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October 20, 2007
By KEVIN McNAMARA
Journal Sports Writer
BOSTON – If Red Sox fans thought inserting Jacoby Ellsbury into the lineup was an easy call, imagine how Cleveland felt in regards to Trot Nixon.
Coco Crisp’s futile play at the plate has been matched across the diamond by the Indians’ Franklin Gutierrez. He cracked a three-run homer off John Lester to help put Game Two out of reach but has just one other hit in the series to sit at .133 (2-for-15). In the postseason, he’s just 4-of-25 for a .160 average.
But it wasn’t just those lowly numbers that made Eric Wedge write Nixon’s name into the lineup for Game Six last night. No one knows how to play right field at Fenway Park under the bright playoff lights more than the 33-year old Nixon.
That familiarity has already helped Nixon deliver one of this series’ key plays when he lined an 11th inning single off left-hander Javier Lopez to knock in the go-ahead run in Game Two.
It was a critical hit but one that Nixon shook off as just business. That it came against the team that cast him aside after spending eight seasons in Boston in order to sign J.D. Drew was irrelevant.
''You know, for just some reason I just felt a calmness out there in the batter's box,'' he said. ''I think if you can keep your emotions in check in those situations like that, you've probably got a little bit better chance and I was fortunate. I didn't hit it hard but I hit it where I needed to.''
Wedge said Nixon’s experience has also benefited the Indians off the field. On a team filled with youngsters, Nixon qualifies as a grizzled veteran. He quickly accepted the role, going back to spring training when he wouldn’t shy away from speaking his mind in front of his new teammates.
''I knew a great deal about Trot prior to him coming over to us,'' said Wedge. ''How he had grown into the leadership personality that he has along with his presence. We felt that immediately.''
Nixon wouldn’t only speak with the younger players. He’d also mentor the team’s stars that’ve been around the majors for a few seasons.
''He’s boisterous. He’s not afraid to say what he thinks,'' said Wedge. ''The experience that he has, he’s done everything in his career and been through so much. That’s really helped us. The same with some of the other guys we have here, veteran guys, but I think Trot has probably been more out front than anybody.''
Nixon spent the better part of the final two months of the season backing up Gutierrez. He finished the regular season hitting .251 with three home runs and 31 RBI. But he certainly hasn’t lost his skills. He enjoyed a career day on May 6 against the Orioles when he went 5-for-5 with a double and 4 RBI.
More importantly, October baseball is not new for Nixon. He played in 38 post-season games with the Red Sox and enjoyed plenty of highlights, including five home runs and 22 RBI. One of his biggest moments came in the Sox’ World Series clinching victory over St. Louis in 2004 when he stroked three doubles and knocked in two runs.
Now Nixon hopes to be a thorn in the Red Sox side. Along the way, he’ll provide the leadership that every winning team needs.
''Leadership is not about people liking you. Leadership is about doing what needs to be done to help a certain individual or your team be the best they can be or learn something to where they can be better tomorrow,'' said Wedge. ''I think Trot understands that.''
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