Nomar's Back With the Sox

In a very weird maneuvre, the Red Sox signed Nomar Garciaparra to a minor league deal, then he retired. The ex-Sox star said “I’ve always had a recurring dream, it was to be able to retire in a Red Sox uniform.” It's funny how that dream's importance diminished when the Sox offered him a 4 year, $60 million deal before the 2004 season.

After inking the minor league deal, Nomar announced his retirement, and declared his intention to work as a baseball analyst for ESPN. This brings Mr. Garciaparra full circle, as he was as vehemently anti-media as a player.

Red Sox CEO stated “When the history of the Boston Red Sox is written again, there will be a very large and important chapter devoted to Nomar Garciaparra.” Yes, Nomar played a key part in Red Sox history. After all, it was his departure which triggered the Sox' World Series run in '04.

I can just see the PR/merchandise machine that is the Red Sox Front Office deciding to retire #5 in a few seasons.

Long Live Orlando! ¡Viva Cabrera!



-The Commodore

Daily Red Sox Spring Training Update

Busy day around Red Sox spring training. Nomar retires, and the Sox whoop the Marlins.

Red Sox 9 Marlins 0

- Overall you have to be impressed by Red Sox pitching this spring seems like they are shutting teams down most games.

- Wakefield had another strong start going three innings, giving up two hits and striking out one. He threw 30 pitches, 22 for strikes.

- Jeremy Hermida played well against his former team going 2-4 with a double and his first RBI with Boston.

- Lars Anderson sucks. There I said it. He has yet to record a hit this spring training. What happened to this guy? So much for him being the next Ortiz.

- Reddick is having himself a hell of a spring training. He went 3-4 in this game, and is now batting .471.


So, Nomar retired today, but since the best thing he ever did for Boston was leave (much like Bledsoe) I am not going to do a lot on this. He was a great player, but he was an asshole and a steroid user. Plus, he never won anything (yes I know he got a ring). So...fuck Nomar.

Here is the video of his speech...


The Sox take on the Rays today at 1:05. You can listen to it on WEEI. Here is a look at their lineup and pitching schedule.

Ellsbury LF
Pedroia 2B
Martinez DH
Youkilis 1B
Beltre 3B
Scutaro SS
Cameron CF
Hall RF
Brown C

Pitching: Jon Lester followed by Brian Shouse, Manny Delcarmen, Jonathan Papelbon, Hideki Okajima, Daniel Bard and Ramon Ramirez.

Nomar Coming Back To Boston?

"Oakland's Nomar Garciaparra enjoyed an emotional return to Fenway Park on Monday, receiving a standing ovation before his first at-bat in a 6-0 win over the Red Sox. Boston is where Garciaparra began his career, and he would like to finish it there. "The minute I put that uniform on, I dreamed I was going to start my career in Boston and end my career in Boston," Garciaparra said. "I still have that dream. The only difference is that I wasn't supposed to put another uniform on. But that dream is still there (ESPN)."

You got to love articles like this. There is no way he is coming back. He didn't leave on good terms, and by the time he left everyone was sick of his ego. I am sure that has changed, but he isn't good enough to even be on the Sox roster. The only way I see him ending his career with the Sox is if he signed a 1 day deal or something in the offseason, and then retired...

Its, been a while but heres some shit Ive been thinking bout....

-First off, I can't help but just come out and say it...the steroid era has turned my favorite sport into nothing more than another WWE. The integrity of the game has been compensated to the point were I find myself having little interest in it, which is heart breaking when you look back and realize that your hole baseball watching life has been a sham because of greedy fucks trying to make an extra buck playing a childs game. Have of the players on this list I was not surprised about...come on Nomar gained fucking 30 pounds of muscle in one off season and in turn ruined his career because of it. But, at this point looking back I and not very surprised that Ortiz is named, the guy sucked ball sack before he came to Boston. Nixon was very surprising despite the fact he only really produced a few seasons 20+ home run seasons, Derek Lowe...man something had to give considering how shockingly durable he has been throughout his career. All I can really come to a conclusion on is the Selig must go much like the head of the players association has.

-Next point, looking back on past success of championship teams and seasons one thing has become evident, no team will win on what they start out with at the beginning of the season. Much like the pitching and batting approaches of players on a regular basis, teams must make changes to enhance their clubs throughout the course of the season. With this being said, the Red Sox need to make some moves to better themselves for the playoff run. Rumors of Garrett Atkins and Yunel Escobar being available have drawn my interest more than the names of Johnson, Holliday, and the other names being dangled out there. Atkins has been less than spectacular this year but that comes as good news for teams looking for a bat with pop for far less value than he had last year, plus this guy reminds me of Jason Bay a shut up and get to work player who is great in the club house...Lowell isn't A-Rod so the its very unlikely his hip will sustain itself the rest of the way. Now Escobar, regardless of what Nick Green has done he is not a starting short stop, and Jed Lowrie is just an over glorified utility man. Escobar is a great defensive shortstop that has a quality offensive game to go with it, to be quite honest other than Buchholtz I dont think anyone else on the farm is or should be untouchable. The Red Sox have strength in that they can develop great quality pitching, but they lack the ability to produce productive everyday players(despite Dusty, Youk, Elsburry). I don't know what the deal is but at some point these first round picks they make have got to produce corner stones players at the shortstop or third base position.

-Finally, while baseball has sucked every faith I have in it out of me the NBA has reemerged as the most enjoyable sporting events to watch other than the Pats making the NFL their bitches for the past decade. The C's have started to realize that you can't be successful for the same group year in and year out which draws my interest on what they will do to remold and hopefully improve their team for the up coming season. One thing is for sure is that Eddie Fucking House will be back for another year where he takes more shots than minuets he plays in a season. Sure, last year he proved to be some what valuable with all the injuries that took place on the roster but how is he in any way what they need in a back up point guard. Call me crazy, but isnt a point guard supposed to make those around him better like Rondo does? Isnt he supposed to be able to run an offense and keep the other teams guard in check? Danny Ainge has done some great things in Boston, but has also done some very questionable things as well(Gerald Green droping from top ten to 19 draft raises questions just by how it happened, Eddie House getting a player option). Did anyone for one second believe that House wasnt going to pick up this option? Come on can any of you actually say to yourselves that he was going to get more money than what he has already been offered. All I know is that if this in any way hinders the teams possibilities to resign Marbury we will all be looking back and shacking our heads when Starbury fully regains his swagger and averages 10+ points, 5+ assists a game for a championship caliber team.

Nomar Joins A's

"Nomar Garciaparra and the Oakland Athletics have agreed to terms on a one-year deal, according to a report in the San Francisco Chronicle (ESPN)."

Nomar almost had to retire, because there was very little interest in him. At this point in his career he is a 1B and DH only. Last year he only played 55 games, batted .264 for the Dodgers. he can still be effective against lefties (.339 BA), and could be a decent pickup off the bench. It is sad to see such a fan favorite really fall apart. It was covered up how much of a dickhead he was when he was with the Sox, but there was a time when Nomar was as big as Brady in Boston.