By GLENN MILLER
The (Fort Myers, Fla.) News-Press

FORT MYERS, Fla. - Kevin Millar's Hummer, the one with the "Cowboy Up!" sticker and the Texas plates, rumbled toward City of Palms Park at 7:25 a.m.

Game time was more than five hours away but Millar and his Boston Red Sox teammates were gathering. Before playing the Los Angeles Dodgers, they had a half day of work.

In the hours ahead, there would be batting practice, infield drills, hitting drills, players running and working out in the weight room. Reporters peppered players and coaches with questions. Fans clamored for autographs.

Morning workouts are as much a part of spring training as sunshine, hot dogs and beer.

"The hardest thing to do is get to the big leagues," said first baseman Millar, 32, who played five minor-league seasons before reaching the majors. "The second hardest thing to do is stay in the big leagues."

Staying there means arriving at the ballpark more than five hours before the first pitch.

"Everybody wants to be here," said Chris Correnti, an assistant trainer and the Red Sox rehabilitation coordinator. "I think we got the ball rolling right now where everybody pushes everybody. If a guy isn't working out, he feels like he should be."

At 8:25 a.m., an hour after leaving his spring-training home, Millar - who popularized the "Cowboy Up!" slogan last season - emerged from the weight room with Correnti. They headed out to left field where they continued an aerobic workout that began in the weight room. In the sunshine on the grass still glistening with morning dew, Correnti pushed Millar nearly to his aerobic limit.

He used a football to direct Millar back and to the side and forward and then sprinting out for long passes. The football is supposed to make running sprints fun.

"About ready to die," Millar said after one of his long pass routes.

At 8:30 a.m., All-Star shortstop Nomar Garciaparra, wearing mementos from Fort Myers - a cap from the megahip Blu Sushi restaurant and a police department T-shirt - entered the locker room, where players eat and talk, play cards, read newspapers, listen to music and forge bonds.

"What's in the locker room stays in the locker room," Red Sox second baseman Pokey Reese said. "These are my brothers. These are guys I just love being around. Your job is your job. You got to get along with your co-workers. I love being here."

This is the work-a-day life of a baseball team. Statistics and won-loss records are built on the field. Bodies are maintained and skills honed before and after games. Steroids allegedly are part of that process for some players. Certainly not all.

"A lot of hard work is involved," Millar said. "The fans don't know who's coming in here at 7:30 in the morning."

By 8:55 a.m., Millar, wearing blue shorts and a red T-shirt, was standing by the team's batting cages tucked between the stands and a parking lot. He was accompanied by a vital tool of his job - a Louisville Slugger M279 bat, a 34 1/2-inch, 33-ounce model.

By 9:30 a.m., the team was gathered in left field, beginning to loosen up. The players jogged lightly. They stretched. They ran sprints. By 9:45 a.m., Millar and Garciaparra were playing catch, loosening their arms.

At 10:28 a.m., Millar stepped into the cage on the main field and began lashing balls deep into the outfield. Batting practice was over by 10:40 a.m. Millar stopped near the backstop for a television interview.

This day would be short for Millar. He wasn't in the lineup and his boss gave him the afternoon off.

"An easy day," Millar said. "Go shower and hit the beach."

Soon, manager Terry Francona won't give players games off. Opening day is Sunday, April 4.

Millar knows what that means. He intends to be ready.