He's not short on confidence

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- The general consensus among scouts who have watched Alex González through the years is this: He could be the best fielding shortstop to ever play for the Red Sox.

He has been called a human vacuum cleaner, a slick fielder who can make all the highlight plays and turn the double play with ease. Will he hit though? Can a lifelong National League shortstop thrive in the American League, where every spot in the order counts?

This is what Red Sox Nation is dying to find out.

There are high expectations for González, the fielder. There's high curiosity about González, the hitter.

Will he post numbers similar to last season (.264, 5 HRs, 45 RBIs) or can he get back to his 2004 stats (.232, 23 HRs, 79 RBIs)? Suffice to say, Red Sox Nation and Terry Francona are hoping for the power numbers of two years ago. One thing's for sure, fans -- and the manager -- will have to wait before seeing González in action for the Red Sox. Following yesterday's workout at City of Palms Park, González headed to Lakeland, Fla., to start training camp with Venezuela for the World Baseball Classic.

González spent the winter playing the role of hero for Venezuela in the Caribbean World Series, where he hit a three-run homer in the ninth inning to win one game, and drove in the tying run and scored the winning run in the championship game vs. the Dominican Republic. He hit .409 in the series, this coming after he recovered from elbow surgery that cut short season with the Florida Marlins.

He has had a flair for the dramatic at the major league level as well. Case in point: his walkoff home run in Game 4 of the 2003 World Series. Struggling through a 6-for-54 (.111) slump entering the at-bat, González deposited a 3-and-2 offering from the Yankees' Jeff Weaver over the 330-foot sign at Pro Player Stadium.

The Sox checked out González thoroughly before signing him to a one-year, $3 million deal -- considered a bargain in the free agent market. González understands he signed late because of health concerns (he has had two elbow surgeries), but his play in the Caribbean series convinced the Sox he was in fine form. Ironically, it's the second time González has replaced Edgar Renteria, first doing it in Florida.

Strange thing is that González has never won a Gold Glove, while Renteria, who committed 30 errors a year ago, won back-to-back Gold Gloves in St. Louis.

It's an award González, who has made 16 errors in each of the past three seasons, takes very seriously and wants on his mantel.

Having not won it has made him hungrier because he knows defense is his game. As part of one of the best left sides in baseball (along with third baseman Mike Lowell) for a few years, González is excited about having his infield mate alongside him again.

''I played with Mike five or six years. He's one of the best third basemen I've ever seen," González said. ''I think we were very good out there together and I think the pitchers appreciated what we did for them. That's what you want to do. You want to make sure the pitchers are comfortable with you in the field. The pitchers need to know you can make a play for them when they need it. I take defense very seriously because it's very important. I might go 0 for 4 but I can win a game by making a big play or stopping a ball from going through the infield. I tell guys that all the time. Don't worry about an 0-for, just go out and play hard and field your position. You can win with defense, too."

González tries to keep his workout routine game-like. In other words, he practices like he plays.

''That's what I do in [batting practice] or when I'm taking ground balls," he said. ''I approach it like I'm making a play in the game. I don't try to be fancy or flip it. I make a good strong throw and I try to do everything I would do if there was a ground ball to me in the first inning or the ninth inning. I've always done that."

He said he believes he and second baseman Mark Loretta will work well together. The only problem might be González's departure. Venezuela has one of the best pitching staffs in the tournament and he could be away all three weeks.

''I think [Loretta and I are] on the same page," González said. ''I watched him when he played in Milwaukee and San Diego."

And Loretta concurs that he already knows González's mannerisms from the limited time they've been together and by having watched him play over the years.

González makes no apologies for leaving the team so early. He says he's sorry for having to leave, but ''it's for our country, man."

Because González is joining some of his former Marlins teammates and because he's with Latin players such as Alex Cora, Manny Ramírez, David Ortiz, and others, he already feels at home with the Red Sox.

González compared the feeling of winning the Caribbean Series to the walkoff home run for the Marlins that tied that series against the Yankees at 2-2 in the World Series and gave Florida the momentum to win the next two games.

''It felt almost the same," González said. ''The Dominican is one of the best teams in the Caribbean. To beat them, yes, it felt almost the same. To score the winning run and hit a home run, I felt the same way when I hit a home run against the Yankees."

It's interesting to hear González's take of the American League. Pitchers often talk about how much tougher it is because of the designated hitter. But González, who has spent much of his career hitting at the bottom of the order, said he thinks he'll see better pitches in the AL.

''In the American League, you're going to see a lot more breaking balls and you have to be ready for that," he said. ''You have to be more patient [at the plate]. In the National League, you see more fastballs. You see a lot of 2-and-0 fastballs. You see it and you hit it. Here you're going to see more breaking balls. In the National League, you're hitting eighth, you're not going to see as many pitches to hit because the pitcher hits."

González is confident the Red Sox will be happy with his production at the plate. ''I can do the job with the bat," he said. ''I can give you big hits, a big home run, things like that. I just take it day to day and the big thing for me is to try and stay healthy."