Gold Gloves

Half the NL Gold Glove winners have Phillies or Red Sox connections, but only one, Shane Victorino, is a current Phillie, meaning Chase Utley got hosed. Just like last year.

Though there was no travesty as bad as yesterday's award to the fraudulent Derek Jeter, who is among the worst defensive shortstops in baseball. Yes, he's that bad.

For the record, former SoxandPhils honored today include Bronson Arroyo (P), Scott Rolen (3B) and Michael Bourn (OF).

No more Nomar

In 1997, the SoxandPhils (before there was a SoxandPhils) monopolized the Rookie of the Year Awards: Nomar Garciaparra in the AL, Scott Rolen in the NL.

Each was a throwback gritty player whose exceptional skills made them seem destined for the Hall of Fame. But each saw his expectations grounded by injury before whining and moping their way out of Boston and Philly, where they should have been franchise legends.

Until they were traded, they provided Christine and me with lots of fodder for debate, which continues today. Tonight, when I asked Christine if she had any final words for Nomar, she made a reference to steroids and then ended with "Scotty's better."

Today, Nomar rejoined the Red Sox for a day to retire in the organization he started with. It was fitting to put a happy ending on a fairy tale career that went sour in 2004:

"This is where I started, this is where the dream to play baseball in the big league started here, with the Red Sox," he said. "Once I got to play in front of all these fans, and the way this city and all these fans embraced me, I mean, I always just felt that connection. Like I said, for me, I always said I truly wanted this to be the last uniform I ever put on. And today, I get to do that. And that's why it's so important to me."

I summed up my feelings on Nomar when talking about his old shirt. Coincidentally, I retired it last month, and now it's no longer antiquated. I know today was a just a gesture, but it is nice that I won't have to remember Nomar as a moper or suspected roider, but as the guy who was the Red Sox in the late '90s and early '00s.

I'll never forget him in the 1998 ALDS trying to rally the crowd and avert the inevitable loss to the Indians. I want to remember that fighting spirit, not the guy who sulked on the bench during the extra-inning game against the Yankees in 2004 as Derek Jeter crashed into the stands.

Tony Massarotti has a pretty good eulogy on Nomar's career, appropriately starting out with a quote from former Patriots quarterback Steve Grogan: "They love you at the beginning and they love you at the end. It’s the middle that’s tough."

That pretty much sums it up. Now we just need Scotty to sign a one-day deal with the Phillies before he retires. Yeah, I know, no chance of that.

Least relevant retrospective you'll read this week

This week, which ends the first decade of the 21st century, there are all kinds of best-of lists, look-backs and assessments of what the last 10 years actually meant.

This post is similar in that it takes a look back, but it really has little connection with the '00s. It's a look at the 1996 Scranton Wilkes-Barre Red Barons. Why? Because their yearbook somehow made it into the latest batch of stuff I salvaged from my parents' attic. I don't know who gave me this book, but I thought it would be worth a write-up before I send it to the recycling bin.

As you can see from the pictures (replete with period hair styles), the big future stars were Mike Lieberthal and Scott Rolen. They were managed by former Red Sox Butch Hobson, until he was arrested on cocaine charges. Funny, there's no mention of his extracurricular activities in a yearbook story that paints him as an All-American winner.

Other notable players on the team included Ruben Amaro Jr., Mike Benjamin, Rob Butler, Bobby Estalella, J.R. Phillips, Kevin Sefcik, Bob Zupcic, Desi Relaford, Kevin Stocker and Gregg Jefferies.

Some of the pitchers included Mitch Williams, David West, Curt Schilling, Tommy Greene, Bobby Munoz and Mike Mimbs.

There wasn't a lot of talent on this team. Most of the notable players were veterans on rehab assignments.

The back page kind of proves how weak the Phillies system was back then - besides Rolen. Following Scott on the list of the organization's top 10 prospects were: Dave Coggin (a pitcher out of the Curt Schilling mold), Marlon Anderson, Reggie Taylor, Mike Grace, Estalella (The Phillies see their catcher of the future as Estalella, not former first-rounder Mike Lieberthal, who was eligible for this list but hasn't show (sic) enough with the bat to project as a big leaguer starter), Carlton Loewer, Wayne Gomes, Larry Wimberly and Wendell Magee.

Highlighted as a prospect on the Montreal Expos was SoxandPhil Ugueth Urbina. He was recently mentioned in a traditional decade retrospective with a slot on the "aught-not" team because of his legal troubles.

The Pawtucket Red Sox also had a page, which was highlighted by Clyde "Pork Chop" Pough, a slugging prospect who never panned out. He played for the Trenton Thunder when we were in college. I was convinced that with a name like Pork Chop he couldn't miss. Christine would have loved him.

Even in some random 13-year-old minor league program, you can find some SoxandPhils connections to reminisce about.

Former friends and current competitors

Between the Giants playing for their playoff lives on Monday Night Football and a couple of unexpected errands, I'm going to be quick tonight.

It caught my eye that several former SoxandPhils have recently signed or are about to sign contracts - probably because the stories were lined up consecutively on ESPN.com: Scott Rolen restructured his deal with the Reds, Coco Crisp may sign with the A's, and Darren Oliver (how is he still pitching?) may sign with the Rangers.

Also, there is talk that a true SoxandPhil, Pedro Martinez, is under consideration by the Mets. Ha! It's not a good day for the Mets - as Rob Neyer points out, they can't get players to accept their millions despite no evidence of any interest from another team.

The Yankees, however, have no such problem and have to pay more than $25 million in payroll tax - the only team to exceed the threshold. In fact, since the tax was created, the Yankees have paid more than 90 percent of the $190 million assessed. That lonely trophy sure was expensive.

When it rains, it pours

And I'm not just talking about the fact that it rained all day (which it did, again).

The bad news just kept coming all day for the Phillies. It started in the morning when their - and maybe the league's - MVP Raul Ibanez was placed on the DL with a strained groin.

It continued through the afternoon when another bullpen meltdown (including Clay Condrey, who should be DL'd after not retiring any of the five batters he faced) capped off the Blue Jays sweep of the Phillies in Philadelphia. Ryan Madson gave up a run in the 9th inning to lose it 8-7, so cue the "he's a set-up guy who can't close" crap.

Oh, and that run was on a pinch-hit home run by Rod Barajas, who along with Scott Rolen really did a job on their former team this week, going 10-23 with five runs, nine RBI, three homers and three walks.

Days before this series, a certain Phillies fan, who shall remain nameless, was quite excited that Roy Halladay would miss the series due to injury. He wouldn't have made a difference.

Red Sox: The score isn't too bad (they trail the Marlins 2-1 in the 5th), but so far they've mustered just one hit (1st inning home run by Kevin Youkilis) off a pitcher with an ERA over 7.00. Jon Lester, who had been on quite a roll, threw 105 pitches through five innings, giving up seven hits, including two solo home runs.

Happy feelings

Baseball began in Japan on Tuesday morning. Its season opens in earnest next week. Are you happy?

Adam Eaton is:

"The results weren't great, but I felt good," Eaton said after the Phillies' 14-5 loss at Joker Marchant Stadium. "I felt like my stuff was just as good at the end as it was at the beginning. The way I feel and the way my stuff is, I'm pretty happy."

I guess I'd be happy if I could pocket $140,000 a week with no discernible skill set. Adam Beaten, who had a 6.29 ERA last season, somehow found a way to get 2008 off on a worse foot. Let's get one of the monkeys to be the fifth starter until Kris Bensen is ready.

Spring training wrap-up: Christine and I will train for the season by attending the Blue Jays-Phillies final spring training game on Saturday - our first live action of the spring. We won't get to boo Scott Rolen, but maybe Rod Barajas will make an appearance.

Similarly, Nomar Garciaparra is out for the Dodgers and will miss the pinball game against the Red Sox in Los Angeles, a city where, the Globe notes, Terry Francona made his managerial debut for the Phillies, piloting Curt Schilling to victory.

Secrets

While we wait to learn whether Brad Lidge's knee tweak really is nothing or the first sign of another year with an unnerving bullpen for the Phils, there was some intriguing news coming out of the Red Sox bullpen.

Hideki Okajima is working on a secret new pitch:

Okajima has deemed his new pitch the "Doki-doki," appropriate both for the play on his nickname and its meaning in Japanese, which, according to translator Jeff Yamaguchi, means "sounds of a heartbeat," and "he makes me nervous."

"He doesn't know which way it breaks, and it works for either hitter," Yamaguchi said. "He started working on the new pitch since August last year, throwing catch against me."

Okajima said he thought he needed to improve last season, but that he was better served saving it until this year. Asked if the pitch was a two-seam fastball, Okajima leaned over and said, "Secret."

Etc.: The Sox gave a new contract to Terry Francona, owner of the best undefeated World Series record ever. {I'm sickened by this. If a Yankees fan pointed out that they have won 26 World Series, Greg wouldn't shut up about it.} He's also the only manager Scott Rolen hasn't had a problem with:

Rolen clashed with Larry Bowa in Philly, and it got so bad with Tony LaRussa in St. Louis that the third baseman, who as recently as 2006 pledged he would never return to Philadelphia, now says he would have come back this off-season:

That's how intense his desire was to get away from the St. Louis Cardinals' manager.

"Yes," the Toronto Blue Jays' new third baseman said after a workout Friday. "I would have accepted."

Though Scotty does have some a small measure of personal accountability:

It's legitimate to wonder if he has a problem getting along with people, particularly those in authority.

"Fair question," Rolen said. "I've thought about people thinking that. I'm the common denominator in both situations. I'm smart enough to see that.

"All I'll say is there is more to the stories. Everyone has a story. Everyone has a side. I have a side, too."

I'm no fan of the Pedro Feliz acquisition, but with Scotty's attitude I might prefer the never-on-base Feliz at third for the Phillies this year. Scotty, hope you enjoy fighting the Empire for third place.

Former Phils in the agate this week

Pitching prospect Gio Gonzalez, who seemed destined to have a career shuffling between Chicago and Philly, is headed to the rebuilding A's in the Nick Swisher trade. And Matt Smith, the most productive piece of the Abreu/Lidle fleece, has been put on waivers.

Gonzalez, originally a White Sox prospect, was traded to the Phils in '05 with Aaron Rowand and Daniel Haigwood for Jim Thome. With Rowand gone to the Giants, the only piece left from this is Fabio Castro, who I still think should have been used more in the past two years. Castro was picked up from the Rangers for Haigwood who last year was released by Texas and picked up and released by the Red Sox. Gonzalez was traded back to the White Sox in the great Freddy Garcia deal last off season.

Getting nothing in trades of superstars is nothing new for the Phils... in 2000 they gave up not-yet World Series hero {gag} Curt Schilling to the D-Backs for Travis Lee, Vincente Padilla, Omar Daal and Nelson Figueroa. (Padilla was the first scrubby Phillie who always seemed to be pitching when we go to a game. That designation then went to Cory Lidle. Last year thankfully we got a good mix).

Then, of course there was the 2002 Scott Rolen deal that also netted a future World Series hero {gag, again}, Mike Timlin, who stayed for half a season. They did get a productive Placido Polanco, but flipped him three years later for Ugueth Urbina, who pitched well for half a season before that little attempted murder thing.

And that brings up the Abreu deal. I'm guess I'm glad it happened. Though the Yankees got a good player, he's overpaid and doesn't help the team regain the mental toughness that's been lacking. But I still think the Phils should have been able to get something for him.

This week, they released Matt Smith, ending his 23 game Phillies career. Also in the deal was minor league SS C.J. Henry, released by the Phils, taken back by the Empire, and P Carlos Monastrios* and C Jesus Sanchez who were both still in A ball last year. Monastrios could still pan out, but you'd like something to be able to point to for Abreu -- even if he was first obtained for Kevin Stocker.

*Correction 9/4/08: Oops. Guess we've had Carlos Monasterios' name spelled wrong for the past eight months. He was still in Clearwater this year.