[新聞] Boston Herald - Millar no Mentor for Youkilis
http://redsox.bostonherald.com/redSox/view.bg?articleid=134002&format=text
BALTIMORE - Kevin Youkilis was talking about all the advice he has been
getting about how to play first base the correct way.
Then, just for fun, the name of Kevin Millar, the guy he replaced who now
is playing first for the Baltimore Orioles, was brought up. What words of
wisdom, if any, did the Karaoke Guy, not known for being a Gold Glove
candidate, ever offer?
“Millar?” Youkilis said. He snorted, softly. “No. He’d always joke
around, ‘Don’t watch me. Go watch John Olerud.’ ”
Rock-solid advice from Mr. Cowboy Up, whose value to the Red Sox dropped
off the charts last season when his offensive struggles and his mediocrity in
the field led to the end of his memorable, three-year stint in Boston.
Millar undoubtedly will be heard, loud and clear, this afternoon when the
Sox and O’s mingle during batting practice. Perhaps Millar will notice
Youkilis, expected to be in Terry Francona’s lineup as the starting first
baseman, has shed a few pounds from last year. If he pays close attention
during the game, he might also notice Youkilis looks a lot more at home
playing first than he did last season.
Nobody is comparing Youkilis’ defense to that of Mark Grace or Keith
Hernandez. It is worth noting, however, that a player who rose to fame in the
minor leagues (and in Michael Lewis’ book “Moneyball”) for his discerning
eye at the plate has been working hard at making the transition from third
base to first.
Until the middle of March, he simply was not ready to say he had gotten
over the hump. In the past three weeks, however, Youkilis has cleared both a
physical and mental hurdle when it comes to playing his position.
“Ever since (mid-March), it’s gotten easier and easier playing first,”
Youkilis said. “My first week or two of games, though, whew. I never felt
comfortable in spring training, but I feel a lot better now.
“I know what to do. I feel comfortable.”
Youkilis said his single biggest challenge remaining is figuring out
where to position himself when a power-hitting lefty comes up and hits a ball
up the middle with runners on base. In that situation, he usually is playing
back and toward the foul line, so he has to sprint to the proper position to
get any necessary relay throw.
If that is Youkilis’ biggest worry, it’s a good sign he has made
progress. Being lighter and looking more agile has not hurt his learning
curve, either.
“I think he’s made a lot of progress,” Francona said. “I think he’s
done a great job, and more importantly, I think the pitchers feel that way,
too.”
After the Red Sox made their offseason trade with the Florida Marlins for
Josh Beckett and Mike Lowell, Youkilis was told by his agent and “assistant
general manager” Curt Schilling (as Youkilis calls him) that he would be
playing more first base. Youkilis had all winter to get prepared to shift to
the other side of the infield, and now, after six weeks of spring training,
the fruits of his efforts will be shown on a nearly daily basis.
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