In-depth look at injuries
FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Great teams overcome injuries. Great teams use injuries as motivation.
As Patriots coach Bill Belichick says, an injury to one player opens the door for another. And so Red Sox, it is time to show your depth and character, and for the doors to swing open for some players, if this is to be the season to remember.
If Nomar Garciaparra misses the start of the season with tendinitis in his right Achilles' (and manager Terry Francona and general manager Theo Epstein don't think that will be the case), you probably won't see Francona replace Garciaparra with Pokey Reese as the permanent shortstop, as Belichick did at quarterback with Tom Brady over Drew Bledsoe. If Trot Nixon can't make it back by Opening Day because of a mildly herniated disk in his back, don't expect Gabe Kapler to relegate Nixon to the bench permanently, after Nixon signed a long-term deal with the Sox in the offseason. But Kapler could make it tough on Francona when Nixon is healthy. And if that becomes the case, it only strengthens the Sox.
Whitey Herzog once said, "If you have to get hurt, make sure it's when the games don't count." And right now, they don't count. Anyway, there's no reason to worry about Garciaparra being rusty when he returns. He is one of the best hitters in the game. There's concern that Garciaparra's numbers were down the last month and a half of last season, and that he started spring training 0 for 8, but listen folks, he's not turning into Chuck Schilling before our eyes. The bigger concern is his mobility in the field. But the prognosis is he could be game-ready in two weeks. Even if it's three, so what?
The Yankees didn't wither last season when they lost Derek Jeter for 36 games with a shoulder dislocation suffered on Opening Day or when Jeter and Alfonso Soriano were felled with hand injuries on the same day in June when they were hit by Pedro Martinez pitches. They absorbed the injuries and went on to win 101 games and make it to the World Series. Great teams overcome injuries.
The reason the Red Sox are considered an elite team is that they are built to deal with setbacks. It is why Epstein added a veteran such as Ellis Burks, who has been slow getting back on the field after recovering from offseason elbow surgery. But by the time the regular season begins, Burks, 39, could be a strong temporary solution in right field. Kevin Millar is better suited for first base, but playing him in right, on occasion, especially away from Fenway, wouldn't be the end of the world.
And never rule out Epstein finding an outfielder in a trade.
The GM said recently that if health issues lingered, he would seek to make a deal. What Epstein has to determine is whether it's prudent to deal quickly or hold off until the trading deadline, when there's a clearer picture of what the Sox need.
"If we can't withstand [Nixon possibly missing the first month], we're not a championship club," Epstein said.
Obviously the shortstop position is critical, but it doesn't mean Garciaparra's temporary loss creates chaos. Reese is a terrific second baseman, but he can play short. Mark Bellhorn or Terry Shumpert could handle second base. Cesar Crespo is this spring's surprise. The 24-year-old shortstop will get plenty of playing time until camp breaks. Maybe even after that. Bellhorn can play short. Shumpert, too.
They'll have to because Hanley Ramirez isn't walking through that door. Not yet anyway. If the 20-year-old doesn't start the year at Double A Portland, he will be there before the season is over.
It's all about opportunities.
"Trot is the heart and soul of this team," Kapler said after going 1 for 4 with three RBIs in an 11-8 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates yesterday at City of Palms Park. "I'll be prepared to fill in. Do I believe I could seize the moment with this opportunity? Sure. This might sound corny or cliche, but I'm just here to help this team win a World Series. If that means spelling Trot or Johnny [Damon] or playing every day or whatever, that's what I'm here to do."
Bronson Arroyo is getting his opportunity as the fifth starter because Byung Hyun Kim is hurt. Arrojo could render Kim a reliever if he seizes the moment.
While the sport is different, the Red Sox can learn some lessons from the Patriots. Remember Tom Ashworth? Remember Russ Hochstein? Remember Dan Koppen? Remember Eugene Wilson? Remember Tom Brady?
They all replaced someone who got hurt.
