Comments on: Dr. Shaughnessy diagnoses Nomar

By: BP Myers

BP Myers — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 14:36:32 +0000

@Mike said: Oh really? Like when he penned three columns in two weeks about how boring this Red Sox spring training has been?

Shaugnessey claimed there was “no buzz” this spring, and then Pete Abraham tweeted the first two exhibition games against the Rays in Port Charlotte and the Blue Jays in Dunedin set all-time attendance records for both those venues.

And if Shaugnessey wants “buzz,” he oughta stop trying to drive all the colorful players out of town.

By: Mike Benedict

Mike Benedict — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 02:48:36 +0000

@Frank Binder: “DS’s job is to have a point of view; to be controversial. I’ve not always agreed with him. In fact, sometimes he’s infuriating. But he is always interesting.”

Oh really? Like when he penned three columns in two weeks about how boring this Red Sox spring training has been?

Which, btw, he also said last year?

By: BP Myers

BP Myers — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 00:55:24 +0000

@Mike: Shaugnessey was for the Achilles injury, before he was against it.

By: Davio Van Lombirk

Davio Van Lombirk — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 22:50:12 +0000

Frank Binder, really? Just how widely reported and well sourced was it?

Did you see Varitek’s and Wakefield’s comments the other day? Would they say those things if Nomar had been bringing the whole team down as you suggest?

By: Mike Benedict

Mike Benedict — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 22:06:49 +0000

Shaughnessy, July 3, 2004:
“Garciaparra battled back from an Achilles’ injury and always gives 100 percent on the field.”

http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/articles/2004/07/03/damaged_goods_deal_garciaparra/

Shaughnessy, March 11, 2010:
“Total fraud.”

http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/articles/2010/03/11/in_historically_bad_taste_here/

(Not to mention his subtle attempt not to be libelous: “[I]t’s natural to wonder whether he succumbed to the temptation of steroids.”)

Honestly, at what point do the powers that be at the Globe realize that the laughter that follows The CHB is at him, not with him?

By: Frank Binder

Frank Binder — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 21:40:24 +0000

DS’s job is to have a point of view; to be controversial. I’ve not always agreed with him. In fact, sometimes he’s infuriating. But he is always interesting. With regard to Nomar. Nomar’s sullen attitude and clubhouse demeanor with both the press and with his teammates was widely reported the year he left. He was a great player and given the trajectory of his early years, was on track to be one of the 3 greatest players ever in a Red Sox uniform. But his 2004 behavior and demeanor and it’s effect on the team wasn’t a press fabrication. The proof is in the pudding. Once he left, the club took flight and won the World Series.

By: Davio Van Lombirk

Davio Van Lombirk — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 17:56:28 +0000

Mike Coughlin, I believe it’s safe to assume the point-counterpoint effect did not have to be arranged, but was simply preordained by Shaughnessy’s passionate and enduring hatred of Nomar. They knew Ryan would be reasonable and Shaughnessy would trash him – instant point-counterpoint.

And I recall that Shaughnessy did cast doubt at the time as to whether Nomar was really even injured, and I believe he is doing so again now.

By: Mike Coughlin

Mike Coughlin — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:54:12 +0000

The Shaughnessy piece was obviously paired with Bob Ryan’s more sympathetic take on Nomar’s career as a point-counterpoint. The two columns were placed side by side in the print edition and on Boston.com. I assume it was over the top by design.

As for the references to the fake injury, there was a lot of speculation in the press and on talk radio around that time as to whether Nomar was faking it, but I think CHB is referencing another rumor that went around back then that Nomar was not injured on the ball field but in another venue. For example, I remember hearing he hurt himself playing soccer with his wife, Mia Hamm (not sure if they were yet married at that time).

By: Davio Van Lombirk

Davio Van Lombirk — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 20:57:03 +0000

Yeah, it’s always a winning strategy for a star player to fake an injury during a contract season. That way, his club will be extra motivated to resign him, and suitors will come knocking from all quarters. Makes perfect sense to me.

Nomar went even further than most, though – he very convincingly continued to fake his Achilles problem after being traded to the Cubs. Thank goodness we have Dan Shaughnessy to explain things to us.

By: BP Myers

BP Myers — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 16:51:22 +0000

@Dan. Done. She does a terrific job, both at the paper and on NESN.

Speaking of NESN, as was referenced in Shaugnessey’s article today recounting the “Nomar in the dugout while Jeter breaks his face” incident, they don’t get enough credit for maintaining independance from the Sox, showing things that (perhaps) the Sox brass is less than comfortable with.

They were all over the Manny-Youk shoving incident the night it happened, showing it immediately after coming out of commercial break and again and again throughout the broadcast.

And if you saw it, you won’t forget the night in 2005 they kept returning to Foulke and Papelbon sitting silently (and awkwardly) in the bullpen, until the call finally came summoning Papelbon, acknowledging for all the world that the torch had been passed. It was truly compelling television.