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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As a long time follower of the Sox I was initially saddened by the move....but the Red Sox seem to be acting in their best interest both in the short term and long term...and Nomar, oh well, if what is being said of him now is true, would have been gone anyway and not a positive influence on the team for his remaining time. All and all, it's baseball, not world peace....

Ed

Up there, they say that if you play hard the fans will appreciate you," Flaherty said, "and nobody could ever accuse Nomar of not playing hard. That was a nice fit." I am not sure who to believe. As a fan of the game I always saw this guy try his best. I respected Normar, more than I do Manny Ramirez. The fact remains that the Red Sox's traded a great player for two players who never have played in a heated ALCS...that has to count for something. The other thing is how many Sox's fan blame him. If I recall it was the organization that tried to get rid of him and in fact Millar made it known that he wanted A-Rod over Nomar, whose fault is it? I don't think Normar would have left the Red Sox's and for all those who said he didn't care, he is batting over .300 while the guys you got are at a buck .250...I am not sure why some folks are saying this is a good deal, you lost a hell of a short-stop. A local reporter said that most likely it was a move to secure Pedro Martinez, but I have a feeling that next year, if the Sox's don't win the WS, will be in another uniform, Yankees or Angels....Pedro won't admit it but in the DR everybody says he wants to go to NY if he doesn't win the WS. I think it is hard to compare this trade with the Ruth trade but as a long and suffering Sox's fan, it is very easy to see the corelations. Nomar will do good in Chicago and mostly likely he will stay. I had the pleasure of visiting Chi town and watching the Cubs down in South Florida, and the fans are great. They will embrace him, and what the Sox's fans won't realize is that he will sign with the Cubs for less....The Red Sox faithful who said this guy or blame him for this trade should really start by looking in the mirror and the front office, because this guy was A RED SOX.

Tony , Belleville, NJ

I will never understand how a team could let a player the magnitude of Nomar go.I blame John Henry.If he was a descent owner he would have spent the money to lock up a player of nomars caliber.He should have never been traded and it will haunt the red sox for years to come.Nomar garciaparra WAS the red sox...i see my 8 year old son immitate his batting stance every day.....what do we tell our kids?How could such a crazy thing happen.The fans deserve better.....Boston deserves better....not only do we lose out in the A-Rod fiasco ,but we lose our star player 4 months into the seoson for 2 virtualy no-name players....it disgusts me.

Dan, Glens Falls New York

He wanted out, he is out. The sox are appreciably better at defense, weaker at bat. Does this team need hitting or defense? Does it need 2 players who will play hard everyday or one who plays when he feels like it? Furthermore, when he does play, he still throws the ball into the dugout. We all liked the quirky intravert but this team did what was right for the ball club, not the fan club. Nomar, thanks for the memories, we will still mail you a ring after our Sox beat your Cubs in the World Series.

Greg, Melrose

My husband and I are still very upset. The trade will not make much difference except to the general manager. Whether the Sox win or lose it will not be because of this trade. We feel they were a great team as is. Now, if they do get into the playoffs and win everyone will think it is because of this trade. We feel it is not and Nomar has been with the Sox so long he will be losing out of the win after being with the Sox through all the hard times and difficult situations. Nomar will always be a Red Sock to us no matter where he is. We hope he will come back. I (Paulette) am originally from Massachusetts and have been a Red Sox fan all my life.

Paulette and Ron, Clinton, Arkansas

Good job Theo. We were'nt going to get anything for him after this year. There was no way he was going to resign in Boston. Has anyone noticed how miserable he looked? He wore out his welcome. Have fun in the windy city!

rick, nashua

The Sox have been a little sloppy lately. They definetly need the Defense.

Dan, Skowhegan,Maine

Yes,they can win.But what new new lineup.They traded one player and added two new ones.This is not a major shakeup.Their defense has been awful and Theo had the guts to finally say it publicly.Nomar makes 20 plus errors a year,unexceptable. That detracts from his offense. Since last year down the stretch, through the playoffs and this year. His offense has been non existent. Sox icon?Where have the Sox gone with him?To bad Nomar isn't a former Gold Glover.To bad Sox fans aren't more concerned about team and winning than a so called icon who hasn't led the Sox anywhere. Pitching,defense,timely hitting is the key to success.Something I think Theo is trying to make possible.Instead of catering to a player who turned down a 60 million dollar contract and then said he wasn't wanted.Poor Nomar.I want the Sox to have a ring,rather than have a so called icon.I'm a diehard Sox fan,no matter what!I'm also a realist.To the lady who wrote the response that defense only counts during the postseason,not the regular season.Unless you play defense during the regular season,you don't normally get to the postseason!Go Sox! Go Theo!

jim, pompano beach

We have 3 players @ SS, 4 players @ 1B, no one except Kapler who has an arm to throw anyone out. As a team we are 3rd in pitching and hitting and yet struggling to play 500 ball. The "wonderfull bullpen" mentally can't hold a close game because when we do win its by 5-10 runs. Its called "intestinal fortitude" and character. Last year this team seemed to find a way to win. Now it looks like they are waiting until September to "turn it on". You win championships by playing consistent ball and this team is consistenly average. NO...the Red Sox will not win with this line up. They needed a pitcher in this Nomar deal and don't expect to get one from waivers.

Ron, Chesapeake

Well, they MAY be improved in the field, but one wonders about the clubhouse, and they still have all the same holes in their pitching, and a questionable batting order.

Gary, Oxford