I remember yelling at them to “Cowboy Up!” in 2003. I referred to them as a group of “Idiots” in 2004.
Those were the Red Sox I loved. I became an avid fan of the Red Sox towards the end of the 2002 season, and hit my obsession stage (which I still hold today) by Opening Day of 2003.
But where have all my beloved Red Sox gone?
In the last two weeks I have watched both Tim Wakefield and Jason Varitek stand at a podium at the brand new Jet Blue Ballpark in Fort Myers, Fla. and declare to all of Red Sox Nation that they were retiring.
David Ortiz. The only name on the 2012 Red Sox roster who was present for both the emotional end to the 2003 season, and the amazing moment that was the World Series victory of 2004.
Where have all the members of the “Cowboy Up” team and the “Idiots” gone?
In the years since those two memorable seasons players have gone in all sorts of directions. Retirement has hit many of the notable names from those rosters such as Garciaparra, Cabrera, Wakefield, Varitek, Foulke, and Martinez. But what about the lesser known players who made those years so exciting and memorable?
Millar, Mueller, Nixon, Walker, Mientkiewicz, Bellhorn, names that make me think back to those Red Sox. But where are these players now? Some have retired and doing other things, other answers may surprise you.
Kevin Millar:
The man who coined both “Cowboy Up!” and “We’re just a bunch of idiots”, left the Red Sox in after the 2005 season and signed with the Baltimore Orioles in 2006. From there he joined the Blue Jays in 2009 and the Cubs signed him in February of 2010, when he did not make the roster though Millar opted for retirement on April 21st, 2010.
Today Millar is working with the MLB Network co-hosting the channel’s original show “International Talk”. He is also a father to four children, all under the age of six.
Bill Mueller:
The man whose name no one could pronounce right (it is pronounced Miller), also left the Red Sox after the 2005 season. Mueller joined the Dodgers in 2006. Due to his need to undergo a third knee surgery he only played 32 games with the Dodgers.
Since then Mueller has held many positions within the Dodgers organization including special assistant to the GM and hitting coach. After the 2007 season Mueller joined the Dodgers’ front office staff.
Trot Nixon:
The man whose hat never seemed to be clean, left the Red Sox after the 2006 season. Nixon then joined the Indians in 2007 followed by the Diamondbacks in 2008 where he played for the AAA affiliate. Nixon continued the 2008 season playing with the Mets. After being released from the Brewers organization in 2009, Nixon officially retired from baseball.
Today Nixon now co-hosts a high school football highlight show on WWAY-TV in North Carolina.
Todd Walker:
One of my personal favorite 2003 Red Sox was Todd Walker, who left the organization to join the Cubs in 2004. In July of 2006 Walker was traded to San Diego but was released by the team in March of 2007. He was picked up by the A’s but was released two months later.
Todd Walker has not been involved in anything notable since his release from baseball.
Doug Mientkiewicz:
Everyone remembers Mientkiewicz for catching the ball for the final out that led to the Red Sox 2004 World Series victoy. He left the Sox after that season and joined the New York Mets. Mientkiewicz was also involved in a legal battle over the ball that made the final out of the World Series, in the end the ball landed in the Baseball Hall of Fame. He played for the Royals in 2006 and signed a one year deal with the Yankees in 2007. Mientkiewicz has also made appearances with the Pirates, Dodgers, and Marlins until 2009.
In the 2010 season, he worked as an analyst for the MLB post-season on CBSSports.com.
Mark Bellhorn:
Mark Bellhorn was the player everyone loved to hate. He left the team when they released him part way through the 2005 season and was picked up by the Yankees shortyl thereafter. In 2006 he played with both the Yankees and the Padres. After jumping between the majors and the minors with Cinncinatti in 2007 and moved on to minor league deals with the Dodgers and Rockies in 2008 and 2009.
There is no word on where Bellhorn is now; MLB.com has him listed as inactive since 2007.
Don’t get me wrong I love Pedroia and Ellsbury but nothing compares to those teams of 2003 and 2004. There was so much personality in those teams and it all came out of players who did not end up being the powerhouse players of today. It was pure drive, and a desire to win that helped propel these underdogs to where they got, and it provided them with times they will never forget, and neither will fans.
The Pitch 