Nomar Returns

Some Nomar quotes:

When I got traded I was on the road and never got to say thank you. Hopefully, the way I thanked them throughout all those years when I was here was just going out there and playing hard and giving it everything I've got.

My appreciation for this place has never stopped. On the field, I gave it everything I had. That's one thing I know the fans here have always appreciated. My mentality every time I put on that uniform was to win for this wonderful city.

I love them. I don't how else to put it to the fans that I love them, and the way they treated me the whole time I was here. I can't tell them how much that meant to me.

Boston fans were everywhere. I can't say how many times I heard, "Thank you. Thank you for all you did." Even today I was walking down Newbury Street, a guy came up to me and shook my hand and looked me in the eye and said "Thank you for all you did." And I just looked at him and said, "No ... Thank you."

I can't believe the wonderful experiences that I've had here and it's all because of them.

I was getting choked up out there. I kept thinking "I gotta go hit? You kidding me?" There's no script for it. It was so emotional for me, their way of thanking me and me thanking them. I always believed it was a two-way street. This will never leave me.

I always had a dream I was going to start my career in a Boston uniform and end my career in a Boston uniform. I still have the dream. The only difference from the original dream is that I wasn't supposed to put another uniform on. But that dream is still there.

Sox & Dawgs has clips from both the press conference and the second inning ovation.

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On the whole, Smoltz thought he did well:

I went back and watched the whole game again and I'm still shaking my head on some of the hits and some of the plays. Some of the pitches that I didn't think should have gotten hit, and they found holes. ... What I hate more than anything is two-out runs. But I felt in control. I threw the ball really well. I didn't have much to show for it tonight, but as mad as I get, I have to make sure to realize I'm making a lot of progress even though the results don't look like that.

I'm not so sure. Thirteen baserunners in six innings is not good, especially against a shitty hitting team like the A's. Smoltz's fastball was only about 92 and he missed location with his breaking stuff.

I've given up all two-out runs except one or two, and that has to change. I'm going to look and see if there are any trends. I don't think I have to be perfect. I haven't pitched away from my fastball or contact. I'm almost there.

SoSHer Jnai has some fx data here and here.

Aaron Bates will probably stay with the team until the break. Mike Lowell is due back when play resumes on Friday, July 17 in Toronto.