Garces eyeing a big comeback

Goose Gregson, the Gulf Coast Red Sox pitching coach, was somewhere in Florida between Sarasota and Fort Myers yesterday afternoon, talking on his cellphone and apologizing for not being able to hear. The consistent background noise indicated that he was on yet another bus with yet another collection of mostly young men hopeful of someday playing in the big leagues. Gregson, above the din, was talking excitedly about one man in particular, a 34-year-old righthander named Rich Garces.

How does El Guapo look?

''Man," Gregson said. ''If it was raining, he'd have to run around to get wet."

Gregson laughed, acknowledged he was joking, and, when pressed, swore he does not know how much the rotund righthander weighs.

''He's still got a couple of pounds to shed," Gregson said. ''But I'll tell you what, I'm pulling very, very hard for this guy. He's worked hard to get back here."

Almost three years to the day (Aug. 7, 2002) since the Sox released Garces, the beloved pitcher is staging a comeback. Don't break out those Guapo T-shirts yet -- Garces hasn't pitched in the United States since 2002, and has made only two Gulf Coast League appearances -- but he's determined to make one last run at reviving his big-league career.

He debuted Monday, working a 1-2-3 inning in nine pitches.

''His best outing was Wednesday, his second outing," Gregson said.

Garces, in one inning Wednesday, threw 18 pitches, 13 for strikes, topping out at 89 miles per hour. He surrendered a solo homer on a 3-and-1 fastball, then struck out the side.

''The guy's always had a very good curveball," Gregson said. ''He's still got a really good one."

The Sox noticed Garces pitching winter league ball in Venezuela during the offseason and signed him in May to a modest contract -- he'll make no more than $2,500 per month whether in the Gulf Coast League or Triple A.

While he's a long shot to return to the major leagues, Sox executives say Garces maintains his hallmark attributes: good fastball command, solid curveball, and capable split-fingered fastball.

''He was as good as I've seen him pitch," said Sox outfielder Gabe Kapler, who faced Garces in Fort Myers last month. ''I've faced him several times here, and when I was with Detroit and Texas. He looks very similar to what I've always known Rich Garces to be. His curveball looks sharp. His fastball looks like it has life."

The unknowns are resiliency and durability. Does Garces still possess both qualities? If or when that answer comes, Garces will be assigned in the Sox system.

Garces, who pitched in Boston between 1996 and 2002 and was listed at 6 feet 250 pounds in the 2002 Red Sox media guide, told the Fort Myers News-Press yesterday that he weighs 10 pounds more than he did when he last pitched in the big leagues. So, it's reasonable to assume that Guapo is tipping the scales at 260 pounds-plus.

''But the man knows how to pitch," Gregson said. ''The bottom line, when a guy can pitch, not much is said about his weight. He knows how to get hitters out."

Garces is scheduled to make his third appearance today. Monday he'll pitch two innings, take a couple days off, then pitch back-to-back days.

Winning beginning

Craig Hansen made his pro debut yesterday with the Gulf Coast Sox and earned the win with a 1-2-3 fourth inning. The 21-year-old, who hadn't pitched since early June with St. John's University, was consistently throwing 94 m.p.h., Gregson said. Hansen fanned two, then induced a ground out. ''You could tell that he was at that point where he was ready to pitch," Gregson said. Hansen is scheduled to pitch two innings Monday, then be assigned to Single A Wilmington or Double A Portland . . . To open a space on the 40-man roster for Roberto Petagine the Sox designated Pawtucket starting pitcher Chris Narveson (4-5, 4.77 ERA in 21 games, 20 starts) for assignment. The loss of Narveson, who was acquired for Byung Hyun Kim March 30, opened another spot in the PawSox rotation. Jon Papelbon recently left the rotation to join the Red Sox, then returned to Pawtucket to pitch out of the bullpen. Thus, the PawSox last night went without a starter, instead deploying a committee of relievers. Anastacio Martinez will take Papelbon's rotation spot, beginning tomorrow . . . Adam Hyzdu cleared waivers Wednesday and joined the PawSox yesterday in Syracuse, N.Y. . . . The PawSox entered play last night 56-56 despite ranking first in the International League in on-base percentage (.358) and walks (467), second in runs (631), third in home runs (131), and fifth in hitting (.275). Why the .500 record? Look no further than the PawSox' 24 losses in their opponents' last at-bat, including 11 games in which they had the lead entering their opponent's last at-bat. Cla Meredith has blown eight saves since he was optioned to Pawtucket in mid-May. ''I've managed myself into a few [last at-bat losses], haven't I?" said PawSox manager Ron Johnson. ''We got a bunch of 'em. I'd like to win about half of them and be sitting in first place. The reality is we're not. We have two choices: mope or try to look at the positive. When we do have failures with younger guys, it will make them better. If it were the big leagues, we'd be screaming and yelling and pulling our hair out, but this is about development."

Globe correspondent Kelsie Smith contributed to this report.