That's Just "Manny Being...Nomar"

A five-time All star, batting champion and beloved member of Red Sox Nation. No I'm not talking about the recently traded Manny Ramirez (actually an eight-time all star with the Red Sox), I'm talking about the former beloved star of Red Sox nation Nomar Garciaparra. Like people say how things just but they stay the same.

Lets take a look back 2004, the Red Sox after a great start become a .500 team throughout much of the summer months and have a star player (Nomar) dragging them down as he is not nearly motivated enough to play.

Nomar, bitter because the team had decided to trade him in a deal to Chicago for Magglio Ordonez because the team was on the verge of trading for Alex Rodriquez, shinning moment came again the New York Yankees. 

As the two teams played on into extra innings and Derek Jeter threw himself into the stand, Nomar just sat there on the bench removed from his teammates.  Far lost were the days when people were shouting "Nomaaaahhhhh", no longer was this player the person Red Sox nation remembered.

Something had to be done. So on July 31, 2004 it was just as the clock struck 4 pm. Nomar was dealt to the cubs in a four-way trade that netted the Sox SS Orlando Cabrera and 1B Doug Mientkiewicz.  Soon after that the team would take off and go on to win its first world series in 86 years.

Now let's fast forward four years. The Red Sox jump out to a great start but soon seemed to fade behind the young Tampa Bay Rays and the New York Yankees are hot on the trails.  They have a star that is carrying them down.  This time All star Manny Ramirez.

Manny who is bitter about not having the team pick up his options or sign him to an extension, basically has quit on the team.  Just like Nomar, Manny's shinning moment came against the Yankees, well kind of. Manny never even got into the game, as his right knee did not allow him to play. 

Believing that he had basically pulled himself from the game Sox management ordered him to have an MRI on both knees, which came back clean.  Soon after that there were no more people in Red Sox nation saying "Manny being Manny", they were now saying "Manny being traded would be better off."

So come July 31, 2008 around 4 pm, just like Nomar, the clock struck on Manny career in Boston.

Who knows what might become of this trade but how times never change.  Just names changed. Now Manny and Nomar can be happy together in LA where they can forget their past together.