No More NoMah

How fitting that a groundbreaking story happens on a groundbreaking day here at BOTN. This is my 200^th Post and I've still got plenty left in my tank unlike Nomar. But let's hit it and quit it with the whole Nomar speech and thoughts in general.

Back in the 90's, fuck my life I don't like remembering back more than 10 years at a time, Nomar was one of the Holy Triumvirate of Shortstops. When all else was going wrong in Boston baseball he was going right. There was no doubt that in every year prior to 2004 he gave anything but 100% to the fans in Boston and to his teammates. But then a funny thing happened. Under a new regime on Yawkey Way Theo and Co. decided they wanted to become a better team. You all remember the trade that would have brought us the best/highest paid player in baseball not to mention Magglio Ordonez in his prime would have been part of the team as well. The only way you do this blockbuster is by getting rid of an icon.

Nomar was not happy about this, and it showed. For the 2004 season Nomar Garciaparra's disconnect from the Red Sox organization was nothing short of "Manny being Manny". Faking injuries, lying to the media, making pointed remarks about the ownership just to name a few were some of the underlying themes that ultimately lead to his demise as the Boston Cornerstone. As ballsy as the move seemed and as poorly as Faith Rewarded portrayed it, it was the right move in baseball, financially, and operationally. Everyone remembers the game that Jeter went flying into the stands supremely showcasing his upper-echelonness in the League. Where was Nomar? Sulking on the bench instead of playing against our most hated rival. Despite his comments in his press conference there is not a snowballs chance in hell he doesn't resent Theo and the Brass for dealing him to the Cubbies.

Throughout his whole Boston tenure Nomar wasn't a fan of the media, so much so that he put a line of Red Tape down in the clubhouse and if you crossed it not only would you be subject to a tongue lashing from Nomar himself, but he would also maim your wife, slash your tires and upon his next free second set your house on fire. Shit was serious. But what is utterly dismaying is that now he's going to succumb to his self professed "Dark Side" as an ESPN Baseball Analyst. I know its hard to step away from the game, but for someone that is going to make that big of a fuss for reporters doing their job to then go into the trenches with them…WEAK.

Let's tackle the rest of his career. There's always the infamous Sports Illustrated Cover. Though it will never be proven otherwise, I am 100% convinced that he used. Look at that friggin Lat muscle. Downright scary. I'm not going to preach that he's a shmuck for using because I'd use too if I knew it would make me millions of greenbacks. I'll say this Nomar can and could hit. But the only time in his career that you saw Nomar not on roids was in 2006 with the LA Dodgers 20 Dingers, 93 RBI and .303 BA and thereafter. His wiry frame could not support the rigors that come along with steroid use and you saw his body break down. It's tough and I wouldn't want to deal with those injuries myself but if I was told that I could bankroll like 75 million dollars in my lifetime I'd say "Stick it in me Bobby." (That didn't sound good did it?)

Synthetically enhanced or not however, he is just as much as influential in Boston baseball as Williams, Rice, Yaz and Peskey. He and Pedro Martinez were the Red Sox for a few seasons and there is not anyone in New England that wasn't captivated every time Nomar went all fidgety Freddy in the Batter's Box with his toe-tapping and glove adjusting. So, I don't think there is anywhere else that he can retire from other than Boston.

Don't misconstrue my thoughts on Nomar as though I view him as a villain. Because he's not. The Red Sox fans have a habit of making it look like the players that leave the organization are either traitors, shitbags, or just all around bad ball players. Nomar was none of the aforementioned group. At one time he was a surefire hall of famer whose status in Boston was only rivaled by Larry Bird. He was as fierce a competitor as any when he wanted to and I will never forget how enthralled I was when he was chasing a .400 batting average in a season.

So the question is: How do you honor him? The question isn't that simple. Some people think you should retire his number but you can't do that. He was not on the team for atleast 10 years (Team stipulation). What you should do is wait. Like you did with Johnny Pesky and see how he aides the organization going forward. That is when you can make a more educated decision. 15 years or so down the road is when if ever you make a decision like that.

Another Childhood Icon gone. Yikes.

Stay Tuned

Ryan