Baseball: Nomar could be out of opener

Boston Red Sox shortstop Nomar Garciaparra will probably not be ready for Opening Day because of inflammation in his right Achilles tendon.

"I think it's more unlikely as time goes on," team doctor Bill Morgan said Saturday. "We wouldn't rule it out, though."

Garciaparra was injured three weeks ago when he was hit in the right heel by a ball during batting practice. He has not played since March 17, going hitless in eight at-bats in four games this spring.

Garciaparra took about 20 swings in the batting cage before Saturday's game against Philadelphia, then took about 20 grounders at short. He said he was not thinking far enough ahead to consider whether he will miss the opener.

"I'm definitely going to be out a few more days. I'm still optimistic, though," he said. "We're trying to knock it out now so it doesn't come back."

Manager Terry Francona said Garciaparra would not play in the April 4 opener against Baltimore if he were unable to first face live pitching. Asked whether Garciaparra could play an exhibition game in Atlanta on Friday, Morgan said, "He won't be playing Friday."

"We're probably talking about another week before Nomar will be back playing," Morgan said. "We're being very careful. If it were September, quite frankly, he would be playing."

Tests on Garciaparra's leg have shown no major damage. Morgan and Garciaparra both said there is no similarity to the wrist injury that required surgery on Opening Day in 2001 and hampered him for the next two seasons.

Garciaparra is entering his ninth major league season, all with Boston, with a .323 career average and two AL batting titles. He is eligible to become a free agent after the season, which is one reason why the Red Sox tried to acquire Alex Rodriguez and trade Garciaparra over the winter.

With Garciaparra out, the Red Sox have been using second baseman Pokey Reese at short and Mark Bellhorn at second.

In other injury news, Morgan said right fielder Trot Nixon will go to a rehabilitation center in Miami to recover from a herniated disk. Nixon will stay there for two weeks and; in the second week he can begin baseball activity such as light throwing and swinging a bat.

Even after he recovers, Nixon will have to avoid sitting for extended periods.

"I think that would be a lifelong recommendation, really, for anybody with a spine problem," Morgan said.

That will be a blow,i guess it's not too bad if he just misses the opener..

Hopefully it wont be to long. Hes an important piece in their lineup

any news

Not just opener but 3 weeks

Red Sox shortstop Nomar Garciaparra will start the season on the disabled list with an injured right Achilles tendon and is expected to be out at least three weeks.


The All-Star slugger said Wednesday that doctors told him to rest. Pokey Reese will be at shortstop when Boston opens the regular season Sunday in Baltimore, and Mark Bellhorn will fill in for Reese at second base.


"I don't like missing more time than I anticipated, but the good thing is we know we have a structured program to be able to talk to all the doctors and get everyone on the same page," Garciaparra said after the team placed him on the disabled list.


"My body will tell me when I'm ready. Once that happens it shouldn't take me long to get back in the lineup," he said.


The Red Sox also placed outfielder Trot Nixon and right-handers Byung-Hyun Kim and Reynaldo Garcia on the 15-day DL, released infielder Terry Shumpert and returned pitcher Frank Brooks to the Pittsburgh Pirates per Rule 5 guidelines.


Garciaparra was examined Wednesday in Florida by Mark Slovenkai, an ankle and foot specialist from New England Baptist Hospital. No structural damage was found in the tendon, but the injury was diagnosed as a bruise in the cartilage that covers the tendon. The only treatment is rest.


Garciaparra was injured March 5 when he was hit by a ball during batting practice. He has been limited to just eight at-bats in spring training.


He is the second Red Sox starter to go down this spring. Right fielder Trot Nixon is expected to be out until early May with a lower back problem.


General manager Theo Epstein doesn't plan to trade for temporary replacements.


"It's never a good time to have guys hurt," Epstein said. "We're going to have to wait until they're 100 percent, but we're going to be OK."


With Garciaparra out, David Ortiz will bat cleanup in Boston's lineup.


Garciaparra hit .301 last season, with 28 home runs and 105 RBI. The two-time American League batting champion was the subject of trade rumors during the offseason, when the Red Sox tried to acquire AL MVP Alex Rodriguez from Texas and considered sending Garciaparra to the Chicago White Sox to make room in their infield. But trade talks with Texas broke down, and Rodriguez went to Boston's biggest rival, the New York Yankees.


Nixon, who had career bests with a .306 batting average and 28 home runs in 134 games last year, has a mild disk herniation and is undergoing a rehabilitation program at the University of Miami Spine Institute.


Kim, a converted closer who was acquired from Arizona last season, went 9-10 with a 3.31 ERA in 56 appearances -- 12 starts -- in 2003. He has been out since March 10 with a strained pitching shoulder. Kim had 16 saves in 19 opportunities in 2003 and was fighting Bronson Arroyo for the No. 5 spot in Boston's rotation.


Garcia had bone chips removed from his right elbow on March 18. He made 17 appearances with Texas last season, allowing 18 runs and 19 hits in 18 innings.



[Edited on 3/31/2004 by Ben]

I GUESS IT'S A LITTLE UNFORTUNATE,
BUT I'M NOT TOO IMPRESSED WITH HIM SINCE HIS POOR PERFORMANCE DURING THE POST-SEASON. FOR NOW I'LL KEEP MY EYE ON BIG DAVE ORTIZ

Garciaparra thinks he is some sort of playboy lol!! is he gay?

He had a good season last year,but i guess we see when he comes back.