Garciaparra optimistic; Nixon in pain

TAMPA -- Nomar Garciaparra has booted the boot on his right foot, and he might play in a minor league game as early as next week. The news on Trot Nixon isn't quite as definitive. Nixon, who had therapy in a swimming pool in Fort Myers yesterday, said he was experiencing sharp pains in his ailing back.

While negotiations are expected to heat up over the next week on a new deal for the Sox shortstop, Garciaparra played catch yesterday and also took some swings in the batting cage. He still expects to be in the Opening Day lineup in Baltimore, but plans to get a few games under his belt either in the minors or the final few games of the exhibition season.

"We'll just kind of ease into it the next few days and then hit in the cage again and then start jogging and then just see what's going on," Garciaparra said. "I think I'm on track. It's feeling better. There's some slight discomfort, but I know it's going to be there. Every day you try to do a little more and see how it reacts."

Garciaparra said he wore the boot to protect the right Achilles' heel for less than a week.

"They just told me to keep it on for a few days and then see how it feels, so it's off and it feels pretty good," Garciaparra said.

Garciaparra said as the heel heals he expects the toughest part of his recovery will be running hard. He said he has no concerns about planting on the foot to make a throw, or the effect in the batter's box of any lingering soreness.

"If I feel fine running I think everything else will take its course," Garciaparra said. "I'd be surprised if I wasn't out there on Opening Day."

Nixon said he had a few good days after returning from his second-opinion visit in Los Angeles, but yesterday was by far the worst day he's had in terms of pain in the area of his herniated disk on the right side of his back and buttocks.

"I'm just hoping I'll wake up tomorrow and feel a lot better," Nixon said. "I was told there might be days like these. I just hope it's the fact my body is a little bit worn down because of what I've gone through. I think the big thing for me is to make sure there isn't any numbness going down my leg because that wouldn't be good."

Nixon said that would be a sign that the exercise program might not be working, and that he would have to have a nonsurgical procedure to alleviate the pressure of the disk rubbing against the nerve. The hope is that the exercise program will create enough space between the disk and nerve to alleviate the pain.

"It's frustrating," Nixon said. "Everything was so positive. I was really looking forward to the start of the season, but I'll just have to wait a little while."

Nixon said he is able to do some weightlifting to maintain his strength, but he's had to curtail his aerobic activities.

Personal business

President and CEO Larry Lucchino would not elaborate on the Pedro Martinez negotiations, but he did indicate the session included owner John W. Henry, who made the trip from the east coast of Florida to meet with Martinez. Lucchino, who yesterday did a photo shoot for a Newsweek story, said Henry wanted to show Martinez respect by caring enough to meet with him directly . . . Some of the Yankees' staff and media were given a sheet with Japanese phrases and words to help them through their stay in Tokyo, where they open the season with two games against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays March 30-31. The Yankees will tune up with two exhibition games against the Yomiuri Giants after their 17-hour flight to Japan . . . Bill Mueller was back in the Sox' lineup batting second and playing third after missing two games with a sore elbow. Manny Ramirez batted third and though he was kidding about having to make the two-plus-hour trip to Tampa, Ramirez has made a lot of the longer trips in spring training this season . . . Lefthander Alan Embree got some work in the minor league complex, throwing a couple of innings . . . Catcher Michel Hernandez was claimed off waivers by the Philadelphia Phillies . . . Johnny Damon doesn't know the fate of his beard for the long term, but he said yesterday he's looking for a good haircutter to trim his shoulder-length hair by Opening Day . . . Several players, including Martinez, stayed behind in Fort Myers for a workout in the afternoon . . . Just as the Red Sox hold back Martinez and Curt Schilling against the Yankees, the Yankees pitched ace Mike Mussina in a Triple A game, as he threw five innings and allowed four hits with one walk and five strikeouts. He threw 78 pitches . . . Ellis Burks stayed behind in Fort Myers to continue his throwing program. Byung Hyun Kim took a day off from throwing, but still did some running.