Bring it on, Nomar Garciaparra defenders. I’m ready to rumble on this one, because there have been very few Cubs more disappointing in recent years than Garciaparra.
Damnit, I was so excited on July 31, 2004. Just minutes before the trade deadline, Jim Hendry was able to get rid of Alex Gonzalez. I was giddy as a schoolgirl! Then, I heard that the Cubs had acquired Nomar Garciaparra in return! Double bonus!
Nomar came with some conditions, though. He could only be used every once in a while. And he couldn’t run to first base without a muscle exploding. And you couldn’t make loud noises around him. And the Cubs had to have a goddamn Mia Hamm soccer jersey giveaway day. Remember that? Mia Hamm Day? Yeah, Nomar was injured that day.
For those working up their defense of Nomar, he played in only 105 games as a Cub over the course of nearly a season and a half with the team. He only hit 13 home runs and compiled 50 RBIs in that time. Hardly the production the Cubs were expecting from the guy they acquired to help push them into the 2004 postseason.
So the Cubs gave up on Nomar after the 2005 season, allowing him to sign with the Dodgers, where he of course had an All-Star comeback season as the Dodgers’ first baseman. And now, Cesar Izturis is the Cubs’ starting shortstop! Yay!
Low Point: April 20, 2005. Sure, the Cubs won their April game against the Cardinals in St. Louis, but it cost them over three months of Garciaparra, as his groin exploded while trying to run out the double play he hit into. It was simple for the Cardinals to turn two, what with Nomar writhing on the ground, holding his junk. Cubs fans everywhere let out a collective sigh as Neifi Perez was called upon to “save the season,” making for the summer-long nightmare that was the 2005 Cubs season.
Did You Know? Nomar once saved two drowning women in Boston. Their names were Johnny Damon and Curt Schilling.
YES!
I get it! “Cherry” Garciaparra. Like the ice cream! At first I thought you were coming up with a clever but juvenile way of saying he was busted.
I miss Nomah…I too remember how excited I was when we traded Alex Gonzalez for him (and Matt Murton, don’t forget), I thought Jim Hendry was some kind of genius *sigh*. And of course as soon as we trade him away he’s the Comeback Player of the Year.
Nomar totally sucked as a Cub. Any asshole could have played in half the games and put up similar numbers. I don’t remember ever being glad we got him after the trade.
Matt Murton made that trade great though.
Matt Murton? Who’s he? Oh, yeah! That redheaded kid that Piniella is loathe to play!
Meet the new boss! Same as the old boss!
Don’t disgrace our song with tainted analogies!
Taint. ha.
I remember how excited i was when we finally got a top notch player, and some kid who made consistent contact and good OBP. Then after Nomar put up those weak ass numbers, I cursed the trade. Then Murton came up and made it all better, and who knows? If he ever gets to play, maybe this will one day be known as the Matt Murton trade? Either way, Nomar definitely belongs on this list