BOSTON (AP) – Nomaaaah. It just doesn’t sound right without a Boston accent.

The Fenway faithful ambled around Yawkey Way on Saturday afternoon stunned by the news that beloved shortstop Nomar Garciaparra was off to the Chicago Cubs.

Garciaparra made lifelong fans during nine years in Boston, and those fans were reluctant to let him go.

His smiling face was still looking down upon Fenway Park from a giant billboard that reads “Keep the Faith” on Saturday.

“I’m just devastated,” said Ann Reid as she stood outside the park Nomar played in a week ago, fittingly, against the New York Yankees.

“I love Nomar. He’s one of the reasons I became a big Red Sox fan. There’s just so much more than statistics to a player. He’s the soul of the Red Sox,” said Reid, 33, of Boston.

Many fans hoped Garciaparra would finish his career with the team, and it will take time to convince them the Sox made the right decision.

Cask N’ Flagon bouncer Phil Kennedy said the Red Sox should have gotten more bang for the buck for a player of Garciaparra’s caliber.

“I’d rather have him here the rest of the year than these three guys,” said Kennedy, 27, of Everett. “Maybe if we could have gotten just one person of equal value. These three guys are just slightly above average.”

Other fans said the Sox should have taken into account Garciaparra’s contributions to the area though a number of charities and organizations, including the “Nomar 5” youth foundation.

“Business is business, but a nine-year tenured relationship with the team is something different,” said Zach Emonds, 25, of Cambridge.

But Cubs fan Russ Byrne said Boston’s loss is Chicago’s gain.

“It’s a good deal for the Cubs,” he said. “They’re getting a first line ball player, a guy that’s got great offensive capabilities.”

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