Working Class Dog
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Is Trot's Hard Work Leading to Injury?
"Same old Nixon: still working hard, and doing so at a point in his career where it’s OK to hardly work. But while the guy could surely be applauded for this old-timey work ethic, it does raise an interesting question: Are Red Sox fans going to see yet another season in which their favorite Dirt Dog works so hard that, in the end, he breaks down?
"Wouldn’t Nixon — and, by extension, the Red Sox — be better off if he acquainted himself with the fine science of tugging on the manager’s shirt now and then and asking for a day off?
“'I would love to do that, but it’s not the kind of person I am,' he said. 'I’m not trying to sound brash or cocky, but I think a lot of what’s happened may just be a product of the way I’ve played my entire career. I overlooked certain things that were going on with my body. But there are two different kind of players — players that are smart, and do it that way, take the time off, and they may not play on days when they should. I guess I’m kind of the reverse of that.'”
-- 2.17.06, Steve Buckley, Boston Herald (subscription required)
Reunited
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Grady and Nomie Finally Back Together
Reunited and it feels so good
Reunited 'cause we understood
There's one perfect fit
And, buddy, this one is it
We both are so excited
'Cause we're reunited, hey, hey
Leaving Sox Crushed Nomie
"'"It was something new every time I turned around that season,' Garciaparra said. 'Ultimately, you don't have the energy to keep defending yourself, but at this point I don't want to rehash it. I've moved on and they've moved on.'"
"Was there any relief when finally traded?
"'Not at all,' Garciaparra said. 'I cried. I was crushed. The city and the fans meant that much to me, and they still do. I played for those fans, my teammates, the history of that franchise. It was hard to take the way it went down, but the thing I'm proudest of from my time in Boston is that we raised more than $1 million for charity and there is still a playground that has my name on it.'" -- Ross Newhan, Los Angeles Times
Ozzie Calls Out Garciaparra
'''I hate hypocrites: He's [Alex Rodriguez] full of [expletive],' Guillen told Sports Illustrated. 'The Dominican team doesn't need [him]. It's the same with [Nomar] Garciaparra playing for Mexico. Garciaparra only knows Cancun because he went to visit.''' -- Ozzie Guillen on A-Rod, Nomar, and the WBC
That's A Little Much Grady
"What happened at Yankee Stadium 854 days ago has long been a memory for Little.
"'I don't think it'll ever be totally forgotten,' Little said. 'If you spent any time in New England, I think you'd realize that.'"
"'Pedro is one of the players in that clubhouse who realized I made about two million decisions in that two-year period I was there,' Little said. 'That one, like every other decision I made, I've got to wait for the results to see if it was a good or bad decision.'
"That snippet of sarcasm is as close as Little, 55, gets to sounding bitter about becoming Boston's speed bag. Usually, he is dispensing one-liners. When asked why he chose No. 9, Little said, 'It's a number I wanted to wear in Boston, but they wouldn't let me wear it for some reason.'"
"'I love Grady,' [Pedro] Martínez, now a Met, said Thursday in Port St. Lucie, Fla. 'I thought what happened to him was unfair. But that ownership group wanted him out of there.'
"[Derek] Lowe said he was surprised by how much abuse Little received and hinted that Little's options in the game were limited.
"'Without getting too in depth,' Lowe said, 'there were guys that probably didn't want to go out there and pitch the eighth.'
"Martínez said: 'I was tired. They knew I was tired. But Grady didn't have the faith in the bullpen that he wanted to have.'" -- 2.17.06, Jack Curry, New York Times
New 'Do for Pedro
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Year Two of His Big Contract: Is Petey Healthy?
"While the Mets' Pedro donna was sparing in his comments about his iffy right big toe -- five words: 'It's all right ... coming along' -- Mets people are taking positive vibes from his attitude and demeanor, which is downright giddy.
"But really, what choice do they have? Without Martinez, they stand about as much chance as a Port St. Lucie trailer in a Category 5 hurricane." -- 2.17.06, John Heyman, Newsday
