuff, no blazing fastball, but he's got great control and knows how to get hitters out. He's definitely a guy to watch for.

The guy defiently knows how to pitch. He has a bright future in the majors (only 21 years old).

Could he very well be our lefty specialist?

Could he very well be our lefty specialist?

 

 

I think he should be a lefty starter.

I've known this kid since 2002 when he played on the Marlins GCL team. He was by far the best pitcher on a team that featured Josh Johnson, Scott Olsen and Travis Chick. He had some road bumps in Greensboro but now appears to be headed on the right track. As he's an Aussie he hasn't played as much baseball as some others so he'll need a little more time before he's Show ready. I would look for a late season call-up next year for a shot at the lefty specialist.