BALTIMORE (AP) _ Kevin Millar would rather help the Baltimore
Orioles become a winner than join a club that already is one.
As the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline nears, it's a sure bet
the Orioles will be fielding offers for Millar, a playoff-tested
veteran who's as valuable in the clubhouse as he is at the plate.
If the Orioles deal Millar to a contender, the 35-year-old first
baseman would be playing significant games in August and September
for the first time since his days with the Boston Red Sox in
2003-05.
But if it was up to him, Millar would stay with the fourth-place
Orioles.
``My thoughts are, I want to be here. I love this group of guys.
I think we can really have a nice second half these next 70-plus
games,'' he said. ``I want to be a part of that.''
Millar has gone 27-for-70 (.386) since June 14 to raise his
batting average from .238 to .286. Under manager Sam Perlozzo,
Millar saw sporadic playing time and was used primarily in the lower
third of the batting order. Now he's batting cleanup for interim
manager Dave Trembley and toting a robust .462 slugging percentage.
``I've established some playing time consistently, and I'm doing
what I'm capable of doing,'' Millar said. ``So maybe I can stay here
and be an Oriole.''
Under Trembley, Millar has become an everyday player in
Baltimore. There are no assurances that role would continue if he
was traded to another club.
``Your situation doesn't always improve. You don't always go to a
World Series contender,'' Millar said. ``That's what happens in a
perfect world. But a lot of those teams are already situated at
certain positions.''
Even if a first-place team with a need came calling, Millar would
prefer to stay put.
``If a contending team has an injury happen in the next week and
they ask me if I want to be an everyday first baseman, that's an
opportunity,'' he said. ``But I'm an Oriole and I want to be a part
of making this organization better.''
Andy MacPhail, the newly appointed president of baseball
operations, will have the final say in the matter. But Trembley
would like nothing better than to continue to pencil Millar into the
starting lineup.
``He's got experience playing on winning teams. More importantly,
he rises to the occasion. He likes the challenge of being the guy,''
Trembley said. ``I certainly appreciate and like what Millar does
for us. He's been great. I hope he stays.''
Millar was an integral part of the Boston team that reached the
playoffs in 2003 and won the World Series in 2004. He played often,
raised the spirits in the clubhouse and averaged 85 RBIs.
Now in the midst of his second straight one-year contract with
Baltimore, he has yet to establish an identity as an Oriole. The
problem is that for much of the time, he has been platooned at first
base, left field and designated hitter.
``I never had a chance to be Kevin here. The first half last year
it was Javy Lopez, Jeff Conine, Kevin Millar, blah blah. Then the
second half I got a chance to play and hit,'' Millar said. ``This
year, same thing. Jay Payton, Aubrey Huff, Jay Gibbons, Kevin
Millar. Then I get a chance to play, and I'm hitting.''
All he wants is for Trembley to put him in the lineup on a daily
basis. Millar will take care of the rest.
``Take advantage of what you have here. Allow me to be somewhat
of a leader. Allow me to be the hitter I want to be. Allow me to be
that guy,'' he said. ``It's hard to be that guy when you play and
then sit. They say, `Oh yeah, he's older.' I'm not. I want to play a
lot more years in this game, and I want to be part of this club and
help this team and organization go to the next level.''
