Reports are surfacing that there is some mutual interest between the defending World Champion Philadelphia Phillies and the once-great Nomar Garciaparra. Apparently Nomar just has to decide if he wants to play this season or not. He would provide bench depth for the Phillies, which is a necessity in the wake of the Chase Utley injury. Nomar's only going to be 35 this season, but he's pretty well washed up as far as everyday players go. He can't stay healthy, and he can't hit the ball like he once could. I like him as an addition to the bench and clubhouse, as a pinch-hitter and spot-starter, though.
It's really a shame to see how far he's fallen. If you check out his stat-lines from 1997 through 2003, he was easily en route to the Hall of Fame. Five years later, and he's a mediocre bench player. That transition usually happens between 35 and 40, not 30 and 35. Alas, Nomar is 35 years old, contemplating retirement, and the news of his possible relocation is most certainly not Earth-shattering.
How the once-mighty has fallen.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
1-10-2009 @ 4:55PM
Forrest Freedman said...
Dear Theo Epstein:
Consider this if you will...Nomar has learned his lesson not to sulk on the ebnch when he doesn't get what he wants after his tenure with the Cubs and Dodgers. If given a 2nd chance in Boston...where he really wants to be, he will solve the Shortstop power shortgage, go back to beating the yankees, and desperately want to win a world series in 2009 to vindicate his own tarnished reputation and to re earn the respect of Red Sox Nation and national media. The deal is no risk given the qualified back up and I thingk that Nomar wants to be back in Boston limelight ( as does Johnny Damon) as he has learned his lesson to cherrish playing for a 1st class oranization like th eBoSox. A incentive laden deal would suit both sides and red Sox have trade bait as well.
Still think Coco Crisp trade will bite sox in ass when one of all star and injury prone outfielders go down sometime in 2009. Mark Kotsay bat is worse than Crisp's and Crisp could hit against Yankees. His contract was blossoming but you could have also gotten more in summer 2009 if he wasn't proving his consistently above average hitting and exceptional fielding by then. Love JD
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1-10-2009 @ 7:53PM
Phanatic74 said...
Hey wake up and read the story . . . . They said Nomar to the Phillies not some over-rated pay for talent organization like the Bosox. As much as Boston hates the Yankees they seem to act more and more like them every year!! Go Phightins . . . .
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1-11-2009 @ 1:03PM
Magdalena said...
NOOOO...The Red Sox are not the Yankees. the only similarity
is that they have an "enormous national following" Red Sox
nation also breaks attendance records each year...Arguably
they may even have passed the Yankees in national (and
international) fan base and other revenue. Unfortunately for the
Phillies they do not have that type of popularity...evidence, ratings
for the World Series. So, it remains, the NY teams, Boston, Cubs --
media darlings and fan devotion. Maybe another comment from Cole Hammels can aid Phillie in some national or media way!!!
1-11-2009 @ 2:25AM
Ron said...
YES, YES, YES. Quick sign him up before he changes his mind. On one hand we have So Saggucci or whatever the spelling is and on the other hand we have Nomar. Ummmmmmmmmmm, Ruben, just sign em up.
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1-13-2009 @ 2:22PM
Phanatic74 said...
Magdalena - I appreciate your comments, but there is a difference between fans and band wagon jumpers. Fortunately for the Yanks and Bosox they have won several WS. So, those folks that no nothing about baseball buy their merchandising since they are popular. I prefer to hang out with real fans that know the sport. Maybe when we repeat next year and break the National League curse we too may have a following. No matter what angle you place on it I will never have any respect for New York or Boston until the MLB places a salary cap on the teams. Championships are meant to be won not bought !! Go Phightins . . . . .
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2-03-2009 @ 8:53AM
Dale said...
I agreed with phanatic74....no respect for the buying trophy teams like red soxs or yankees..It must really be eating their fans that the Phillies are World Series champs to be posting here...Lets see them fall flat on their faces again!!
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