01:00 AM EST on Friday, February 20, 2004

BY STEVEN KRASNER
Journal Sports Writer

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Pedro Martinez will not be among the pitchers reporting today. Nor will he be attending tomorrow's first spring workout, for pitchers and catchers.

General manager Theo Epstein said yesterday that there was an urgent family medical situation that is delaying the arrival of the three-time Cy Young Award winner. Epstein said the team is aware of the situation and has given him permission to arrive later than the rest of the pitchers and catchers.

While not being specific, Epstein did say Pedro is healthy. Epstein said the three-time Cy Young Award winner would likely be in camp by Monday at the latest. By union rules, Martinez isn't late.

"This is a very legitimate, serious issue that requires his attention," said Epstein.

Winning still Nomar's priority

Nomar Garciaparra's feathers no doubt were ruffled by the Sox' interest in obtaining Alex Rodriguez, especially since Boston planned to ship Garciaparra to the White Sox for outfielder Magglio Ordonez.

When the deal fell through, the Sox were left trying to mend fences with Garciaparra, who can become a free agent after this season. Garciaparra had rejected a long-term deal last spring, and balked at an even lower contract offer from Boston during the winter.

Epstein, though, doesn't think Garciaparra will hold any grudges that would affect his play when he comes into camp.

"Nomar is focused on winning. I guarantee you that," said Epstein. "Some things happened in the offseason with one major issue that went public and shouldn't have. Maybe there were some hard feelings. But we've moved beyond that. He's moved beyond that. I guarantee you the sole focus of Nomar Garciaparra is to win a World Series, and that's our focus, too."

Francona raring to go

Manager Terry Francona wasn't expansive yesterday when it came to describing how he would run the training camp.

But there was no mistaking the fact that Francona, hired in the offseason to replace Grady Little, was eager to get started.

"Am I excited about this team? Yeah, like you can't believe," said Francona, who managed Philadelphia for four years before spending one year each in Texas and Oakland as bench coach.

"I'm excited to be part of this organization. From the little I have been in Boston, I see the excitement and the passion and I'm looking forward to it," he said.

Francona will conduct his first workout tomorrow.

Less can be more

The Red Sox will have 52 players in camp, a manageable number. Last year, Boston invited 56 to camp.