He reads in the newspaper that he's headed out of Boston; the rumors are thick as blowflies and Theo won't confirm or deny. his stock has gone up since he placed in MVP voting, even if it's generally acknowledged that he lost the division series for them.

Manny tells him it will be alright, with his fumbling child's sincerity. Pedro reassures him with much more conviction that Boston will have Theo's head if he's traded. "You're their golden boy," he says in his quick, sure Spanish, which buzzes like summer in Nomar's ear. "You're their everything."And he can breathe.