Cowboy Up in Baltimore: Millar is an Oriole

[riverside sluggers]

Orioles near deal with Boston's Millar

 

BALTIMORE (AP) - Free agent first baseman Kevin Millar has reached a tentative agreement on a one-year contract with the Baltimore Orioles. Millar and the Orioles on Thursday neared finalization of the deal, according to a team official who requested anonymity because the former Boston Red Sox star has not yet taken a physical. The exam, which was expected to take place Thursday, was the only remaining step in the process.

 

The Orioles thought they had secured outfielder Jeromy Burnitz last month, but he put off taking a physical in Baltimore and ended up signing with the Pittsburgh Pirates in early January. Millar, however, is expected to make the move from one AL East team to another. "It's certainly a piece that helps us along the way," first-year manager Sam Perlozzo said. "We're starting to fill some holes." Millar hit .276 with 25 home runs and 96 RBIs with Boston in 2003, then batted .297 with 18 homers and 74 RBIs for the world champions in 2004.

 

His production tailed off last year, when he hit .272 with nine homers and 50 RBIs. The Orioles don't see Millar as a full-time player, but expect to use him often, and at a variety of positions. "I see him playing a lot of first base, designated hitter and in the outfield," Perlozzo said. "We get a guy with playoff experience, someone who was part of a World Series team. We can use that kind of player in our clubhouse. It gives us a little chemistry."

 

Millar, 34, is a career .289 batter over 932 games and exactly 3,000 at-bats. He has hit 111 homers and driven in 471 runs. He has been used mostly at first base and in the outfield, but has also been used at third base and as a DH.

 

Though it wont be a full time job he'll have, you guys know that they will almost but certain have him start in the games at Fenway Park where he still hits good.

 

226 career games at Fenway

243 hits in 787 at bats (.309 batting avg) 67 Doubles, 30 Hrs, 139 RBIs (.386 OBP)

[ORS]

Thanks for 2004, KFK. You'll never pay for a drink in my presence. Now, please continue the slide into suckitude that you started last year.

 

EDIT: Perhaps that was a bit harsh. Kevin, may you play like '05 against the Sox and '03/'04 against everyone else.

[26 to 6]

This has been the expected destination for him. Glad its finally done (so I can add it to the list lol)

 

But seriously though, I thought it would have been CLASSIC if he signed with the Dodgers.

[Soxfan1]

Thanks for 2004, KFK. You'll never pay for a drink in my presence. Now, please continue the slide into suckitude that you started last year.

 

EDIT: Perhaps that was a bit harsh. Kevin, may you play like '05 against the Sox and '03/'04 against everyone else.

Exactly. thanks for the good times (walkoff against Oakland) and the bad times sucked (everything else)

[yeszir]

Yea, I'll echo the "Thanks for 2004" sentiment. Happy trails.

[sarasoxfan]

what red seat said minus the edit comment...Oh and the part about the drink.

[Redguitar985]

I'd like to see Millar return to form after last season. Just as long as he doesn't do it against us!

[KeepTheFaith1229]

The good thing about Millar playing like crap last year is that now we can consider first base an upgrade even if we stick the Rally Monkey in there.

[RedSoxRooter]

I'd love for him to come back to fenway and jack like 3 hrs in one game. Then make the game saving defensive play at 1b to end the game.

[KeepTheFaith1229]

I'd love for him to come back to fenway and jack like 3 hrs in one game. Then make the game saving defensive play at 1b to end the game.

 

 

Umm...why? I mean he helped us win a WS and all but I don't think that's neccesary...

[Soxfan1]

Becuase crap bag boston media has made him sould like s***. He was not perfect but he deserved a spot on the team. Too see him put down all the s*** would please RSR.

[RedSoxRooter]

yes, yes.

 

Kevin Millar agreed to a $2.1 million, one-year contract Thursday with the Baltimore Orioles

 

And the guys on EEI have been saying all winter that he'd be getting a minor league deal - if he's lucky... Maybe an invite to spring training.

 

"I see him playing a lot of first base, designated hitter and in the outfield," Orioles first-year manager Sam Perlozzo said.

 

I said this last year and I'll say it again this year. Millar had this ability and it helped the Red Sox out more times than you'll admit. Especially late in games and in interleage.

 

"Kevin will be missed," Red Sox pitcher Tim Wakefield said. "He was the guy that always kept things light and humorous and funny. Baltimore is getting a pretty good hitter and a great teammate, a guy that makes things fun."

 

It is my belief that if Millar was not there when the Sox were down 3-0 vs NY, they would not have won the WS.

 

Also, because I find it obnoxious that people think Lowell will rebound after last year and that Millar no longer deserves to play for any team in Baseball.

 

It certainly wouldn't shock me if Millar wound up having better offensive numbers than Lowell this year.

 

Good luck Kev! Light it up in Camden.

[riverside sluggers]

Lets see first if Millar can improve on his .221 batting avg at Camden yards first of all.

 

Lowell does have an advantage of coming to Fenway Park, his 2005 spray chart had shown most balls he hit were towards left field. Take into account that half of his games were played in the biggest pitcher's park, you pretty much have to say hello mr. green monster. Lowell will also have surrounding him a much better hitting team than the core of the Marlins offense was.

[MANNYHOF24]

yes, yes.

 

 

 

And the guys on EEI have been saying all winter that he'd be getting a minor league deal - if he's lucky... Maybe an invite to spring training.

 

 

 

I said this last year and I'll say it again this year. Millar had this ability and it helped the Red Sox out more times than you'll admit. Especially late in games and in interleage.

 

 

 

It is my belief that if Millar was not there when the Sox were down 3-0 vs NY, they would not have won the WS.

 

Also, because I find it obnoxious that people think Lowell will rebound after last year and that Millar no longer deserves to play for any team in Baseball.

 

It certainly wouldn't shock me if Millar wound up having better offensive numbers than Lowell this year.

 

Good luck Kev! Light it up in Camden.

 

I completly agree, Millar will be missed, even though i think Youk is a upgrade, Millar brought intangables to this club, that helped turn this franchise around when he arrvied in 2003. Before that year the Sox always tried to imatate the Yankees, but Millars presence changed the attitude around here which helped us win a W.S title, and every Sox fan should be greatful for that. Also for the two years that he did hit he added a great presence in the lineup as well

[ORS]

Lets see first if Millar can improve on his .221 batting avg at Camden yards first of all.

 

Lowell does have an advantage of coming to Fenway Park, his 2005 spray chart had shown most balls he hit were towards left field. Take into account that half of his games were played in the biggest pitcher's park, you pretty much have to say hello mr. green monster. Lowell will also have surrounding him a much better hitting team than the core of the Marlins offense was.

I seriously doubt KFK has problems batting at Camden. That average is from only 91 AB taken at random over the last 3 years. He'll probably go .270/.350/.450, which isn't bad by itself (about league average), but it sucks for a 1B/COF with no glove.

[riverside sluggers]

and that .221 batting avg is against the Orioles pitching staff, not actually been the elite in the past 3 seasons. Have they?

[schillingouttheks]

and that .221 batting avg is against the Orioles pitching staff, not actually been the elite in the past 3 seasons. Have they?

This is true, but Rodrigo Lopez, Danny Batista, Eric Bedard, Bruce Chen, oh f***...the Orioles as a whole always give us fits. Millar has the potential to be a solid player, and he could do that in Baltimore.

[riverside sluggers]

Im just saying time will tell how he will do in his debut season. A big factor in my mind had been the struggles he had on the road away from Fenway. Im not trying to rip on Millar, he's my boy. And I intend on getting tix for his first game back so I can give him a standing ovation.

[RedSoxRooter]

I completly agree, Millar will be missed, even though i think Youk is a upgrade, Millar brought intangables to this club, that helped turn this franchise around when he arrvied in 2003. Before that year the Sox always tried to imatate the Yankees, but Millars presence changed the attitude around here which helped us win a W.S title, and every Sox fan should be greatful for that. Also for the two years that he did hit he added a great presence in the lineup as well

 

Exactly.

[elsrbueno]

As potentially the biggest Millar hater in the history of Talksox, I feel I must chime in here.

 

Kevin Millar in his best season was a .276 hitter with 25 homers and 96 RBI. He had 1 good year in Florida that rivaled his top year in Boston, but at best he's a below average offensive first baseman.

 

 

Last year was so very bad that Kevin Millar was among the worst first baseman on BOTH sides of the baseball. He was easily bottom 5 among regulars both with the bat and the glove. His clownish attitude was OK at best, but was his F#@% Everybody shirt all that appropriate?

 

Last year Kevin Millar didn't hit away from Fenway, he didn't hit lefties, he didn't hit in the playoffs or in the clutch. He's not fast enough to justify his lack of power and he's not powerful enough to justify his lack of speed.

 

He isn't strong enough offensively or defensively to warrant an everyday job, and just the thought of Kevin in the outfield still makes me cringe. Personally, I hope he plays the outfield a lot when we play Baltimore.

 

The Red Sox are much much better off with a platoon of Youkilis and Snow than they are with another whole year of Kevin Millar at first.

 

Thanks for 2004 Kevin. Good luck in Baltimore-- you'll need it.

[26 to 6]

As potentially the biggest Millar hater in the history of Talksox, I feel I must chime in here.

 

Kevin Millar in his best season was a .276 hitter with 25 homers and 96 RBI. He had 1 good year in Florida that rivaled his top year in Boston, but at best he's a below average offensive first baseman.

 

 

Last year was so very bad that Kevin Millar was among the worst first baseman on BOTH sides of the baseball. He was easily bottom 5 among regulars both with the bat and the glove. His clownish attitude was OK at best, but was his F#@% Everybody shirt all that appropriate?

 

Last year Kevin Millar didn't hit away from Fenway, he didn't hit lefties, he didn't hit in the playoffs or in the clutch. He's not fast enough to justify his lack of power and he's not powerful enough to justify his lack of speed.

 

He isn't strong enough offensively or defensively to warrant an everyday job, and just the thought of Kevin in the outfield still makes me cringe. Personally, I hope he plays the outfield a lot when we play Baltimore.

 

The Red Sox are much much better off with a platoon of Youkilis and Snow than they are with another whole year of Kevin Millar at first.

 

Thanks for 2004 Kevin. Good luck in Baltimore-- you'll need it.

I applaud that post. Very good stuff.

 

There is no denying that his presence and the ither intangibles he provided were very important to the Sox. Hell, they were great for the Sox. BUt aside from 2003, and maybe a little but of 2004, he is just not a very good player, thats why he almost ended up in Japan. In fact I was VERY surprised that Theo got him in the midst of Florida trying to sell his contract to the Chunichi Dragons. (Who are actually a very good club, wonder what Millar would have done for them.) But that was a good move by Theo just based alone on Kevin's 2003, and the off the field intangibles he provided.

 

Plus, I always liked Millar. I wish him good luck in Baltimore.

[He Hate Me]

well at least he didnt sign with the Yankees. I think every 2004 Sox player is gonna avoid the Yanks from now on after seeing what happened with Damon

[riverside sluggers]

Well this came somewhat of a surprise to me.

 

Rotoworld: Orioles designated first baseman Walter Young for assignment. Young might have emerged as a threat to Jeff Conine's or Kevin Millar's playing time, so he had to go. In fairness, he is coming off a disappointing year in Triple-A and it appears less likely that he'll be something resembling an average regular at first base or DH. He still would have been a candidate to outplay Millar.

 

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/7428

 

As you can see from his stats, he had made a fine debut in the majors. It would be interesting if Boston were to sign him to a minor league deal.

 

123 games with Triple A Ottawa, hit .288 with 13 Hrs & 81 RBIs

14 games with Baltimore, hit .303 & .378 OBP with 1 HR & 3 RBIs

[RedRuffing15]

This is a good pickup for Baltimore....smart move

[Beckett95]

Well this came somewhat of a surprise to me.

 

 

 

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/7428

 

As you can see from his stats, he had made a fine debut in the majors. It would be interesting if Boston were to sign him to a minor league deal.

 

123 games with Triple A Ottawa, hit .288 with 13 Hrs & 81 RBIs

14 games with Baltimore, hit .303 & .378 OBP with 1 HR & 3 RBIs

 

id love to pick up Walter Young and play him at AAA for a year. Hes a beast with alot of power. Hes also the biggest MLB player ever im pretty sure. I think hes like 6'5" 320 lbs. HUGE

 

he has a minor league career average of .286 with an obp of .340. He also has a .489 slg%

http://baltimore.orioles.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/team/player.jsp?player_id=425488

[26 to 6]

Well this came somewhat of a surprise to me.

 

 

 

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/7428

 

As you can see from his stats, he had made a fine debut in the majors. It would be interesting if Boston were to sign him to a minor league deal.

 

123 games with Triple A Ottawa, hit .288 with 13 Hrs & 81 RBIs

14 games with Baltimore, hit .303 & .378 OBP with 1 HR & 3 RBIs

I was actually shocked as well. Appearantly he is a good power hitter who just happened to have a not-so-great year last year. But maybe he doesnt project to be much, not very athletic. I remember seeing him last year when the O's played the Yankees...looked like 3Mo Vaughns ..just taller.

 

 

...at the end of last year it looked like the Orioles had some good young guys in their system, notably Walter Young and the second baseman, Bernie Castro. Surprisingly, castro was let go in the offseason as well. Early in the offseason and was signed by Washington. That kid was extremely fast and looked to be a pretty good 2Bman to me.

[gpd311]

Is anyone else happy to see this guy go? I was on another forum where people were saying how much they will miss him.

 

I realize the he was good for team morale but not good enough to be taking up a spot on the team. It takes more than morale to win ballgames.

[ORS]

You didn't need to look hard to find this.

 

Millar is and Oriole Thread in General Baseball Forum

[gpd311]

Woops. I just joined a few days ago and have really only viewed "talk sox".

[jsinger121]

not many fans will miss millars production. he became pretty useless last year.