There’s Nothing Strange About Nomar’s Game

Everybody who follows the Boston Red Sox has learned how Nomar Garciaparra got his name. It’s Ramon, his father’s name, spelled backward.

After one week of spring training games, everybody who follows the Red Sox learned how important that name was going to be to the team this season and probably beyond.

The Red Sox’s new manager, Jimy Williams, called a team meeting to announce that John Valentin was moving to second base, to be replaced at shortstop by the rookie Garciaparra.

Most of the Red Sox, even those who might not have agreed with the decision, were impressed with Williams’ candor. But it was not a happy Valentin who staged a 24-hour boycott and then asked to be traded.

Garciaparra admitted Wednesday he was in an awkward position. We weren’t talking about shortstop. That he can handle, so well he’s considered a leading candidate for American League rookie of the year.

He also was the Red Sox’s leadoff hitter, the sixth different player they’ve had in that role in six seasons, when they opened a couple of hours later against the Angels at the Big A. About 300 in the crowd of 30,874 were friends and relatives of Garciaparra’s who have been watching him play since he was a three-sport star at St. John Bosco High in Bellflower.

Three years at Georgia Tech and three years in the minors prepared him for the major leagues. Or at least he thought they did until he found himself in the middle of the Red Sox spring training controversy.

“I’m not sure about how it was handled, but it wasn’t my decision,” he said. “They don’t pay me to make those decisions.”

Fortunately for Garciaparra, no one understood that more than Valentin. He could have made life difficult for the rookie. He chose to do the opposite.

“He didn’t make it personal with me,” Garciaparra said. “Whenever I’ve needed help, he’s been there for me. He’s handled it with class.”

Fortunately for the Red Sox, Valentin has discovered that second base isn’t such a bad place to be after all.

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The icing on the cake in the press box for Wednesday’s night opener wished the Angels good luck in their 1997-98 season. . .. .

The Angels have admitted all along that the rebuilding of the Big A is a two-year project, but I didn’t know they meant the team too. . . .

At least they didn’t hire a Rotisserie baseball guru, like the Red Sox did. Michael Gimbel, who used to write books for fantasy baseball addicts, is listed as the team’s consultant for statistical evaluation. . . .

It’s been reported that he also assesses talent. Red Sox fans can only hope he does a better job of that for the team than he once did in declaring his preference for Rob Deer over Ken Griffey Jr. . . .

Six alligators, five turtles and an iguana once were discovered in Gimbel’s Brooklyn apartment. Even Red Sox General Manager Dan Duquette, who hired him, admits Gimbel is not entirely unlike Boo Radley from “To Kill a Mockingbird.”. . . .

Kevin Kennedy, fired after last season as the Red Sox manager, was at the Big A to broadcast the game for ESPN. . . .

He said he’s happy about returning home to Tarzana and wouldn’t leap at just any baseball job. “I didn’t take this job saying, ‘I sure hope this guy or that guy gets fired in June,’ ” he said. . . .

The Angels’ TV play-by-play announcer, Steve Physioc, said he received a call at home Tuesday from broadcast partner Sparky Anderson, who disguised his voice and acted like he was a tax collector as an April Fool’s joke. . . .

Physioc’s wife wasn’t fooled. Anderson probably gave it away when he said something about “mediocrocy.”

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“At this time of the year, there are no marriages in horse racing,” jockey Gary Stevens says.

No one is more aware of that than Stevens.

In 1995, Kent Desormeaux dumped Larry the Legend for Santa Anita Derby favorite Afternoon Deelites. Stevens rode Larry the Legend for the first time in that race and won. When the colt couldn’t proceed to Kentucky because of an injury, Stevens caught a ride with Thunder Gulch, whose jockey, Mike Smith, preferred Talkin’ Man. Thunder Gulch won the Derby.

The latest 3-year-old Stevens caught on the rebound is Silver Charm, who probably will be the second favorite in Saturday’s Santa Anita Derby behind Sharp Cat. This will be Stevens’ first race on Silver Charm, who became available when his previous jockey, Chris McCarron, wouldn’t commit.

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While wondering if the Clippers can catch Sacramento for the final spot in the lottery, I was thinking: Dominik Hasek will be the NHL’s MVP, there should be a Wooden Award for women, Cal Ripken seems to be adjusting to third base.