The clubhouse chorus is unanimous. The Boston Red Sox openly say they are a better team since the four-way deadline deal that sent shortstop Nomar Garciaparra to the Cubs, who have their own take on it and are saying “thank you” as well.
The Red Sox are 19-7 since Garciaparra left, believing they have improved defensively, spiritually and in all other ways with the acquisitions of Orlando Cabrera, Doug Mientkiewicz and Dave Roberts.
They will have a continuing opportunity to prove it over the next 10 days, when they put their East Division and AL wild-card hopes on the line in three-game series with the Angels, Rangers and A’s–all harboring their own postseason hopes.
The Red Sox, of course, have nobody to blame but themselves for upsetting Garciaparra with their mishandled attempt to acquire Alex Rodriguez during the winter.
Then, refusing to let the high-voltage trade speak for itself, Boston management ignited a war of words by floating its own version of how Garciaparra injured his Achilles’ tendon in the spring and issuing, for the 101st time, a review of their contract offers to him.
The Cubs couldn’t care less. They filled a position that had been the National League’s weakest offensively with a player who has hit .325 since his acquisition, didn’t have to break up their touted rotation to do it and are 15-10 since the trade, having won seven of their last 10 to maintain their lead in the NL wild-card race.
