Let me say this right from the start:

One of the best parts of joining the Yankees beat in 2016 was being around Andrew Miller on a daily basis for a few months.

Great reliever, better fellow.

There aren't many guys in today's game who would have done what Miller did when the Yankees traded for Aroldis Chapman last winter. Miller did a tremendous job closing for the 2015 Yankees, then right from the start made it clear that he'd very willingly drop into a setup role with Chapman aboard.

Miller never did any secret pouting either. He meant it when he said he'd pitch anywhere for the betterment of the club. He'd already signed for closer money ... four years, $39 million. He was happy.

Miller was a treat to interview or just chitchat with before games, too. We used to talk about North Carolina basketball here and there because he attended college there and I've followed the Tar Heels since Phil Ford was running the four corners offense in the mid-70s.

It was sad seeing Miller go when the Yankees made him part of their summer fire sale in that July 31 Sunday morning 4-for-1 with the Cleveland Indians.

Now let me say this:

Miller was as wrong as you can be in the shot that he took at his old manager before Game 2 of the World Series on Wednesday night.

Miller apparently doesn't like the fact that Joe Girardi didn't make it perfectly clear a few times whether he or Dellin Betances would get into a game first and that the Yankees bullpen sometimes became "a mess" because both warmed up at the same time.

Oh really?

What a joke.

Here's a guy who has been baseball's best reliever in these playoffs coming out of Terry Francona's bullpen in the fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth innings who had the nerve to criticize Girardi for warming up two guys at the same time?

With all due respect, Andrew ...

Grow up!

Beginning last May 9 -- when Chapman returned from his month suspension for breaking the domestic violence policy -- Miller was part of one of the most dominating three-headed bullpen monsters ever. Betances, Miller and Chapman initially were called the Big 3, then, more cleverly, No Runs DMC.

If all three were available and the game was tight, generally Girardi paraded them in one at a time ... Betances for the seventh, Miller for the eighth and Chapman for the ninth. In fact, in the 38 Yankees games this season in which Miller and Betances both pitched, their order was the same every single time ... first Betances, then Miller.

Yet here's what Miller got off his chest Wednesday, as reported by Kevin Kernan of the New York Post:

"I know when Chapman came back to us for the Yankees this year, Dellin and I were kind of up in the air about what order we would pitch. And in some instances it created a mess because we were both warming up next to each other.

"I think all managers, Joe, (Francona) ... I've been lucky to have some that really handle the bullpen well. But you hate to have two guys warming up at the same time. It seems wasteful in a sense.''

It's all about winning the game, Andrew, and there's nothing wrong with getting an All-Star righty and All-Star lefty ready at the same time. This way you can pull one after a batter or two if necessary ... or perhaps deceive the opposing manager.

Regardless, kudos to Miller for following four incredible regular seasons in a row with a postseason for the ages. So far he's worked 13 2/3 shutout innings and earned ALCS MVP honors.

Now Miller and Chapman are battling against each other in this historic World Series, Indians vs. Cubs. Miller needs to shut up and pitch instead of taking unfair shots at Joe Girardi.

Randy Miller may be reached at rmiller@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @RandyJMiller. Find NJ.com on Facebook.