Slumbering Sox Need Awakening - Cowboy Up Two?

Yes, they won last night. Yes, they got Eric Gagne and the Yankmees didn't. Yes, Curt Schilling looks healed and ready for the stretch drive. Yes, they sport all those wonderful stats that Kevin in New York can rattle off so impressively.

But as true as all those things are, there is no denying that there is something missing from this team.

Call it heart. Call it drive. Call it whatever you like, but this Sox team is in dire need of it. With everything they have going for it, the Sox should not be in a life and death struggle to split two games with the Orioles, no matter how well they are playing lately. Be honest, once they fell behind 3-0 Wednesday night, how confident were you that they would come back? Once the opposition gets to 3 or 4 runs, you can almost pack it in. That simply should not be happening.

They have been wasting great outings from Josh Beckett and Dice K. They left another 11 men on base Wednesday night. And it's not just the fact that Manny hit into a double play and popped up on first pitches with runners in scoring position. Or that Wily Mo is as useless as a screen door on a submarine. (By the way, I love Tito, but why wasn't Eric Hinske in the lineup against a right hander instead of the Human Automatic Out? Was that Tito thanking Theo for getting him Gagne?) And it's not just that the Julian Tavarez-as-starter is obviously over. There is something more missing from this club.

You may laugh at it, but what I think they are missing is Kevin Millar. Okay, Kevin in New York, get up off the floor. Who else is going to shake this team out of its slumber?

This team has great character guys as leaders. Tek, Papi, Lowell are all revered father figures. Youk is the serious student of the game. Lugo might have the spark but he doesn't have the numbers to back it up yet. Manny? Pullease. Drew is bloodless and ineffective. Crisp is coming along from a performance perspective, but is afraid of his own shadow off the field. Pedroia can be the guy, but is too young to really take over a team yet.

In my last post, I compared the 2004 team to this year's team. Strictly by the numbers the 2007 team is BETTER! But they lack that intangible leader. That crazy big brother that will shake you up when you need it. They need a Johnny Damon or a Kevin Millar, and there is currently no one who fits the bill on the roster. Do not underestimate what those two meant to the championship run. Millar is goofy, crazy, media hog who can be a loose cannon and that is exactly what the 2007 Boston Red Sox need.

They can't get Damon, but they certainly could get Millar. Who would block a Pena for Millar waiver deal? Even the Yankees wouldn't bite on that one. And if they did, they could keep Pena and let him make a fool of himself in Yankee Stadium.

But there is more than just intangibles. Millar happens to be a better PLAYER than Wily Mo right now. Look at the NUMBERS. Millar is hitting .273 with a .386 OBP and a .444 slugging percentage. He can play first and he is a better right fielder than Pena, who continues to play the position like he is on roller skates.

So it's time to Cowboy Up Again! Or shoot some Jack Daniels. Or dye some hair. Or drag Manny into an interview. Or deliver a bag of dung to Tito. Or whatever. Millar will loosen them up. And make no mistake, the Sox, who are playing as if they are wearing tuxedoes, badly need loosening up.

Bring on Millar! Why not us?