D-backs’ Miley staying humble, focused

Quick, going into the season, who did you think would be
the Arizona Diamondbacks’ best starting pitcher in 2012?

Many would say Ian Kennedy, who won 21 games a year ago
and finished fourth in the National League Cy Young Award
voting. Others would say Daniel Hudson, a young right-
hander with oodles of promise and a 16-win season on his
résumé.

Both Joe Saunders and Trevor Cahill have pitched in All-
Star Games.

The point is, nobody, and I mean nobody would have picked
rookie southpaw Wade Miley to fill that role. But the 25-
year-old Louisiana native has done just that — and has
been one of the most pleasant surprises in baseball this
season.

Miley continued his stellar mound work Wednesday, taking a
perfect game into the fifth inning during
a 6-1 win over the Colorado Rockies.
Miley earned his 7th win, allowing just three hits over
eight innings.

“I felt pretty good (Wednesday, just going right at guys
and just trying to keep it with no runs on the board,” the
humble Miley said.

Others around him aren’t so bashful when talking about
Miley’s accomplishments, like his manager Kirk Gibson, for
instance.

“Outstanding,” Gibby said Wednesday. “Eight innings,
three hits, didn’t walk anybody, struck out five, he was
very efficient.”

Miley’s 7 wins have him tied with international superstar
Yu Darvish of the Texas Rangers among MLB rookies. His
stellar 2.53 ERA is the best among qualified rookie
pitchers. We’re into June, and Miley has shown no signs
of slowing down, so we can start the Rookie of the Year
talk, right?

“I just try not to think about that too much,” he said. “I
just stay focused on what we want to do as a team and go
from there.”

Oh yeah, Miley also leads the senior circuit in humility.
He’s been the most consistent Diamondback this season, and
is a big reason why the team is still hovering near the
.500 mark.

Arizona Sports’ Kyndra de St. Aubin contributed to this
report

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