Monday, July 06, 2009

After 5 Years, Number 5 Returns


Was there ever any doubt?

Nomar Garciaparra received a long standing ovation from the soldout Fenway Park crowd on Monday, as he marked his first game in Boston since the trade in July 2004. It was one of those chills-down-your-spine moments, as Nomar came to the plate the crowd roared. And roared.

It went on for about a minute. Nomar also applauded the fans back (I don't think I've ever seen a player do that). He was clearly touched by the reception, which as all right-thinking Red Sox fans knew would be something special.

It's a shame to see such a great career go so far off the rails in five years. It was weird seeing a guy wearing #1 on the Oakland A's getting such a huge ovation. But Nomar will always be #5 in all our hearts.

Great job tonight, Sox fans. It made me really proud to be a fan. Thanks for the memories, Nomar.

The night would have really been something had the Red Sox offense had bothered to show up. The managed only two hits off some rookie named Brett Anderson in a putrid 6-0 loss. John Smoltz wasn't good at all, allowing five runs in six innings. It was simply the worst performance of the season by the Red Sox against one of the worst teams in baseball.

Enough of that. The night belonged to Nomar Garciaparra, and before the game he was interviewed by his old buddy Lou Merloni for Comcast SportsNet New England. It's an interesting chat, especially when Nomar says he was never offered a four-year, $60 million deal, which everyone believes he turned down in 2003.

Here is the interview, with thanks to Skip at CSNNE:

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