This week my chargers were in sunny Orlando, Florida when we received the news that the Red Sox organization had signed Normar Garciaparra to a minor league contract. My doggie senses were highly suspicious of this acquisition. Anyone that has followed Garciaparra’s career knows, he is not the minor league type.

It was no surprise then when this announcement was followed up by a press conference where Garciaparra announced his retirement from Baseball. He stated that his long time desire had always been to retire as a Red Sox.

I Buddie the dog, was not even a pup in the litter when Nomar came on the scene and quickly became the face of our beloved team, who at the time, was struggling to come into its own.

Garciaparra’s work ethic and demeanor quickly won over Red Sox nation as well as one of our most iconic New England legends, Ted Williams.

Mr. Williams even took to calling Garciaparra the kid and felt that Nomar had a lot to offer the world of baseball and mostly the Red Sox fans…and that he did;

Garciaparra went on to maintain a .313 career batting average, with 229 homers and 936 RBI. In 8 years with the Red Sox (96-04) he played in 1434 career games before departing to the left coast and the A’s half way through the 04 season.

While many sportscasters will cover his stats, accomplishments, injuries etc. I Buddie just want to comment (or is it barkment?) one major point and that is how much I love my Red Sox even more now.

Good, bad or indifferent, as the reasons were under which Mr. Garciaparra left in 04, the point is, deep down inside he has the heart of a Red Sox; and for Red Sox nation to accommodate his desire to retire as a member of our club speaks volumes to the type of organization we are.

It brought a tear to my eye, well if I could cry, cause tough Buddie dogs do not cry and there is no crying in baseball anyway!!!

Where was I? Oh yeah it was emotional to see Garciaparra’s press conference as he spoke of his time here in Beantown and to see him in his old jersey was a thing of beauty.

Whether Garciaparra’s stats will be enough to see him into the Hall of fame with his beloved mentor Mr. Williams is a debate best left for another day.

But for now I Buddie the dog am wishing Mr. Garciaparra, who is still a young pup of 36, a long and happy retirement as a sport analyst.

So today’s Dawg of the day award goes to Mr. Garciaparra, for all you have given us in the game of baseball this bone is for you!!!

So here I go again, signing out from an undisclosed location in Sunny Orlando, wishing you peace, abundant belly rubs and a free-flea zone until next time..keep those emails coming!!!