The Sox have traded the two-time AL batting champ for two former Gold Glovers. Can the Sox make the playoffs with this new lineup?

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Has everyone forgotten Nomar did NOTHING after Labor Day 2003 and was a non-entity in the playoffs. Did his presence starting June 9 make any difference this year? Has everyone forgotten the game we lost to NY this year when Ortiz did not handle a routine play at first to end the inning and the Yanks scored 2 runs to tie the game? Yes, the Sox can win without him. They almost did last year and probably would have had Pedro not insisted on staying in in Game 7.

Vince, Arlington VA

Personally, Nomah was one of my favorite players. Yet, the sox weren't doing good with him. He didn't want to play here, he plannned on taking time off in August, etc. I think that cabrera will be similar to pokey, and will put up bill mueller (2004 edition) numbers. Roberts will give the sox some speed so we won't see kapler being gunned down in the 9th. Meinkewitz will add some depth and defense, despite his sluggish stats. good luck nomah!

Mike, Sudbury

Yes, the Sox can win without Nomar. They desperately needed defense, he was a liability in the field. DO NOT FORGET - He turned down a 4 YR, $60M contract, thats why the Sox wanted to trade him..get something for him before he left anyway. How long do you keep trotting out the same team without a World Series? He did not want to be in Boston regardless of what he says, I think both the Cubs and Sox are better off.

George, Virginia Beach

Anyone who is upset with this trade look at the offensive impact Nomar has had since his return. He may be batting .300 ball but he has not had many clutch hits nor can he run the bases well. This achilles injury is still bothering him, and my guess is that in a short time the Cubs will place him on the DL.The flaw of every great team the Sox has ever had is that we get just sluggers and power guys. Small ball wins games and defense is key. When Pokey gets back on Tuesday we have 3 gold glovers in our infield!!! I trust Theo, he has made a great impact thus far. The pitching will get stronger because of the new defense that is certain. Good Bye Nomar you were great and everyone in New england will never forget what you did!!!!

Jason, Ellsworth ME

I thinkm the Red sox are not looking to the future. They obtained no value for Nomar's talents

Michael

Did the Pats win without Bledsoe? DER.

Bowmie, Ipswich

I think that this was a terrible trade. Nomar is Boston and I can't even imagine the Red Sox without him...but I should have seen this coming this is Boston remember, I mean look at what happened to the Celtics. I just hope the Red Sox don't have that same fate, but this is definatey a giant step in that direction. Nomar I will miss you and I wish you well!!!! :( :( :(

Hannah, New Hampshire

Of course the Sox can win without Nomar... with all due respect, what did they ever win WITH him? Nomar, is an excellent player; but, he is not a "winner" -- he doesnt have "it"... No truer indication of his lack of "it" was last year -- when if he had risen to the occasion (or if he had performed anywhere in the neighborhood of "rising to the occasion"), then the Sox likely would have won the World Series... Theo Epstein is a young baseball genius... he recognizes Nomar doesnt have "it" and he recognizes that Nomar hasnt been the same since his wrist injury... he realized that he the deck needed to be re-shuffled for the Sox to have a chance this year.. Nomar was an average defensive SS who sometimes made spectacular plays but routinely made errors on routine plays... that is not acceptable in the playoffs... Orlando Cabrera is a superior defensive shortstop -- and Sox fans who havent seen him will have a marvelous revelation after they have seen a gold glover troll the hole for the rest of the year... and dont be fooled by his 2004 offensive numbers, he will hit .275 - .290 with upwards of 20 hrs, 75 RBI and 15 - 20 SBs... for HALF the money... so now we can sign TEK and PEDRO... and Mientkiewicz is a marvelous defensive 1B... in my opinion, the Sox are A LOT CLOSER to the World Series than they were on Friday

Jeffrey, Brown

The way the team played prior to the trade, I don't think they would have made it it to post-season play. I have to say , the last 2 months of the season are going to come down to pitching. We have enough hitting although I think we were better with Nomar. Everyone knows in the post-season pitching wins but why not be positive for once? I say they win the World Series.

Lee, Quincy

Absolutely. To get the most underrated shortstop in Major League Baseball and a vastly underappreciated shortstop for Nomore Garciapopup was bloody brilliant. In 2001, if it weren't for some guy named Ichiro, he would have been consensus Rookie of the Year. Pitching and defense wins championships. And think about this: Francona can now play the small-ball all ye faithful want. Both Cabrera and Mientkiewicz put the ball in play. We should see more hit-and-runs and sacrafices now. Kudos to Theo Epstein for this deal, the Dave Roberts deal, and every other deal he's ever made (with the obvious exceptions of the Suppan and Sauerbeck deals of last year). Duquette's only good deal was when he traded that sore-arm Heathcliff Slocumb to Seattle for Derek Lowe and Jason Varitek.

Jacob, Brunswick, ME