Fickle Fans and Media: Lack of Respect for Nomar Puzzling

It is no secret that the Boston media are an extremely cynical bunch.

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I am compelled to voice my opinion on the way Nomar Garciaparra has been portrayed as a lame-duck shortstop – as if he is just a few scant months or a trading deadline away from waving bye-bye to The Bean. Not only that, but there is a rising number of media types and fans that are pulling for this scenario.
In the words of Mr. Hand: What are you, people? On dope?

Note: If you answered yes, pass the Sour Cream & Onion potato chips.

Let’s put aside the rumors of a Nomar to the Cubs, prospects to the Diamondbacks, Randy Johnson to Boston trade. I’ve got a better shot of landing Katie Stammen. Just trust me, it isn’t happening. That is not to say I wouldn’t like the Big Unit sporting red stirrups. I just don’t see it. Call me crazy…call me rotund, both are true.

Why the sudden disdain for Nomar? Let’s quickly review the facts.

The Red Sox offered Nomar a 4-year $60 million dollar contract last year. Nomar rejected the contract seeking more in the neighborhood of $17 mil a year. OK, so he knew it was going to be his last big payday and he felt his years of hustle and excellence warranted a few more bucks. I don’t really have a problem with that. I mean, it’s not like he said, `Hell, Mia and I gotta eat.’ It’s business and it’s negotiation.

By the same token, it was business when the Sox tried to acquire Alex Rodriguez last winter. If you can land A-Rod and Magglio Ordonez in exchange for the enigmatic Manny Ramirez and a shortstop digging his heels in for a few more million – you do it. That’s just good business. And this is coming from a guy who loves Manny and once said, `If the Red Sox ever trade Nomar, I won’t be a Red Sox fan.’ (Of course, I didn’t mean it. After all, `Red Sox Fan’ and `Diehard’ are words that often find themselves in the same vicinity. Then again, so are `Red Sox’ and `folded like origami.’)  

In typical Red Sox fashion they pooched the deal and Nomar was less than pleased at the attempt and its incessant coverage in the media. Can you blame the guy? As much as the deal would have made sense, you can’t ask a guy to be happy about it. Just because Nomar turned down a contract because he thought the number wasn’t commensurate with his abilities and past performance does not mean he wanted out of Boston.

There has been this perception in the Boston media that Nomar is some sort of prima donna and that he has been treated with kid gloves by the press during most of his career. Where did this come from? Sure, he was lauded for his tireless work ethic and tendency to (gasp) actually run out groundballs. And I grant you, he may well be nuttier than Teddy Duchamp’s father – what with all the cleat-kicking and superstitious rituals. But the numbers don’t lie folks.

The man is a .323 career hitter. He is the epitome of work ethic and hustle. You’re telling me you wouldn’t like to see more athletes like Nomar? Please. Such short memories we have in Red Sox Nation in regards to Nomar. Let’s not let a few sub par months taint an otherwise brilliant career. Despite his poor showing in the post season last year – yeah I know, the worst kind of timing – he still boasts a .323 postseason average with 7 home runs and 21 RBIs in 25 games. As my buddy Chabot would say, that’s no small potatoes.

Yet, because he thinks baseball should be played between the lines, isn’t a big PR guy (read: Curt Schilling) and doesn’t come up with great sound bytes for Side Show Bob, er, Dan Shaughnessy – that means he must not like Boston. Right, logical conclusion.

My question is this: Why are so many people so quick to write off his chances of staying with Boston? I mean, this can’t be fixed? Really?

If he wants to stay as he has stated repeatedly, even in the face of all the hoopla during the offseason, why wouldn’t the Sox want to keep this guy? And don’t give me that Pokey Reese stuff. Look, I like Pokey and his inside-the-park homer was a cute moment and all, but get real. The odds of him even hitting close to .265 over the course of a season are about as likely me turning down free food. To paraphrase Banky Edwards, not (bleeping) likely!

Still, he may be gone after the season. For what it’s worth, I hope he goes on a tear – excuse me – continues on his tear in the second half and sticks it to the all the doubters and whiners. I’m talking to you Gary Tanguay, Greg Dickerson and most of the mutants that call into WEEI. Show Nomar the respect he has earned. It’s like a great coach, Matt Lanagan used to say, "Make it so we can’t afford not to play you."

In this case, here’s to Nomar making it so the Red Sox can’t afford not to sign him.