Earth To Nomar-Haters

That deafening silence you hear from certain FlashBoys, columnists and websites is simply the predictable hibernation pattern of the species Nomarus Hatatem (AKA Nomar-Haters). Gee, where have they all gone? Do you think it might have something to do with the fact that Nomar is putting up Comeback Player Of The Year stats (.362 AVG; .606 SLG; .427 OBP; 1.033 OPS as of May 30th)? Maybe it's just not fashionable anymore to bash one of the greatest Red Sox players ever—doesn't have the pizzazz it once did. You know, it's way more fun to kick someone when they're down. Make up fake stories, call him "Mr. Hamm". All that good stuff.

Of course, most of these humanitarians have found other straw men to attack (Manny, until he got hot; Loretta until he had a 14-game hitting streak; etc. etc.). So, the next time you hear one of these up-standing pillars of the sports community attacking a player, consider the source. Then, change the station, turn the page, or click the mouse.

The NOG Gets It Right

God knows, this writer has often been critical of the New Ownership Group (by the way, when do they stop being "new"?). However, when they do something right, particularly something the "old" ownership would NEVER have done, I feel I have to give them recognition. Just such an event occurred on Monday night at the opening game of the current Yankee series. As my friend and I settled into our $40 Season Ticket Grandstands, we noticed that one wooden slat on the back end of one of the seats was missing. Hardly an inviting prospect for seats that are already cramped and uncomfortable.

So, we scurried down to the Fan Feedback Booth below Section 30 and advised them of the problem. This was about 6:30 PM. Before the 7:05 PM start of the game, two staff members had been dispatched to our seats with power tools, replacement slats and bolts to fix the problem. Presto! Chango!! A new seat before Johnny Demon could be booed into submission to lead off the game. What are the odds that the Yawkey Regime would have fixed the problem THIS SEASON let alone this night? In fact, there was no dedicated place to make such a report in the old days. So, kudos to the NOG for their prompt and efficient response.

Now, about moving tonight's final Yankee game from a "daytime" to a "fake" night time start--leaving week-night Season Ticket Holders in the lurch.....but, that's a story for another day.

Lowell Connector

As we sit here approaching the end of May, the Red Sox leader in batting average (.336), slugging percentage (.610) and OPS (1.001) is someone you might not have expected when the Olde Towne Team headed north from The Fort: third baseman Mike Lowell. That's right, the "throw-in" in the Josh Beckett deal—the guy the Marlin "brain trust" absolutely had to unload to make the thing work. Thank you, South Florida.

Were it not for some big guy named Jim in Chicago, Lowell would be a leading contender for AL Comeback Player Of The Year. In addition to playing a steady, "stand-up" third base defense, Lowell's offense appears to be tracking with (and in some cases surpassing) every other year in his career—except 2005.

Add to all of this the fact that he is one of the premier "character guys" in baseball, and it now seems that (despite Hanley Ramirez' fine start) the Red Sox have fleeced the soon-to-be San Antonio Missions big time. With all the confusion that swirled around the "GM" position at the time the deal was made, the NOG deserves credit for sticking to its plan and making it all work.

Good For WEEI, Good For Fans

The word that AM Sports Giant WEEI has likely retained the rights to Sox play-by-play is, in my view, a good thing. As appealing as a clear, dedicated, Sox-owned FM signal would have been, there is something about baseball that screams "Amplitude Modulation!" Maybe it's the memories of listening to the late Curt Gowdy paint his hardball picture through the warm summer skies. Maybe it's the excitement of picking up a faint AM Sox signal when traveling in Nova Scotia or the boondocks of Maine.

And, as aggravating as WEEI can be with its endless shouting and moronic whiners, it's still the only "must listen" station on the dial for Boston sports fans. You may hate it sometimes, but you listen all the time. Admit it. Sox play-by-play belongs on WEEI. Somewhere, Curt is smiling.