Nomar on M&M: Sox attacks continue

Former Red Sox shortstop and current ESPN analyst Nomar Garciaparra joined the Mut & Merloni show Wednesday to talk about the latest revelations of clubhouse problems with the Sox and the future of Theo Epstein.

Garciaparra said he has not read Wednesday's Boston Globe article that expands on recent allegations of misbehavior at Fenway. "I have not, and I really have no intention of reading it," he said. "I don't think I need to."

Informed about some of the content, Garciaparra said it sounds like the players need to do a better job of policing the clubhouse.

"If that was really going on -- and I say really going on -- I'd have an issue," he said. "And also, that's an issue that we take on as players. I know personally that that's where I'm upset. I'm saying something, for sure. I'm saying something to my starting pitcher. I'm saying something to these guys up here, to say, 'Hey listen, fine, keep your drink or whatever it is, but it would be nice for you to be out there to support us, for sure.' I don't knock that. That may be an internal problem that needs to be taken care of.

"My whole thing is we're talking about it and we're talking about these guys over there like that's the reason why Terry's gone. It's more of like we're showing it as a reflection of Terry, and the poor manager. And this isn't a reflection [on Francona]. This is on us [Red Sox players]. This collapse that went on for the Red Sox, as a player, I take it personally. And I can't say that it's the manager's fault, it's not the organization's fault. It's my fault. And what did I do? Have I been a good teammate this year? Did I put the work in that it deserves to be able to finish off this year and not have this collapse? Why is this collapse?

"And that's what it is. And that's the thing for me. For me, it's the timing of this whole article. Why now? Why, because Terry now is out? Is that why we're bringing it up? Was this going on at the end of August when you had a nine-game lead? And if it was going on, why didn't you write about it then? Oh, because because they had a nine-game lead?"

Garciaparra said he'd be surprised if two longtime Red Sox -- former teammates of his -- would have allowed the situation to fester.

Said Garciaparra: "When I look at this, that's where I really question: How bad was it? Was it as extreme as they're making it out to be in the media? Was it maybe one day, maybe it happened one time and it was addressed? I know a guy there who has a big 'C' on his chest [Jason Varitek] and I know would be right in front of somebody's face talking to them about that. And I know he has stuff that he's doing with the catching, but I also know a guy like Tim Wakefield, who has so much respect and has been around in this game and what he's meant to this organization, that he wouldn't accept that. I know he's always on the bench on the days he's not pitching as well. If I don't see him on the bench, it's a rarity, he is probably either getting treatment or doing something as well.

"This had to be addressed from these guys, because these guys are too good of leaders and respect the game too much to see this happen around them."

Garciaparra famously accused the Red Sox management of a smear campaign after his trade in 2004. He indicated this is more of the same, with Francona the victim this time.

"This isn't about me. For me, what it's more about it just seeing the pattern," he said. "What I've come to realize is it's happened all along. It's the history here, in Boston. If we want to go through the list real quick: Terry Francona's coming out. A guy who's had tremendous success in that uniform, brought two championships, tremendous manager. Before he left, before this is going on, and now we're taking a personal rip on him.

"You had guys like Pedro Martinez before him. We had Manny Ramirez. We had Johnny Damon we had to take personal rips on. Before Johnny, before Manny, then you've got Derek Lowe. Then you have myself. Then there was Mo Vaughn, And then there was Roger Clemens. And then there was Jim Rice. And then there was Carl Yastrzemski. And then there's a guy by the name of Ted Williams. There is a distinguished list here that goes on. And if I'm part of that list, thank you very much. I'm very proud to be on it. But I don't take it personally. I just think that's what comes with it. And I think now people are starting to understand this is what comes with it. Why can't we just part ways? Why can't we just say: 'Listen, we had the collapse, we're looking for a change, that's why we're parting with Terry.' "

Touching on Theo Epstein's reported move to the Cubs, Garciaparra -- who was traded by Epstein to the Cubs in 2004 -- said the outgoing Sox general manager should transition well to the Windy City.

"He has time. It's not like in the middle of the season," Garciaparra said. "For me, it was definitely a shock, and it came right in the middle of the season. I had really just one night to cry, and I did that. And then the next day it was business as usual. I've got to go out there and try to win a championship with the uniform I'm putting on.

"But I think he's going to come into a good situation. It takes a special player to play in these big markets. … It takes somebody to be able to be able to be successful in these places because of the market and the demand on there. Theo came over, was general manager in Boston and had to deal with it and was successful. So, I think going over there in another big market, he's handled it, he has some experience and he has some clout.

"I think the biggest challenge for Theo is coming into a situation where they're coming off a very tough season, a losing season, as compared to when he came over and took over Boston. In 2002, we might not have made the playoffs, but we won over 90 games. So, you knew this team was already there to win and ready to win, knocking on the door."

Added Garciaparra: "I think you need to really go in there and change the whole identity of the Chicago Cubs, and it starts with player development. He's done such a tremendous job in Boston. I think he'll do that same tremendous job when it comes to player development from the bottom up, to really get that Chicago Cub identity. It will be challenging for him, but at the same time, I think he also looks forward to that challenge."

To hear the interview, go to the Mut & Merloni audio on demand page. For more Red Sox news, visit the team page at weei.com/redsox.