Nomar Garciaparra
Nomar Garciaparra
Anthony Nomar Garciaparrais a former American Major League Baseball player and current SportsNet LA analyst. After playing parts of nine seasons as an All-Star shortstop for the Boston Red Sox, he played third base and first base for the Chicago Cubs, Los Angeles Dodgers, and the Oakland Athletics. He is one of 13 players in Major League history to hit two grand slams during a single game, and the only player to achieve the feat at his home stadium...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionBaseball Player
Date of Birth23 July 1973
CityWhittier, CA
CountryUnited States of America
I'm always trying to win, but at the same time I can also appreciate a great, well-fought game. And if it's a tie 'You were great. I was great. Hey, let's go home.' It doesn't mean I'm not as competitive.
Every position is important and has its differences. It takes time to reach the same instinct level at first base that I had shortstop. It is a work in progress, but I'm getting there.
No, I can't remember the last time I played outfield -- not even in high school.
I don't know if there's more pressure this time of the season. We put pressure on ourselves to perform.
It was something new every time I turned around that season. Ultimately, you don't have the energy to keep defending yourself, but at this point I don't want to rehash it. I've moved on and they've moved on.
Not at all. I cried. I was crushed. The city and the fans meant that much to me, and they still do. I played for those fans, my teammates, the history of that franchise. It was hard to take the way it went down, but the thing I'm proudest of from my time in Boston is that we raised more than $1 million for charity and there is still a playground that has my name on it.
All I've done is go up there the same as I have been. Every time I step up to the plate I'm doing whatever I can to get on base and help the team. That's really my focus each and every time.
I think the last time I was 100 percent might have been when I was 5, but I'm feeling pretty good. I did a lot of things to keep my legs in shape and maintain that, so going out there is not going to be much of a shock.
I think that exacerbated the situation a little bit more. It was a combination of that trauma and my body kind of protecting itself from the (groin) surgery. Every day I'm doing everything I can to try and get loose.
It didn't change him at all. That didn't surprise me. He's a such a great person, a great manager. Something like that - he wasn't going to let it change who he is.
If it was in my control, I'd still be wearing a Red Sox uniform, because it's the place I know, I love. All of those fans, I'll always remember. But I'm also going to another great place. I'm going to a phenomenal city with great tradition as well, phenomenal fans, great organization.
He knows how to pitch. He's a guy whose slider looks like he can throw it four times in the dirt and walk you, or he'll throw it three times and hit the outside corner and strike you out.
Those two games down there definitely helped. It was good to go out there, because you have to test it in a game situation. When you get into this environment, you can't simulate the game. And if I test it here and have a setback, that kind of hurts the team as well. So I didn't want to do that. It's not 100 percent, but I didn't expect it to be.
You go out there and play hard and make plays. That's what this team is about.