Yes, Dan Lyons posted the news of the Nomar trade first on his blog...I was out...
I've thought about the deal for the duration of the evening, and as the biggest Red Sox fan in the area, I admit that I don't like seeing Nomar go. He was probably my favorite Bosox player, but he's gotten increasingly fragile physically in recent years, and was out of the lineup AGAIN Friday night. With Pokey Reese also hurt, things were getting skunky in the infield.
This is also not the same Nomar who flirted with .400 a few years back. While still a great player, the injuries have begun to take a toll on him and my selfish desire for the Sox to keep him is probably not in the best interests of the team; a team that if it had played better defense this year would be much closer to -- if not in -- the lead in the A.L. east.
Orlando Cabrera is younger than Nomar, better defensively, a good hitter, and steals bases. Doug Mientkiewicz is also a gold glover at first, and while he's struggled at the plate this year, lefthanded line drive hitters thrive in Fenway Park. He'll fit in just fine. He had two hits tonight in his Bosox debut.
The Sox also picked up Dave Roberts from L.A. Roberts is a speedy outfielder (33 steals) with a good glove, and will help the Sox, too.
The bottom line? While I'll miss Nomar (I just saw him help the Sox win in Atlanta a month ago), the Sox are a better team after today's moves.
P.S.- What if the Cubs -- with Nomar -- face the Sox in the World Series? Could it POSSIBLY get any better than that?
Posted by colrus at August 1, 2004 03:21 AM | TrackBackDon't you think it's gotta KINDA suck to get traded from one of the most cursed teams in history to the MOST cursed team in history. I truly despise the Cubs, too bad for Nomar. Steve Bartman lives(somewhere).
Posted by: b edwards at August 1, 2004 09:42 AM