ON SPORTS ~ The Shake-Up...

OVAH THE MONSTAH

The Shake-Up:

where previously Molly watched a fight and a baseball game broke out...

Do you remember the uproar on Cheers when Diane left the show and a new leading lady named Rebecca Howe took her place? Viewers were all up in arms over the change. There were those strictly in the Diane camp and those who felt her arc had come and gone. I was wary of how the show might survive without the Sam & Diane shenanigans, even though that plot line truly had jumped the shark. I honestly didn't think the show would be any good anymore. I thought it had run its course. Boy was I wrong. Kirstie Alley came in and shook things up. It was a different style of Cheers. They found a way to keep it going by taking a bold step that was not very popular, but one which they truly believed would make the show even better than before by adding in some quality players.

Well, on July 31st, 2004, that is the same exact thing that Sox GM Theo Epstein did. Who knows, maybe he had been up late watching Cheers re-runs and found his inspiration there. But what he did was a make or break move. Already mocked by the media and old school baseball world for being so young, he decided to stick his neck out and give everyone a real reason to complain by trading away the face of the franchise. Nomar Garciaparra (aka No-mah in Bostonian speak) was the All-Star Shortstop that the fans adored. He was drafted by the Sox, came up quickly through their system and planted himself firmly in the big leagues by winning Rookie of the Year and later, back to back Batting Titles.

He had his quirky toe tapping, glove tugging routine before every pitch and did all he could for local charities and acknowledgement of the fan base. He appreciated the atmosphere, was annointed the next coming of Ted Williams - by no other than Ted Williams himself, and made thrilling plays with his glove to awe the crowd. But he hated the spotlight. He didn't want a leadership role on the team. He didn't like to talk to the media. He got grumpy sometimes and then he got hurt. His timing couldn't have been worse. He hurt his achille's in Spring Training entering the final year of his contract. He had less than cordial contract negotiations with the new ownership group and was playing without a deal in place for the future. He would be free for anyone to sign at the end of the season and could walk away without the Sox getting anything in return. This meant he was a prime candidate to be traded at the deadline of July 31st so that the Sox could cash him in for some better chips.

The Sox traded Nomie to the Cubs in a deal with 3 other teams, getting First Basemen Doug Mientkiewicz from the Twins and Shortstop Orlando Cabrera from the Expos. I was heartbroken. I had a Nomar jersey. I wore that #5 shirt all the time. I had never been left holding a useless shirt before. I was angry. I wanted blood. I practically cried when the news was reported at the last minute. Theo traded away the team's most popular player for two defensive specialists, neither of whom would stay with the team after the end of the season. He also made a separate trade of a minor leaguer for speedy base stealing Outfielder, Dave Roberts. I was not impressed. All I could see was my heart.

This is why I sit and write a little blog about my Sox memories instead of getting paid the big bucks to pull the trigger like Theo. Theo saw the facts. He devised a strategy. He got creative. And he didn't get emotional. He got rid of a player disgruntled with ownership, who was recovering from a serious injury, and shored up the team's defense to try and improve some sketchy pitching when there weren't better pitchers to be found. And he scooped up some speed for the bench - a concept the Sox hadn't employed in decades. In essence, he called Diane's bluff and let her go make movies even though everyone thought that was a crazy idea. And after a while, people started to see how his new Rebecca crew actually improved the situation and made the team better than the Diane days. I was wrong about Diane and I was wrong about Nomar. There. I said it. Doesn't mean it didn't break my heart.

next week, SEPTEMBER CALL-UPS, in which Molly proves that you can get to the church - and the game - on time...