Instead of debating whether the Indians will be perfectly rested or too rested for the World Series, it seems like a good time to take a look at the playoff performance of their star reliever and the most important acquisition at the trade deadline this year, Andrew Miller.

When I made my case for the Indians against the Blue Jays in the ALCS, I mentioned Miller, of course, but it was merely passing praise in an article that concentrated on how great Cleveland’s bullpen has been in general, due to the fact that it was an article about how the whole team was prepared to defeat the Blue Jays. The truth, as we have seen in both rounds of the playoffs, is that Miller has been beyond important to the Indians’ success in the first two rounds. While you can offer up his ALCS MVP award as Exhibit A and rest your case (and point out that he would probably have won another for the ALDS as well, but for the fact that they don’t give those out), I think we can do a little better.

Miller has pitched 11 and 2/3 innings and has appeared in six of the Indians’ eight postseason games (and he didn’t appear in their only playoff loss to Toronto). Over those innings, and against the Red Sox’s most feared hitters in baseball and the potent offense of Toronto, he struck out 21 batters (that’s 16.2 K/9 and he’s struck out over half the batter’s he’s faced) and allowed only two walks (and one hit by a pitch), holding them to a .131/.171/.184 batting line that looks like that of a bottom-tier National League pitcher with at least 50 plate appearances. Add to that the fact that Miller was usually starting his appearance pitching to the best hitters on these teams, and it’s even more ridiculous. The fact that he’s done it for two or more innings for four of those six appearances is, again, ridiculous.

Of course, there were factors that created the situations that have given Miller the chance to be as effective as he has been for as many batters. The lack of Carlos Carrasco and Danny Salazar, obviously, and the fact that Trevor Bauer is drone-injury prone. But, still, credit Indians manager Terry Francona for deploying Miller in important situations rather than saving him for and getting the most out of his versatile reliever, as we know only too well that not all managers are as gung ho about doing whatever it takes to win.

While it’s way, way too early to say that we’re going to see teams change how bullpens are managed and move away from tradition there, you know the idea is there now. Regardless, it doesn’t matter now, as we’re seeing a pitcher who should, by all traditional measures, be used as a closer come into games whenever it will help his team the most and showing what you can do when you learn to stop worrying and forget the save.

The package that Cleveland gave up for Miller was substantial, but, at this point, the gamble has more than payed off. The fact that the Indians have him around for another couple years at the bargain basement price of $9 million per year is just the icing on a super delicious cake that tastes like your first World Series appearance in almost 20 years. No other team made a move at the deadline that’s worked out as well so far as the Indians’ trade for Miller and, at this point, they’re playing with found money. If Miller keeps on doing what he’s been doing and the Indians take home their first trophy in almost 60 years, Miller might have another MVP award in a couple of weeks, but at this point that’s all gravy.