McGregor's role in Miley's strong finish

As the Orioles seem content or financially motivated to stick with their rotation candidates next spring, they're banking on left-hander Wade Miley to give them a greater return on their trade with the Mariners.

Miley went 2-5 with a 6.17 ERA and 1.574 WHIP in 11 starts with the Orioles, but he picked up a head of steam toward the finish. In his last three outings, he held the opposition to four runs and struck out 23 batters over 18 2/3 innings.

The Rays, Diamondbacks and Yankees can vouch for him.

Miley shut out Tampa Bay on one hit over four innings before exiting with tightness in his back. He returned on Sept. 24 and permitted only one run in 8 2/3 innings, with no walks and 11 strikeouts, in a 6-1 win over Arizona at Camden Yards.

Another quality start followed in Miley's final appearance. He allowed three runs, walked one and struck out nine over six innings against the Yankees.

The game against the Diamondbacks created the loudest buzz, and not only because the MASN cameras caught Miley in the dugout offering a one-fingered salute to former teammate Paul Goldschmidt.

Standing at his locker later in the night, Miley referenced a conversation he had with former Orioles pitcher Scott McGregor that apparently led to his dominant performance.

"You put pressure on yourself," Miley said. "I talked to Scott McGregor the other day in right field for 25 or 30 minutes. We just talked about, there is such a thing as trying too hard. Try easier is what he told me. That kind of stuck to me. Rather than try to be max effort every time, just relax and execute pitches."

McGregor currently serves as the Orioles pitching rehabilitation coordinator, but he's also been a fill-in coach and makes the occasional appearance at Camden Yards to offer any assistance. He tries to watch most of the games on television when he isn't with the team, and that's when he noticed how Miley was "rushing to home plate."

"I was watching the camera angles, especially from the side, and he was flying open," McGregor said. "He wasn't making quality pitches. I knew he had a good arm and he threw a one-hitter before we traded for him.

"I didn't know him at all. I said 'hi' to him when I came up there in September. I introduced myself and walked out to watch some of the guys throw in the bullpen and ended up next to him. I asked how he was doing and he said, 'Fine.' I said, 'Man, you're flying down the mound. I see what you're doing.' He said, 'Ah man,' and he was like a sponge."

Next came the advice that Miley relayed to reporters. Advice offered many years ago by former Orioles pitcher, coach and executive Mike Flanagan.

"I just told him that he needs to try a little bit easier," McGregor said. "Flanny always said that. Try easier instead of trying to impress. We know you're good.

"I watched the bullpen (session) and during batting practice he came by and said, 'Something really clicked for me.' And he took off.

"He's got a great pickoff move. He doesn't need to be one-flat to the plate. Stay behind the ball, relax. We had a great conversation. He said, 'I throw a lot of sliders. In the past, I'd throw 76 percent fastballs and more changeups.' I said, 'Yes, be yourself. That's what we want you to do here.'

"I've been through it. I know what that's all about. And it just clicked. He was very receptive."

This is the Orioles' version of paying it forward, the counseling dating back to Hall of Famer Jim Palmer.

"When I came up, it was me, Flanny, Dennis Martinez, and Palmer did that with us all the time," McGregor said. "He'd teach how to manage a game, manage emotions. Flanny always talked about trying easier. It just takes time. Back off and try a little easier, stay behind the ball, don't try to do too much.

"You pitch long enough and you learn how to control your emotions and be able to back off and not overthrow. Palmer talks about it all the time. Later in the game when you're a little tired, you back off and try a little easier. It's just a common thing we used to say to each other and it still works today."

Miley swears by it.

Shameless plug alert: I'm appearing on "Wall to Wall Baseball" from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. on MASN.