How Was Nomar Really Injured?

[yeszir]

We've all read the soccer story by now.

Nomar Garciaparra injured his Achilles' tendon playing soccer prior to spring training, according to a report broadcast last tonight by CBS-4 in Boston.

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Sportscaster Bob Lobel, in reporting the soccer incident, did not offer any details concerning where or when the incident took place and did not say how he learned of it, but did say he did not receive the injury in an exhibition baseball game, as Nomar and the Red Sox have claimed.

 

The question of how the former Red Sox shortstop was hurt or how seriously he was injured has dominated the sports news for several days, particularly since he was traded Saturday to the Chicago Cubs.

 

Garciaparra has never wavered, saying he was injured when struck by a ball in batting practice before an exhibition game March 5 against Northeastern at Fort Myers, Fla.

 

The Boston Globe, citing two sources familiar with Garciaparra's case, reported Thursday that the infielder told a different story to Red Sox officials, who never contradicted his story. One source said he was told that Garciaparra was injured before spring training.

 

Garciaparra's agent, Arn Tellem, called the assertion "totally, unequivocally, positively false."

 

Garciaparra, a five-time All-Star, was traded to the Chicago Cubs last Saturday.

 

"I've heard so much made up about me, I don't even want to comment," Garciaparra said Thursday before the Cubs played the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. "I've addressed all those things. I'm here now, and that's all I'm focused on."

 

Garciaparra's wife, Mia Hamm, 32, is currently in Athens preparing for the Olympics as a member of the US women's soccer team. Her 151 goals in international competition are unmatched by any other woman. The trade of her husband last weekend led the women's soccer team members to discard their Red Sox caps in favor of Cubs caps.

 

And Garciaparra sure seems happy with his new situation. He's light on his feet as he walks through the clubhouse. He pats teammates on the back in passing, and smiles and greets reporters.

 

Red Sox manager Terry Francona and general manager Theo Epstein declined to comment on the Globe's report Wednesday night. They said the Red Sox had agreed with Tellem the night before to halt a public dispute that centered on Garciaparra's physical condition, and why he and the team could not come to a contract agreement to keep him in Boston.

 

Epstein earlier had said he traded Garciaparra after the shortstop said he probably would miss significant playing time this month because of the injury. The day after the trade, Garciaparra denied saying that, and repeated his denials to Chicago reporters in Colorado.

 

Garciaparra played the first game of the exhibition season against the Twins on March 4 before he said he was hit by the ball the next day. He returned to action March 9 against the Reds and played again March 11 against the Orioles. Then he sat out until March 17, when he played his final exhibition game against the Guardians.

 

The Red Sox put him on the 15-day disabled list March 31. He returned to action June 9, but continued to report lingering problems with the Achilles'.

 

Before the trade, Epstein said he shared all of Garciaparra's medical information with Cubs GM Jim Hendry, who said he was satisfied the Red Sox had given him all relevant information.

 

Is this more crap being heeped onto Nomar in an effort to ruin his name in Boston 1) to make the trade look better and 2) As a means of revenge? He's not even in town anymore and he's still getting so much negative attention. I hope this doesnt turn into a clemensesque thing where everyone winds up hating him.

[noonanberg]

I don't hate Nomar, but I think he was BS- ing his injury. A foul ball off his foot kept him out for 3/8 of the season? Give me a break. All that would do to you is give you a bruise. Clearly something else injured his heel and I'm still not convinced that whatever that was should have kept him out that long. Not that I like using him as an example, but Derek Jeter plays with broken ribs, broken hands and a beat up face. Nomar gets a sore heel and he packs it in. That my friends is why Jeter has more rings than Nomar.

[elsrbueno]

Honestly I think this is a childish mud-slinging contest between Nomar and the Sox. Both are in the wrong (if for nothing else than just keeping this going).

 

Theo had the right idea: Let it go.

 

Nobody knows how Nomar really feels but Nomar...but who cares!?! The Sox officials have more important things to worry about than how Nomar got injured.

 

We're 2 games back of the Wild Card and 9.5 games behind the Yankees.

 

Maybe if the Red Sox focused their efforts on winning baseball games instead of discrediting former players...they wouldn't be such an underachieving team.

 

This is where the Yankees completely outclass the Red Sox. Joe Torre and company know how to properly dispose of a clubhouse cancer (like Mondesi last year) without making it such an ordeal. And they know how to make a transaction (A-Rod) without embarrasing the organization.

 

Wake up *******s.

 

P.S. I was calling Red Sox management *******s, NOT anyone on this board.

[sarasoxfan]

els, you hit the ******* on the head once again.

 

We always seem to make a mess out of something most teams handle with class.

 

I dont know why the papers or fans are even talking about this. Nomar was here now he is a cub. End of story.

 

Now what about this s***** manager and the problems we still face. Bad mouthing nomar or even defending him is ridiculous.

 

Who cares whether or not he faked his injury. Who cares who said what. He's cub.

 

Theo has made some great moves and some really awful ones. I dont get why we get side tracked..All I want to do is win. I dont care who does it or how we do it--I just want to win.

 

Personally, I was glad to see Nomar go.

 

Time to win games and give this other s*** a rest--once and for all.