Posts Tagged ‘Nomar Garciaparra’
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Ramirez, Sox End Volatile Relationship: Latest “Manny Being Manny” Antics Swelled Into Selfish Discontent, Forcing Boston To Make A MoveAugust 4th, 2008
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And just like that, he’s gone.
After 1,083 regular season games played, 274 home runs launched into the ether, and 868 runs driven in, Manny Ramirez will no longer stand before the Monster in left field wearing home whites with red embroidery. No longer will he bat behind David Ortiz, forming one of the most prolific offensive combos in the history of the game. And no longer will he stir that fickle cauldron mixed with absolute indignation and pure jubilation.
Just like that. Like so many of the baseballs that effortlessly smacked off the barrel of his bat. Gone. Long gone, in fact.
With just minutes, if not seconds, to go before the clock struck four on Thursday afternoon, the Red Sox sent the disgruntled Ramirez to the Los Angeles Dodgers via the Pittsburgh Pirates in a three-way deal that landed All-Star outfielder Jason Bay—quite fittingly—in the Bay State.
In a move similar to the Nomar Garciaparra trade of 2004—and for largely the same reasons and under eerily equal circumstances—the player, teammates, manager, and front office all agreed: a point of no return had been reached, and Ramirez had to go; and what better place than Frank McCourt’s SoCal Red Sox Retirement Home. Read more
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Julio Lugo: Another Sunk Cost At Short?May 14th, 2008
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Ever since the eleventh-hour deadline deal that shipped Nomar Garciaparra off to the Cubbies as part of a three-way trade machination and, along with it, sent a Red Sox fandom into knee-jerk hysteria—then eventual baseball ecstasy three months later—general manager Theo Epstein has aggressively engaged in a seasonal pursuit for Boston’s next long-term shortstop.
But for the past four winters—each filled and followed by one fruitless search after another—Epstein’s hunt has seemingly mirrored the life and times of Elmer Fudd. Far too elusive to nab, that wascawly shortstop has evaded the grasp of the Sox GM at every turn—only self-inflicted gunshot wounds in the form of failed signings left in all the aftermath.
So, to say the shortstop position under the Epstein-era has seen more ups, downs and (public relations) spin than a merry-go-round wouldn’t be much of an understatement. In fact, by now, some Red Sox supporters might prefer a daintily handcrafted carousel horse to the club’s incumbent shortstop, one Julio Lugo.
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Martin on the move?April 29th, 2008
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The Dodgers used Russell Martin at third base out of desperation against the Rockies a few days ago. Yet, this might not have been a fluke. Joe Torre says he is not opposed to giving Martin the occasional inning or two at third, or even using him there instead of giving him a day off. Torre pointed out that catchers need a day off from the mental grind of calling pitches as well as the physical toll the postion takes out of a player. What is interesting is that Torre is serious. It is very possible that Martin will see more time at third base. The Dodgers sit second basemen Jeff Kent for Sunday games. As a replacement, they use Chin-lung Hu. Since Hu is also the primary back up third basemen while Nomar Garciaparra is on the DL, Russell Martin becomes the back up third basemen during games played on Sunday. Garciaparra went down on what seemed to be a routine ground ball. However, Garciaparra pulled up lame and has ended up on the DL for the second time this year. He writes about it on the Dodgers website and you have to feel bad for the guy. Blake DeWitt will continue to be the starting third basemen, but Torre is a former catcher who is mindful of how he should use his young catching star. Martin is the soul of the team. He is regarded by most of the players as the team leader. He is the only catcher in the national league capable of going 20-20 with 100 RBI.
It is out of tribute to No. 55 that I present the five reasons Russell Martin is the best catcher in baseball.
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Ned Needs NavigationApril 19th, 2008
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With the seventh highest payroll in professional baseball, the Dodgers have not been afraid to spend money in an attempt to bring another championship to Los Angeles. Unfortunately, increased spending has not led to championships.
Owner Frank McCourt has entrusted Ned Colletti to put the best team on the field that money can buy. Unfortunately for the Dodgers, Colletti has made more than a few poor decisions in his time as GM. In 2005, the Dodgers replaced Paul DePodesta with Colletti. At the time, Ned was working as an assistant GM with the Giants.
During his tenure as Dodgers GM, Colletti has made some fairly questionable decisions. This is most easily seen by examining the highest paid players on the Dodgers roster. Read more