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Can Trot Get Hot?

In a best-case scenario, Trot Nixon will turn out to be a lightning-in-a-bottle, older version of Ryan Church, sans concussions.

In a worst-case scenario, I'm thinking Richard Hidalgo, Shane Spencer, or Karim Garcia.

I like the idea of a youth movement, even if the youth comes in the form of a 34-year-old playing Triple-A with bad knees. In fact, I'd completely forgotten that he was still playing somewhere, and never would have guessed Arizona as his most recent residence.

And I think we'll like Nixon (the ballplayer, not the walk-off president), at least for the short term. He plays hard, and with a lot of fire. Boston fans liked him, as he was an integral part of the 2004 championship team. (Clever banner possibility: Nixon for 'Resident)

Trot is also the answer to two intriguing trivia questions.

* Who had the last home run off Roger Clemens?

Nixon did, in Game 3 of the 2007 ALDS, as a member of the Indians. He also had a go-ahead hit against the Red Sox in extra-innings at Fenway Park in the ALCS.

and

* After Carlton Fisk's walk-off home run in Game 6 of the 1975 World Series, who was the next player to get a postseason walk-off RBI for the Red Sox?

Nixon did, in Game 2 of the 2003 ALDS.

With the Red Sox down 2-games-to-none to the Athletics, Nixon won the game with a two-run home run to centerfield. Boston went on to win the series in five games. Nixon also homered in Game 7 of that year's ALCS (off Clemens) an oft-forgotten blow because of what happened later in that contest.

Nixon was profiled in an AP story a few weeks ago, and he sounds a little pissed off that he was stuck in Tucson the last few months. Perhaps that will drive him to good things in his new home. He definitely doesn't want to walk-off the last portion of his career as a forgotten man.

True Metxons know...Trot Nixon has 3 career regular-season walk-off RBI. He had a walk-off walk to beat the Orioles in 2000, and walk-off singles against the Blue Jays (2003) and Rays (in 2005).

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