Kevin Millar

Kevin Millar, who played on the Red Sox' 2004 World Series championship team and is now an analyst for the MLB Network, was Boston.com's special guest for a baseball chat today. Millar is the co-host of MLB Network's Intentional Talk with Chris Rose. It airs weeknights at 5 p.m. Review his conversation below. Chat with Kevin Millar at noon

It wasn't Opening Day. It was bigger than that - a 100-year celebration of a ballpark, and Terry Francona could understand that as well as anyone. All you had to do was refer to two of the greatest accomplishments in the history of the Red Sox - World Series victories in 2004 and 2007 - and find the smiling face of Francona, then the manager, in the team picture. That smile faded quickly last September in the collapse of all collapses, which cost the Red Sox a postseason berth and cost Francona his job after eight seasons.

By Steve Silva, Globe Staff In the video above, Red Sox pitching legend Pedro Martinez and 2004 spark plug and fan favorite Kevin Millar took a walk down memory lane as Fenway Park celebrated its 100th birthday on Friday.

By Steve Silva, Globe Staff In the video above, Red Sox pitching legend Pedro Martinez and 2004 spark plug and fan favorite Kevin Millar took a walk down memory lane as Fenway Park celebrated its 100th birthday on Friday.

BALTIMORE -- Kevin Millar was about to take a few swings in batting practice when Jason Varitek, on his way back from hitting in the cages near the Orioles clubhouse, took a detour to say hello. Millar: "So, was it paint or blood?" When Daisuke Matsuzaka walked into the visitors' clubhouse, he saw a large group of reporters and TV cameras in a tight circle in the vicinity of his locker. Noting the puzzled expression on his face, Jonathan Papelbon, who was playing cards in the middle of the room, decided to help.

It wasn't Opening Day. It was bigger than that - a 100-year celebration of a ballpark, and Terry Francona could understand that as well as anyone. All you had to do was refer to two of the greatest accomplishments in the history of the Red Sox - World Series victories in 2004 and 2007 - and find the smiling face of Francona, then the manager, in the team picture. That smile faded quickly last September in the collapse of all collapses, which cost the Red Sox a postseason berth and cost Francona his job after eight seasons.

Red Sox hero Kevin Millar , marathoner Bill Rodgers , and retired Celtic Tom “Satch’’ Sanders were honored at the Lowell Spinners’ “New England Sports Legends and Moments Night’’ at LeLacheur Park on Sunday night. Despite what the scoreboard in this photo tells you, Millar is not the originator of the phrase “cowboy up,’’ but because of what he did in 2004, we’ll let him take credit for it. Worth noting is that tomorrow is “Floss Night’’ at LeLacheur Park.

Every championship team needs a backbone, and in the case of the 2004 Red Sox, their backbone also happened to be their backstop. Long before catcher Jason Varitek shoved his mitt in the face of Yankees star Alex Rodriguez -- in essence telling the Evil Empire to "shove it" -- he was the unquestioned leader of this wild, but wildly effective, group. Varitek didn't rack up the most hits, drive in the most runs, or make the most money, but there was not a man in the Red Sox' clubhouse who didn't know that this was Jason...

By Tony Massarotti, Globe Columnist Josh Beckett is missing the point, though there is the possibility that he is simply trying to avoid it. This is not about chicken. This is not about beer. This is not even about on-field failure, because the Red Sox and their followers have endured a good deal of that before, too. What this is about, quite simply, is the seeming absence of commitment from a man whom the Red Sox once regarded as a model of dedication. Now, as spring training rapidly approaches in the aftermath of a Red Sox season that ended with a truly historic collapse,...

BALTIMORE -- Some pitchers (hello, Curt Schilling) approach their starts as if they were planning SWAT raids. No problem at all, especially when they shine like Schilling. Then there are the anti-Schillings, the Derek Lowes. Affectionately known as "cuckoo bird" to Pedro Martinez, the ace of Boston's troika of one-time All-Star starters with Lowe and Schilling, Lowe spent a few moments preparing for his 2004 debut last night by long-snapping a football in the visitors clubhouse at Camden Yards.

Forget all that Cowboy Up stuff of the 2003 season. So passe, said Johnny Damon, as the Red Sox entered the American League Division Series against the Angels. The 2004 postseason Red Sox, according to the adept center fielder/leadoff hitter, should no longer be known for their boots ‘n' stirrups, but rather for a more cerebral something. "We're just the idiots this year," declared Damon, prior to the first pitch of the ALDS. "We feel like we can win every game. We feel like we have to have fun -- and I think that's why this team is liked by so many people out there.

Every championship team needs a backbone, and in the case of the 2004 Red Sox, their backbone also happened to be their backstop. Long before catcher Jason Varitek shoved his mitt in the face of Yankees star Alex Rodriguez -- in essence telling the Evil Empire to "shove it" -- he was the unquestioned leader of this wild, but wildly effective, group. Varitek didn't rack up the most hits, drive in the most runs, or make the most money, but there was not a man in the Red Sox' clubhouse who didn't know that this was Jason Varitek's team.

FORT MYERS, Fla. - The Red Sox throw open the doors to their clubhouse this morning for the first time since that final night in Baltimore last September. Later in the day, Josh Beckett and Jon Lester will be made available to the media. Is it just me or is anybody else interested in a few mea culpas? Perhaps we could hear an admission that things were not quite right by the time the SS Francona sank in Baltimore's Inner Harbor. Can just one guy stand up and say, "We [bleeped]

Good to see Red Sox players are taking accountability for collapsing down the stretch, getting their manager fired, and prompting their general manager to flee the flaming sinkhole that is the Boston Red Sox. Just listen to what Adrian Gonzalez had to say yesterday, taking the issues head on. "People have to eat, whether it's chicken or steak. " Absolutely. Mr. Gonzalez gets it. He understands the ire of Red Sox fans and is taking a stance. It doesn't matter if it's chicken or steak.

Josh Beckett is missing the point, though there is the possibility that he is simply trying to avoid it. This is not about chicken. This is not about beer. This is not even about on-field failure, because the Red Sox and their followers have endured a good deal of that before, too. What this is about, quite simply, is the seeming absence of commitment from a man whom the Red Sox once regarded as a model of dedication. Now, as spring training rapidly approaches in the aftermath of a Red Sox season that ended with a truly historic collapse,...

By Tony Massarotti, Globe Columnist Josh Beckett is missing the point, though there is the possibility that he is simply trying to avoid it. This is not about chicken. This is not about beer. This is not even about on-field failure, because the Red Sox and their followers have endured a good deal of that before, too. What this is about, quite simply, is the seeming absence of commitment from a man whom the Red Sox once regarded as a model of dedication. Now, as spring training rapidly approaches in the aftermath of a Red Sox season that ended with a truly historic...

The Curse at First -- reversed. The Oakland A's were bitten Monday night when first baseman Scott Hatteberg committed a double error in the fourth inning on a night when they gave up nine unearned runs and were routed by the Red Sox. Last night, Sox first baseman Kevin Millar committed two costly errors, leading to A's runs in the first and seventh innings. But in a classic reversal of fortune, Millar belted a walkoff homer in the ninth, a line drive that cleared the Green Monster, for a 3-2 victory before 35,644 on a light-jacket night at Fenway.

NEW YORK -- Kevin Millar and Kris Benson, coming off stints with the Yankees' biggest rivals, boosted Baltimore to a win in their first New York appearances with the Orioles. Millar hit a go-ahead, two-run single in the sixth inning and Benson pitched just well enough to escape trouble in Baltimore's 6-5 victory last night. Benson (2-2) did not retire the side in order once, allowing four runs -- three earned -- and eight hits in 5 1/3 innings. Rookie reliever Sandy Rleal got out of a two-on jam he inherited in the sixth.

Kevin Millar, who played on the Red Sox' 2004 World Series championship team and is now an analyst for the MLB Network, was Boston.com's special guest for a baseball chat today. Millar is the co-host of MLB Network's Intentional Talk with Chris Rose. It airs weeknights at 5 p.m. Review his conversation below. Chat with Kevin Millar at noon

Red Sox hero Kevin Millar , marathoner Bill Rodgers , and retired Celtic Tom “Satch’’ Sanders were honored at the Lowell Spinners’ “New England Sports Legends and Moments Night’’ at LeLacheur Park on Sunday night. Despite what the scoreboard in this photo tells you, Millar is not the originator of the phrase “cowboy up,’’ but because of what he did in 2004, we’ll let him take credit for it. Worth noting is that tomorrow is “Floss Night’’ at LeLacheur Park.