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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first of all, im tired of all the sad unknowledgeable red sox fans who are crying over the loss of the great nomar, the most important thing u have to look at in this trade is that we were going to LOSE NOMAR TO FREE AGENCY anyway, this is crucial to the trade, how would sox fans take it if he walked at the end of the year and we had nothing to show for it , at least we got an outstanding defensive shortsop on the rise and he is a much better hitter than his numbers indicate, and doug ( did i spell that right) meintkevitz is a weak bat but has a tremedous glove, and we allowed the most unearned runs in ALL of baseball if sox fans dont see the need right there then u need a new prescription.

gary k, bergenfield,nj

The Sox can make the Playoffs via the Wild Card. Nomar will be missed, but let's face it, he was not going to sign next year. He was also detrimental to the team with his sour puss in the club house. Good luck Nomar in your new endevour and I hope your happy, but we've got to move on. Baseball is a business and that business should be bringing a championship to Boston. Just like Lawyer Malloy with the Patriots last year, sometimes when you've got a bad component, the machine does'nt perform correctly. Let's hope the new look Sox can get it done, just like the Patriots. They've got the talent, let's see them use it.

Scott, Dudley

Remember Jeter face planting into the 3rd base seats in yankee stadium? Well we just got 2 of those guys. Welcome Doug and Orlando: next stop- immortality!!

Jacey, San Jose, CA

Nomar was one of the greatest baseball players I have ever watched. But Nomar was different then any other player I have ever seen. Dan Shaugnessy article today is the exact way I feel about Nomar. To all you Bo Sox fans who haven't got the idea, Nomar did not want to play for this team. If he did he would have signed that $60 million dollar deal last spring. Instead his greedy self didn't. The Sox brass is getting a lot heat from unknowlegdeable fans who seem to think Nomar was going to resign with the team and that he was happy to be playing for our Sox. These people are blind to these facts. The Sox brass did the right thing and made our team better. Nomar would have walked and the team would have gotten nothing in return. Instead we got a underated shortstop and a solid firts baseman. I am happy with the deal. I am so tired of our very own fans who think the sky is falling because Nomar got traded. Don't you people get it, he didn't want to play here. He wanted out and if he was hurting the makeup of this team. now he is gone and our Bo Sox can get on with winning.

Patrick, Berlin, Ct

I don't think anyone can think it is a good trade, if it hadn't been Nomar's last contracxt year, and the Red Sox having no chance to resign him. Under these conditions, it seems to me like Theo and the Boys did about as well as possible. They could have used Roberts last night. What is needed is much less strikeouts.

Ted, Round Rock, Texas

At the beginning of the season, the Bosox were playing great baseball while Nomar was on the DL. When he returned the club began its slide. With an improved defense, I believe the BoSox will have a better winning percentage and enhance the probability of their making the playoffs. Nomar's bat couldn't overcome the terrible defense the team has exhibited this season. An improved defense is definitely more important than Nomar's bat. The king is dead! Long live the king?

Lloyd, Stimson

The Red Sox are in the same situation that they were last week, minus one of the greatest Red Sox of all time. Sure Nomar wasn't the best defensive player, but I assure you that he was going to carry this team offensivly in an upcomming stretch. Nomar better have told Theo face to face that he wasn't going to resign. That is the only way that this trade makes any sense. I will tell you what Theo better not walk down the street alone for a while. I believe that this is just another in a long line of great Sox run out of town prematurely. Sad.

Zach, Phoenix, AZ

No

david, everett

For years the Red Sox tried to win with line up's filled with Designated Hitters, looking something like a slow pitch softball team. Everyone knows that Pitching, Defense and Speed are a winning combination. The new Sox defense will improve the Sox pitching and the new speed will improve the offense. I wish Nomar the best of luck, especially next year as the Yankee's second baseman.

JJ, San Bernardino CA.

Yes I think that they can..even though i HATE the yankees; Derek Jeter is right Nomar Garciaparra is the first name that many people think of when they hear Red Sox. I will miss him terribly. But, the Red Sox did just fine without him at the beggining of the season and I think that they can pull it off again.

Alanna, Portland