By Adam Kilgore
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, May 2, 2007

DETROIT, May 1 -- Kevin Millar met with Orioles Manager Sam Perlozzo before Tuesday night's game to discuss Millar's role. Perlozzo stressed patience to Millar, who wants to be an everyday player but has platooned. On Tuesday, he started for only the fourth time in nine days.

"We had a nice talk. It was a good conversation," Millar said. "The bottom line is, be patient with the situation. My job is to be patient, and it will all work itself out, basically. In this game, there are some times that you don't like as a player. But you are an employee here, and I've got to be patient with the situation. The best way to be patient is to get hits."

Finding at-bats for veterans has been one of Perlozzo's challenges this season, especially after Jay Payton returned in left field. Jay Gibbons and Millar have split at-bats at designated hitter for the most part, but Perlozzo played Gibbons in left Tuesday night because Payton tweaked his quadriceps Monday night. Perlozzo wants to wait before he decides how to divide playing time.

"At that point, we'll have a little better idea if we have a platoon system or we don't," he said.

Baltimore continued its crippling control problems Monday night. Daniel Cabrera walked the first batter for a third straight game, and the Orioles issued eight walks. That brought their total to an AL-high 121. Starters have walked 79, 16 more than any other AL team.

"We just need to throw more strikes," Perlozzo said. "Maybe, our game plan is to tell our pitchers to try to go strike one to every hitter to get ahead. Maybe we are throwing too many breaking balls and not enough fastballs." . . .

Scott Williamson made a rehab start with Class A Frederick on Monday, throwing 18 pitches and allowing a run in one inning.

UP NEXT Today at Tigers1:05 p.m. Trachsel (1-2) vs. Robertson (2-1) MASN Friday vs. Indians7:05 p.m. Bedard (3-2) vs. Byrd (2-1) MASN