Whether it's a line drive or a one-liner, Kevin Millar has been coming through for the Boston Red Sox.
It didn't look like much to laugh about a few months ago when the Red Sox were in an international tug-of-war with the Chunichi Dragons in Japan to get Millar. But just three months into his Red Sox career, he's emerged as a team leader with off-the-cuff jokes that brighten Boston's clubhouse. Win or lose, the smile rarely leaves his face.
"I'm enjoying every day we come here, to be able to be a part of Fenway Park and the Red Sox," Millar says. "I just like to have fun."
And his teammates love having him around.
"Kevin just makes you laugh even when you don't want to," David Ortiz said.
Millar couldn't joke about the anxiety of the offseason. He spent six weeks wondering if he'd be playing in North America or Asia. He worried about being abroad with a war in Iraq on the horizon.
"It was scary," he said.
The Florida Marlins paid Millar US$1.05 million last season, but had too many right-handed hitters and sold him to Chunichi for US$1.2 million.
He said he probably would have signed in the majors for US$1.5 million and a chance to play every day, but the two-year, US$6.2 million deal he agreed to with Chunichi in January was too good to pass up. But first, Florida was required to put him on waivers. After the Red Sox claimed him, Millar said he never signed the Dragons' contract.
US and Japanese baseball officials began talks. Chunichi released its claim on Feb. 14 and his rights returned to the Marlins. The next morning, the Red Sox obtained him for cash considerations.
Millar was so thrilled -- and relieved -- that he got in his car that day and drove 16 hours from his home in Beaumont, Texas, to Boston's training camp in Fort Myers, Florida. He signed a two-year, US$5.3 million contract plus a US$3.5 million player option for 2005 that would become guaranteed if he has 800 plate appearances this year and next year.
Millar found it curious that a 31-year-old player with an undistinguished past drew so much attention. He wasn't drafted, but began his pro career with the independent St. Paul Saints in 1993 and spent the next four seasons in the minors.
He was hurt most of the 1998 season before joining Florida to stay from May 21, 1999, through last season. In 500 games, he hit .296 with 59 homers and 251 RBIs.
Millar has played first base, outfield and designated hitter, and got off to an outstanding start. He hit .404 through the first 16 games and, as part of one of baseball's best lineups, has hovered around .300 since then.
Boston general manager Theo Epstein was confident he'd end up with Millar, a hard-working, blue-collar type player with average speed and fielding ability but a good bat.
"We got exactly the guy we thought we were getting in all phases of the game, even in the clubhouse," he said. "We knew he would be a good leader."
Bayer 04 Leverkusen go into today’s match at TSG 1899 Hoffenheim stung from their first league defeat in 16 months. Leverkusen were beaten 3-2 at home by RB Leipzig before the international break, the first loss since May last year for the reigning league and cup champions. While any defeat, particularly against a likely title rival, would have disappointed coach Xabi Alonso, the way in which it happened would be most concerning. Just as they did in the Supercup against VfB Stuttgart and in the league opener to Borussia Moenchengladbach, Leverkusen scored first, but were pegged back. However, while Leverkusen rallied late to
The lights dimmed and the crowd hushed as Karoline Kristensen entered for her performance. However, this was no ordinary Dutch theater: The temperature was 80°C and the audience naked apart from a towel. Dressed in a swimsuit and to the tune of emotional music, the 21-year-old Kristensen started her routine, performed inside a large sauna, with a bed of hot rocks in the middle. For a week this month, a group of wellness practitioners, called “sauna masters,” are gathering at a picturesque health resort in the Netherlands to compete in this year’s Aufguss world sauna championships. The practice takes its name from a
Japanese players are moving to English soccer in record numbers and more look set to follow with clubs attracted by their quality, strong work ethic and value for money. Kaoru Mitoma is the standout talent of five Japanese players in the English Premier League, with eight more in the Championship and two in League One. Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endo, the captain of Japan, believes his compatriots are “being held in higher esteem” by English clubs compared with the past. “The staff at Liverpool ask me about lots of Japanese players, not necessarily with a view to a transfer, but just saying this or
Taiwan yesterday survived Bosnia and Herzegovina to win their Davis Cup World Group I tie at the Taipei Tennis Center. The tight series started on Saturday with world No. 123 Jason Tseng losing 3-6, 7-5, 6-4 to Mirza Basic in the opening singles matchup. However, teammate Tony Wu kept the tie even, dominating world No. 86 Damir Dzumhur 6-2, 6-1. Yesterday, 24-year-old Ray Ho and partner 25-year-old Hsu Yu-hsiou kept up the momentum, making short work of Basic and Nerman Fatic, winning 6-3, 6-4. Tseng then suffered another defeat, losing 6-4, 2-6, 6-2 to Dzumhur in a brutal match that lasted more than two