04/26/24
December 09, 2003
"Do any of those actions say I want to leave?": First it was his weasel/agent talking to the papers. Then came the phone call to the radio station. Yesterday was an all out (and rare) media blitz for Nomar Garciaparra as he tried to clear up any misconceptions that he didn't want to stay in Boston and state categorically that he has no idea about the ARod trade or why they'd be exploring it. Today, the other shoe dropped when Red Sox owner John Henry cleared the air. (more inside)
posted by jerseygirl to baseball at 11:21 PM - 11 comments
Nomar came to the negotiation table looking at FOR a contract valued about 119m over 7 years.
posted by jerseygirl at 11:23 PM on December 09, 2003
You do all my red sox surfing for me jersey girl ;) Thanks. The first thing I thought when Nomar's agent came out yesterday was that there had to be more to the story. And, of course, there was. (You should think of doing an article on the red sox. That's where a linkless opinion piece on the red sox would be perfect, and I know you've got a couple in mind)
posted by justgary at 12:51 AM on December 10, 2003
Ah. This all makes more sense now. Not that I'd object to getting ARod, but it doesn't seem to me that he's worth $10M/year more than Nomar. But I guess if Nomar or Nomar's agent have got you over a barrel, or think they do, then...
posted by tieguy at 07:32 AM on December 10, 2003
Don't get me wrong, because I don't want to sound like an unappreciative ass, but if this trade does go through I will be totally okay with it and maybe a bit excited. I'll be fine if the team stays as is, and grabs a decent defensive 2B. I like Nomar and appreciate his game and his time here (although he did piss me off when he couldn't hit anything for the majority of the playoffs - poorly timed slump). So having said that, I am kind of encouraged by the ownership not letting themselves be pushed around by an agent or a player for that matter. I have this odd, new sense of complete trust in Red Sox management and I know that they aren't going to trade for ARod, lose Manny and Nomar and then put someone subpar in LF (and at the plate) in an attempt to make up the difference. I feel that if they have to, they will push the limits of the luxury tax boundaries, but do so with sensibility. They are making a run for the big dance this year and the next couple years. You don't go out and sign Curt Schilling, promising him (in public) up and down that you are going to be competitive for the entire span he is here, and then virtually take a step back by losing 2 all-star players for just 1 and some spare parts.
posted by jerseygirl at 09:28 AM on December 10, 2003
poorly timed slump I feel the same way about Nomar, but creeping into the back of my head (and the BSG's last column didn't help) is the idea, "But what if it's not a slump? What if he's never going to be the .370 hitter who goes on streaks where he can't be pitched to for weeks at a time again?" Because he's not worth a $12-$15 million/year investment then.
posted by yerfatma at 10:21 AM on December 10, 2003
I saw that, too, yerfatma. This in particular: "There's a nagging sense that, like Julia Roberts, Nomar's best days are behind him. It's not like he's washed up -- he just isn't someone who gets mentioned in those "Who's the next guy to hit .400?" articles anymore. At his absolute apex, he strode to the plate, did his "Rain Man" routine with his gloves, swung at the first pitch -- whether it was at his head, his feet, rolling to the plate, or whatever -- and belted the living hell out of it. He sprayed line drives like a machine gun. It was almost freakish. And then he broke his wrist ... and three years have passed, and he's settled into that ".301 BA, .340 OBP, 25 HR, 115 RBI" stage of his career. Yeah, it's good enough to make the All-Star team. But it's not the same Nomar. The bottom line: You can pitch to this guy. Good teams get him out, as we discovered during the playoffs. There's a difference between A) somebody slumping because they're in a funk; and B) somebody slumping because they don't study pitchers, they swing at bad pitches, and their reflexes have slipped just enough -- maybe just 5 percent,but enough -- that they can't get away with the "I'm going up there and swinging away!" approach once they hit their 30s. Barring a dramatic turn, Nomar seems destined to follow Jim Rice's lead, another physical marvel who peaked early in his career, then became a solid All-Star -- but not a superstar, and certainly not your ideal choice when you needed a hit -- for the remainder of his career." -bsg. That coupled with the pre and post wrist surgery numbers was enough to give me some pause.
posted by jerseygirl at 10:41 AM on December 10, 2003
slightly related: based on the sources i regularly read, the A-Rod/Manny trade happens today I believe. And Nomar's gone.
posted by jerseygirl at 06:33 AM on December 12, 2003
jerseygirl: here's a little wood to add to the fire.
posted by jasonspaceman at 11:31 AM on December 12, 2003
jason, as a Dodger fan, what are your thoughts about possibly getting Nomar?
posted by jerseygirl at 12:10 PM on December 12, 2003
I have no problems with it. I am more worried about the sale of the Dodgers to that idiot who tried to buy your BoSox.
posted by jasonspaceman at 06:50 AM on December 16, 2003
It would appear now that maybe the real reason for pursuing this A-Rod/Manny trade may actually be less Manny and more Nomar (as I first reported 3 days ago). Ownership isn't getting a strong feeling that they can sign Nomar again, despite having offered him a generous 4yr/60m contract in spring training and a slightly smaller contract (somewhere in the 13-14m range) reflecting the ever spiraling market correction. Nomar came to the negotiation table looking at a contract valued about 119m over 7 years.
Was it that Nomar's agent, and perhaps Nomar to an extent, felt like they had the Red Sox over a barrel and eventually the team would have to cave? If so, Nomar's agent did his client a great disservice. He should have grabbed that spring training offer, realizing that we were in the middle of a market correction. This is not the time to start playing hardball for monster contracts.
I guess no one would ever have expected the Red Sox to basically thumb their noses at Nomar and then go after ARod, relieving themselves of Manny's monster contract in the process.
It's almost do or die now as far as getting A-Rod. John Henry is pissed and Arn Tellem's response to Henry's slam is chilly, at best. I feel like things may be damaged beyond repair, especially as long as Tellem is representing Nomar.