Kevin Millar is a long shot, at best, to make the Cubs' Opening Day roster but one thing is certain ... he gets it. There is nothing loveable about being a loser.
Kevin Millar spent a little time on Friday with Waddle and Silvy (ESPN 1000). The always-talkative former idiot discussed the Cubs and his chances of making the team out of Spring Training.
Kevin Millar is already in Mesa preparing for Spring Training (along with Carlos Zambrano). Millar said, "When you're 50 years old you gotta get ready to compete with all of the young guys." Millar came up as a third baseman and wants to prove he can still play the position. He mentioned he played the hot corner a couple of games at the end of last season.
Millar loves playing third but feels he must show the Cubs he can still play there ... as well as first and in the outfield. Millar feels he has a shot as maybe the Cubs sixth, seventh, or eighth outfielder ... as well as a right-handed bat off the bench.
Millar likes the National League because players are more involved. For the first time in his career, Millar was a role player for the Toronto Blue Jays last season. As a platoon player in the American League it can be as long as ten days in between playing time.
Millar is looking forward to playing with a National League team again.
He understands he's a long shot to make the Cubs. Millar pointed out there are intangibles that are just as important as stats. People get so tuned into the numbers that they forget that teams that wins championships ... not players.
Millar feels he can bring leadership to the Cubs and help build a family atmosphere in the clubhouse ... where every player is pulling for the other. Most importantly to get everyone on the right page and believe as a team "we can do this."
According to Millar, Jim Hendry knows what he can bring to a team outside of just a right-handed bat off the bench.
Millar believes lack of team chemistry is one of the Cubs biggest problems. He does not feel team chemistry is overrated. He explained that teammates should be pulling for one another and focused on winning.
"When you win, it's a lot of fun," according to Millar.
"You've always heard that the Cubs are the lovable losers. You go out to the bleachers, you have some beer, you root for the Cubs and they get blown out 11-2 and we scream Harry Caray. That's not what it is about. When I signed with Boston in '03 they had the same negative atmosphere. The media beat you up. The one thing that I think our group brought is that we didn't care about everything that was said. All we had to do was believe we could play and win the game that night."
"This whole curse stuff, it isn't funny. It's not the lovable loser anymore. You're got to go into camp focusing on the big picture and get prepared and get a chance to know the guys. Something has got to be different here because it hasn't worked so you've got to get that winning attitude. You've got to get these guys believing they can do it, that Derrek Lee is going to win the MVP, that Ryan Dempster can win 20 games. That's what it's about."
Millar feels the Cubs have a good team and they are in the right division ... unlike the AL East. He explained that the Cubs have a nice pitching staff but something was just missing. Millar thinks Marlon Byrd is very underrated and if healthy, Xavier Nady could be a huge addition. He pointed out there are a lot of good guys coming in to the Cubs' clubhouse.
Millar has never played for Lou Piniella but loves Lou's intensity. He's looking forward to playing for him.
The Cubs' clubhouse should be extremely loose this spring. With Ryan Dempster, Kevin Millar and Ted Lilly running around, all of the other players should not let their guard down.
Kevin Millar might get it , but Jim Hendry doesn't. He was good for the Marlins and Red Sox... but he is REALLLLLY old and washed up.... Hendry is a Jedi Master at trying to salvage old ships...
The bright side is ..... if Jim Hendry can keep a high profile job like that, there is hope for everyone
Millar knows he was brought here on the basis he will only play due to injury(s) sustained by either Lee or Ramirez. Which in all likelihood will happen. So Millar will wait out his time in AAA, probably kill down there, and he will be on the Cubs roster at some point this season. He will not start but maybe a game or two - because Tracy was brought here to be the injury starter.
It doesn't hurt to add a proven winner waiting in the wings, when circumstances dictate.
Millar, if in AAA, would take a roster spot and playing time away from a developing player. I really don't want this guy around. Chad Tracy and Hoffpauir are enough. And if we want to get more lefthanded, then why are we considering another righthanded bat off the bench? Baker& Nady fill that role. The Cubs are looking at the wrong place. Again.
Rip...you're putting way too much mental
energy into Millar...it's a 98 percent
chance he'll be released.
Millar is good for entertainment value...
My only true thoughts for the day are:
Tomorrow is Stupor Sunday...followed by
VD Day...followed by the magical words..."Pitchers and Catchers Report".
The event I really can't wait for is the third one...(Yes,flowers and candy are nice BUT).
Well, gotta go shovel...again.
There are a lot of players out their like Millar that will be given invites to camp or a minor league deal, as a favor. He may have already said he will accept a AAA assignment.
AAA is filled with the following.
1) Played in the majors and wasn't good enough
2) Older vets hanging on
3) Older Minor league players that are good insurance, but never been good enough to get the call
Millar may have agreed to be a player/coach figure to help out Ryno, with the outside chance of making the Cubs. He may have coaching aspirations.
Millar may be just be given a chance to showcase himself in limited playing time in the spring. You need a lot of players, especially in the first 3 weeks of ST, to not have to play guys more than you want.
Bottom line - This doesn't cost anything, has a little upside as an insurance policy, and just like every year, gives some guys, one last shot under the sun.
We all can only dream of what that is like...
Yeah, I was in the show. I was in the show for 21 days once - the 21 greatest days of my life. You know, you never handle your luggage in the show, somebody else carries your bags. It was great. You hit white balls for batting practice, the ballparks are like cathedrals, the hotels all have room service, and the women all have long legs and brains.
Tony...thanks for sharing that...You lived a dream 99% of us can only fantasize about....even if it was for only 21 days.
Sometime, If you care to share, it would be cool if you could do a community post
about your experiences.
I'm sure you have many more rich experiences to come...even if it isn't
in the show.
Suzy - I sure hope you recognize the quote. Crash Davis!!
that was classic........now my opinion of suzy just dropped several notches; usually has great intelligent comments; but to miss the crash davis quote-ouch!!/haha.
thank god u didn't quote the one about long slow kisses.........etc.
let's get real on millar rip: AAA is usually not for developing players; right now hoff would be the 1b (if not on team) and scott mcclain would be 3b.
not much to develop there; plus DH spot is open. bringing in good clubhouse guys never hurts; just ignorant cheap shot at JH for no reason. (byrd-nady are good for the clubhouse too; much improved over the crap from last year).
Cubs1967...Yep,I have major egg on my face...I admit it. If you were really Kevin Costner...you might get away
with the other quote...otherwise...
as Rip would say FORGETABOUTIT.
In any case, we all have our moments when
we're notat our best.
btw Costner has 50% ownership in a new
minor league team in Zion,Il/(Lake County). It's their inaugural season...it'll be interesting to see
if he shows up.
Bull Durham...lol...There were a lot of quotes there.
I own that movie I usually watch it a couple times every winter to help with baseball withdrawal great movie. I like the fact that Millar isn't taking anything for granted and is already working in Mesa. He is a classy guy. I wish Brad Snyder was practicing at first and third, with the signing of Nady, the only way I see him making the team is if he take Sam FULD's spot, and I really like sam fuld too.