Nomar to the Cubs

[bhplv1]

mxpxbigd285:

First I agree stealing bases would be good if Franconia played small ball. He has small balls but doesn't play small ball. So Roberts is useless to us. We have some guys with speed already that sit on the pine.

Second cabrera may have won a gold glove but Pokey has some too and Cabrera hits like pokey not Nomar. We need runs.

Mint is good and also has a gold glove but now we have like 20 first basemen. So that is a wash too.

Nomar had to go but the deal wasn't exaclty Roses for the sox...it basically amounts to junk IMO. But again it had to be done.

[thewalrus]

Great, another SB guy that the Sox can turn to shit. Lets face it guys, the Sox for some unknown reason don't like to steal bases.

There is no justifying this trade, the benefits of trading Nomar away can't be measured by how many RBIs or HRs a player that we got in return will get. He was a cancer in the clubhouse. Bottom line is that if we didn't trade him away we would have had nothing at the end of the season. Instead we have a number of decent players. Hey, they tried to sign him a year ago, but Nomar thinks he has more value, we'll see when he hits the open market.

[TheSuperfly]

I'm still getting used to seeing Nomah in Cubbies blue. It's bizarre...

[mxpxbigd285]

Originally Posted by bhplv1

mxpxbigd285:

First I agree stealing bases would be good if Franconia played small ball. He has small balls but doesn't play small ball. So Roberts is useless to us. We have some guys with speed already that sit on the pine.

Second cabrera may have won a gold glove but Pokey has some too and Cabrera hits like pokey not Nomar. We need runs.

Mint is good and also has a gold glove but now we have like 20 first basemen. So that is a wash too.

Nomar had to go but the deal wasn't exaclty Roses for the sox...it basically amounts to junk IMO. But again it had to be done.

okay sure, francona doesnt like to send people stealing bases. how may legitimate base stealers do we have? damon, maybe, but he doesnt get the best of jumps. who are we going to send to steal? nobody else is a good choice. francona didnt want to play small ball and send people stealing because those werent his best options. if you send manny ramirez or david ortiz to the plate, do you want them to bunt?

the fact is if he makes them bunt and blows it, hes an idiot. if it works, hes a genius. if he doesnt make them bunt, hes an idiot, because why not? he can't win in boston, nobody will ever be able to.

and do you actually believe the red sox need help scoring runs? last time i checked they had scored the 2nd most runs in the entire league. losing nomar and getting lesser players will not hurt their run production to the point that it will lose them games. their offense has been great, their pitching has been above average, but their DEFENSE SUCKED and thats what they went out and improved without destroying the other areas of play.

20 first basemen? ortiz, millar, meintkiewicz, mccarty. thats four. ortiz is suspended, and mostly DHs anyway (he was NEVER used as a defensive first baseman, we needed his bat). thats three. millar can easily play right field, as trot nixon will be out for awhile. thats two. one can sit their ass on the bench. whats the problem?

[mxpxbigd285]

and one more thing - i dont know how many of you actually have PLAYED baseball - but its not always up to the manager when a guy steals or doesnt. if you have the speed you can make up your own damn mind, and the manager wont get pissed if you get yourself in scoring position for free. just be sure you have the ability (roberts has a .970 success percentage when trying to steal bases this season, i think he has the speed).

[hulbdo]

Man, with Nomar in the line-up, i've gotta say...the cubs have incredible hitting now, w/ barely any weak spots in their batting line-up. if wood and prior can be back to top shape and the bull-pen shapes up....u never know what may happen

[donnymc42]

There's no way the cubs can catch the cards. They dont need to. They are definitely the front runners for the wild card, and with that staff, are definitely a force to be wreckoned with come playoff time

[bhplv1]

Originally Posted by mxpxbigd285

okay sure, francona doesnt like to send people stealing bases. how may legitimate base stealers do we have? damon, maybe, but he doesnt get the best of jumps. who are we going to send to steal? nobody else is a good choice. francona didnt want to play small ball and send people stealing because those werent his best options. if you send manny ramirez or david ortiz to the plate, do you want them to bunt?

the fact is if he makes them bunt and blows it, hes an idiot. if it works, hes a genius. if he doesnt make them bunt, hes an idiot, because why not? he can't win in boston, nobody will ever be able to.

and do you actually believe the red sox need help scoring runs? last time i checked they had scored the 2nd most runs in the entire league. losing nomar and getting lesser players will not hurt their run production to the point that it will lose them games. their offense has been great, their pitching has been above average, but their DEFENSE SUCKED and thats what they went out and improved without destroying the other areas of play.

20 first basemen? ortiz, millar, meintkiewicz, mccarty. thats four. ortiz is suspended, and mostly DHs anyway (he was NEVER used as a defensive first baseman, we needed his bat). thats three. millar can easily play right field, as trot nixon will be out for awhile. thats two. one can sit their ass on the bench. whats the problem?

We have a bunch of guys with speed; Damon, Kapler, Reese, Nomar is quick, but small ball isn't just about stealing bases. Hit and Run, and bunts play into it as well. Francona doens't play that way. To answer your question, yes I would ocassionally ask Manny and Ortiz to bunt. We've lost too many close games this year because we weren't able to get runners across the plate. The Sox are second in Runs scored but the number is lopsided. They score in bunches 10-3, 9-4 which skews the total. So yes I do think they need to score more runs or show some consistency.

I get more pissed when the team isn't trying to move runners than when a guy gets thrown out stealing, or gets bagged in a hit and run.

20 was an obvious joke. Does a team really need 4 First basemen? Come on. Ortiz is only gone for 4 games. Still too many guys at that position.

No doubt Nomar had to go but there is no sense in pretending that we got anything in return. Defense is important but Pokey is a gold glove winner too and he's been making errors all year. Rick Burleson won a gold glove for the Sox back in 1979, that doesn't mean he would be a good pick up right now.

I think ultimately the trade was the best for the team. Let's hope Tampa helps them get on a roll.

[thewalrus]

Originally Posted by mxpxbigd285

and one more thing - i dont know how many of you actually have PLAYED baseball - but its not always up to the manager when a guy steals or doesnt. if you have the speed you can make up your own damn mind, and the manager wont get pissed if you get yourself in scoring position for free. just be sure you have the ability (roberts has a .970 success percentage when trying to steal bases this season, i think he has the speed).

Is it up to the manager/coach to send the guy home from second on a single to center, with no outs? Or did Dave Roberts think he had enough speed to make it home? Please tell me because I've never "PLAYED" baseball.

In the end its for the best, there were and are tons of rumors floating around about his mental and physical state so if he is happier and playing harder then let him go. Especially if it makes for a stronger Sox team who is finally united in their goal of the playoffs...

[s10Xtreme77]

Not to change subject but, Orlando and Doug M. are gold glove winners.
Sure they dont hit the ball as much but a little work with the batting coach i'm sure they will be hittin the ball much better. Sure Cabrera doesnt have the arm Nomah had but hes got the glove. Just My Opinion

Go Chi-town !!

[CapHill]

I think this is a great move for the Sox. Nomah was a disease in the dugout...we dont need that attitude in Boston

[TheSuperfly]

Nomah get a fresh start and the Sox shore up their D. I think it was great for all teams involved.

As a cubs fan, im all about this trade, since moving here nomar's been hitting mid 300s, which rocks. I dont see a single weak spot in our lineup now...N i dont like how the bosox fans are complaining about nomar being "a disease" n stuff.