Of the three young Astros occupying spots in the starting rotation in 2001, Miller was the most experienced. That is to say, he pitched for a full season before Tim Redding or Roy Oswalt made their major-league debuts. Miller’s 2001 season was marked by streaks, winning when his fastball reached the mid-90s, and then losing during a “dead-arm” period in May, when he lost velocity, but still managed to lead the team with 11 victories before the All-Star break. With the emergence of rookies Oswalt and Redding, manager Larry Dierker looked to Miller to provide stability and leadership in the rotation, and Miller became an innings-eater.
