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May 28, 2007
Former Red Sox outfielder Trot Nixon just held a lengthy chat with the media, though this was from the visitor's dugout at Fenway, as Nixon is back in Boston for the first time since signing with Cleveland in the offseason.
A member of the Red Sox organization for 13 years, Nixon said he had never been in the visitor's clubhouse until today. Actually, navigating the Indians' home clubhouse ("It's huge," he said) was one of the things that took some adjusting to for Nixon, along with learning everyone's names and jobs in the Cleveland organization.
The rightfielder, remembered for his pine-tar covered batting helmet and all-out hustle on the field, said he harbors no ill will toward the Red Sox for not signing him and instead signing the very expensive -- and seriously slumping -- J.D. Drew.
After undergoing back surgery and not being signed by Cleveland until Jan. 19, Nixon sort of fell in love with baseball all over again.
"What happened to me in the offseason, it opened my eyes to how special this game is, how fun it is," he said. "It opened my eyes to how much I love this game."
Nixon would have been open to starting the season in triple-A and then moving up to the big leagues if that is how things had turned out, but he is "very thankful" for the opportunity the Indians have given him and is glad that the team is having so much success early (their 31-17 record is second to Boston in the A.L.).
"It's a phenomenal group of guys, veterans, young guys, young guys that have been here for four or five years. There's a tremendous amount of talent in the organization," he said.
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