Millsie makes me feel old...

I can't believe Brad Mills is 53 years old. Boy, that makes me feel old!

It seems like it was just the another day the former Arizona All American third baseman was scooping up ground balls and throwing bee bees across the diamond to first-sacker Terry Francona at the Wildcat Field (now known as Jerry Kindall Field at Frank Sancet Stadium). But, my goodness, that was in 1978, and now "Millsie" resurfaces finally on the "big stage" as he takes over the manager duties this year for the Houston Astros.

Mills, Boston's bench coach the last six seasons, spent 10 years as a manager in the minor leagues, following his four-year playing career in the majors (1980-1983). As for 1978 thru 1980, those were three years during the "glory days" when Arizona baseball was at center stage -- which included Pac-10 titles, College World Series' invites and national championships. Things have changed at Arizona and the Wildcats haven't won it all (the College WS) since 1986 (the Wildcats also won the CWS in 1976 and 1980).

I'd love to see Arizona return to Omaha this year and bring home their fourth title, but that's another story altogether. For now, I still have the memories of the days of Brad Mills and Company.