Buh. Bye.

And so the other shoe has fallen. Nomar is a Cubbie.

I said almost a month ago that Nomar had to be traded. Obviously Sox management thought so as well. They knew he was gone at the end of the season (that was apparent when he was never used as a marketing tool this season like he was in previous seasons). It wasn't that I didn't like him or I thought he was a jerk or he was not a good player. He was clearly one of the best players The Sox ever had and he gave it his all when he on the field.

But his heart was not in the team. He emotionally was separating himself from his teammates, knowing that he was not gonna return at the end of the season. He was putting himself ahead of the team by being "extra careful" with his injury to insure his value in Free Agency, including when he opted out of games, including the instant classic against the Yankees back on July 1st. I kinda understand his hurt feelings about the ARod trade (a trade, in hindsight, I am so glad we didn't make - but that is for another day), but that was after he was offered a more than fair offer from the team, which tells me that he wasn't gonna be in a Boston uniform after this season anyway.

Some of his teammates are sorry he's gone, but in reading some of the carefully worded statements from others they always thought he was a good guy and great player but will not exactly be missed. The players they got in return have Gold Gloves (needed for this horrible defense) and are either signed past this year (first baseman Doug Mientkiewicz) or have a better than average chance of being resigned (shortstop Orlando Cabrera). Even if The Sox do not make the playoffs they are still better off in the long run.

Again I will miss seeing Number 5 on the field at Fenway. But it had to be done. I wish him all the best in that other beautiful baseball cathedral, Wrigley Field.

Oh, and Nomar, when you get there ask them if they have any mail for Elwood Blues. ;-)