Benedict Millar

In case you haven't heard by now, Kevin Millar has become a cheerleader for the Red Sox.

No he hasn't donned a short skirt and pom-poms just yet, but don't give him any ideas either. After watching this video, I don't know if a short skirt and pom-poms are far off.

During the ALCS, in which the Red Sox were down 3-1 to the Cleveland Indians, Millar appeared in a commercial that called for Boston fans to not give up, citing the 2004 ALCS in which the Red Sox came back from a 3-0 series deficit to beat the Yankees and ultimately win the World Series for the first time in 86 years.

He went on to list the reasons Boston fans should not give up saying "we've got Curt Schilling, we've got Big Papi, etc..."

We.

We?

Then, Millar threw out the first pitch at game 5 in Boston. Then he went on record saying that his #15 is "on loan" to Red Sox 2B Dustin Pedroia.

Well, Millar's cheerleader routine must've helped because the Red Sox came back to beat the Cleveland Indians and return to the World Series. I wonder if Millar will be available during the World Series to personally warm up Red Sox players during games at Colorado in a sleeping bag.

What's next? Millar as Red Sox team fluffer?

Apparently, Andy MacPhail gave Millar permission to throw out the first pitch and appear in the commercial. So shame on BOTH of them.

As much as Millar talks about the concept of team and as light as he apparently keeps the clubhouse during the season, one has to think that this changes things.

Millar went out of his way to root on the Red Sox in the ACLS not just privately, but for the entire world to see. It's now been discussed on sports talk shows across America and has yet again brought more negative press to a city and team that doesn't need any more. If I am Nick Markakis or Brian Roberts, someone the Orioles are the only thing they've ever known, I am not appreciating the quickness with which Millar decided to jump ship to cheer on the Red Sox, a bitter division rival, while the Orioles are reminded yet again, that they are not even close to making the playoffs.

I also don't know what Andy MacPhail was thinking. By comparison, the Red Sox asked the New York Mets if they could "borrow" Pedro Martinez for the series too, but the Mets gave the right answer. They said "no."

What did MacPhail think the Orioles would gain from this?

And one has to question MacPhail's agenda, too. It's been no secret that MacPhail is a favorite for Bud Selig's chair as commissioner once Selig retires. Is this move somehow connected to his plan to become the next commissioner? Does MacPhail want people to see that he broke down the barriers between teams to allow players to cheer on their former teams for the good of baseball?

That may be a stretch, but when the Orioles are known for being such a disgraced organization, I don't know how MacPhail could think that allowing Kevin Millar to publicly cheer on his former team helps the Orioles' reputation. If anything it reminds people who see Millar cheering on the Red Sox that he plays for the Orioles, one of the worst teams in the league year after year.

And all of the above doesn't even factor in the most important aspect of all this: the fans.

How are they going to cheer on Millar next season when he has openly cheered on the Red Sox?

I don't blame any fan that decides to boo Millar next season.

I just hope they don't forget to boo MacPhail for allowing it to happen.