Toto, we're not in April anymore.
Two of Boston's Big Four free agents-to-be failed in the much-hyped series opener. Derek Lowe (6-7 with a 5.47 ERA and his price goes down every day) surrendered a career-high nine runs before the fifth inning ended. Meanwhile, Nomar Garciaparra continued to look more uncomfortable than Mitt Romney at a 50 Cent concert. Nomie committed two errors in the first four innings (the second led to three unearned runs) and is hitting .250 in 16 games since his return.
This certainly isn't what we all had in mind while waiting for Garciaparra to return. The shortstop has picked up where he left off last season, which is an unfortunate development. He's still wounded from his perception that he's been treated shabbily by management and he's playing like a guy who hears "Pokey would have had it" every time he fails to field a ball cleanly. His second error effectively took the Sox out of the game and inspired the Bronx sellout to chant, "Thank you, Nomar!"
The Sox clubhouse had the feel of the Fisher Funeral Home after this one. Six Feet Under. All the way. One by one, players came out to face the media firing squad. All of them did. Even Nomar. Barely.
"Guys go out and try to make plays," he began. "That [errors] is all part of it. I don't know if it's just defense. It takes a complete ballgame. We're just trying to work hard and make plays. Sometimes you make 'em and sometimes you don't."
That was about it. Nomar excused himself. There may have been unhappier players in the history of Boston sports, but this typist remembers none. It could not be more clear these are the final days of Nomar Garciaparra in Boston. Fans can only hope his performance rebounds. Thus far, we are seeing the same player who struggled last September and October.
It's an unfair sampling.
