Garciaparra to play for PawSox tonight
Nomar Garciaparra, who worked out at Fenway Park yesterday, will make his long-awaited rehabilitation debut for the Pawtucket Red Sox tonight in Louisville, Ky.
According to Sox manager Terry Francona, Garciaparra will play four or five innings each of the next two nights, batting leadoff and playing shortstop. He then will return to Boston to work with his physical therapist for two days and make sure everything is sound with his right Achilles' tendon before heading out to Toledo, Ohio, with the PawSox Thursday, when he'll resume playing.
General manager Theo Epstein said, "There's no timetable. This is the next step to getting closer toward [him] rejoining our team. He hasn't had any major setbacks, he's responded well to this phase of the program, and we all feel he's ready to take the next step."
Garciaparra will be monitored by the entire Pawtucket staff, mainly manager Buddy Bailey.
Francona said of Garciaparra, who left during yesterday's game, "I think he was excited. I know we are, and I think he was really excited. I know that everything he does here is big news. He's worked really hard.
"What he did in those simulated situations, we're really proud of him. And he's going to be back pretty soon. Whether it's five days, seven days, or nine days, whatever he needs is what we're going to get. We'll be in constant communication with him and he'll be honest and let me know how he's doing. And when he's ready to come back, we'll welcome him with open arms."
Epstein said there was no thought of having Garciaparra go to extended spring training in Fort Myers, Fla. The next phase was facing pitching as close to the major league level as possible.
"Knowing Nomar, he won't need too many at-bats," said Johnny Damon. "We're pulling for him. Any time a future Hall of Famer and superstar is taking a step closer to getting back into your lineup, it's big. There are four months left in the season and he could still drive in 100 runs."
Garciaparra met with Francona, Epstein, and trainers Jim Rowe and Chris Correnti before the game. He also took more hitting against a Harvard pitcher and said afterward, "I had another good day. I feel good running. If I said I was 100 percent, I'd be lying. I don't expect to come back 100 percent. I have to be careful and be smart out there. I'm running more and more and better and better and with less pain. I'm doing things more instinctively.
"I'm at the point where when I go after a ground ball, I'm going to charge it and not think about it."
He'll rehab, too Scott Williamson is going to Fort Myers for a short rehab assignment, which is expected to consist of throwing on the side with pitching coordinator Tony Cloninger. Williamson was placed on the 15-day disabled list May 21 with right elbow inflammation. "He'll start a throwing program [today]," Francona said. "Rather than have him bounce around with us, we just decided to send him to Fort Myers, where the weather is consistently hot. I think we all believe it will be best for him. He'll join us whenever he's ready. Whether he needs a one-inning tuneup or not, that will kind of be up to him." . . . Bad news on the farm: Shortstop prospect Hanley Ramirez sprained a wrist and will miss about a month of the Sarasota (Single A) season. "Hanley was hitting over .300 and playing a very good all-around game," said Epstein. "He decided to play with the wrist injury for a couple of weeks and it affected his numbers a little bit and he wasn't the same guy. We felt the right thing to do was put a cast on it and let it heal properly so when he comes back, he's 100 percent." Ramirez is still considered the Sox' top prospect and is about two years away from playing in Boston. The injury shouldn't hinder Ramirez's development . . . Pokey Reese entered as a pinch runner for Doug Mirabelli in the sixth inning after Mirabelli doubled. Mirabelli tweaked his hamstring as he ran into second base, but neither he nor Francona believes the injury is serious.
Flying start Francona has sent Bronson Arroyo ahead to Anaheim, Calif., where he's scheduled to pitch Tuesday against the Angels . . . With interleague play coming up June 15 against Colorado and the team then going on to San Francisco, it's time for pitchers to get some batting practice. Francona has decided to ease them into it. "What we'll have them do is hit off the tee," he said. "We're not going to make a big deal out of this. We're not going to have the relievers hitting, although they would love to. They'll hit off the tee and bunt and then next week we'll throw to them. The main objective is for someone not to take a crazy swing and pull a rib cage or something. If we're getting into a spot where the relievers are hitting, things aren't going our way anyway." . . . Trot Nixon played in an extended spring training game in Fort Myers yesterday, going 2 for 3, scoring three runs, and getting hit by a pitch. He also played four innings in right field . . . While Dr. Bill Morgan thought Ellis Burks (knee surgery) may be a week away from a rehab assignment, Burks was a little more cautious. "For the most part, it's just doing some baseball activities right now," he said. "I don't know if we're going to continue to do this or if we're going to rehab soon. I wouldn't say I'm real close, but I'm getting there."
