01:00 AM EDT on Saturday, July 17, 2004

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Pedro Martinez's extended All-Star break ended Thursday when he returned from the Dominican Republic. Not only did he arrive on time, he participated in the pregame stretch with his teammates.

Martinez was in a playful mood as he walked into the Red Sox clubhouse, a sure sign he's feeling good.

"Damn, what's going on with the bald-headed guys?" Martinez said, rubbing the shaved noggins of Keith Foulke and Jimmy Anderson.

"We're taking over," Foulke said.

Martinez, who started his All-Star break three days early, shook hands with teammates and team employees.

"You guys are crazy, but you love me," Martinez said to his teammates. "I know you love me, guys. Who . . . found that bobblehead doll? It was Trot Nixon, wasn't it?"

Derek Lowe actually brought the 3-foot doll into the dugout the Friday night before Martinez left for the Dominican Republic.

Martinez saw it on TV at his Dominican home.

"I actually loved that," Martinez said. "I loved that they showed that they were with me and they missed me all the time. I was really happy to see that and see them having fun as well."

As usual, Martinez did not start the first game after the break. He has only done it once in his seven years with the Red Sox.

"It's not up to me. It's up to the manager," said Martinez, who started last night against the Angels. "He chose me to pitch the second game, I'm going to pitch in the second game. If he throws me out for the first one, I'll pitch in the first one. I'm only an employee here."

Manager Terry Francona said Martinez was more comfortable pitching the second game.

"There's probably a lot of reasons," Francona said.

By pitching last night, Martinez will not be in line to face the Yankees next weekend in Boston.

"Every game means the same," Francona said. "If we lose to the people in front of the Yankees, the . . . Yankee series doesn't mean a whole lot. We just have to play. And if we pitch Pedro the game before, and we don't think we can win with whoever is pitching, that's not right."

Francona got defensive when told that a lot of fans expect Martinez to pitch in every series against the Yankees.

"I'm the manager. I can't manage according to the fans," Francona said. "If I did everything the fans wanted me to, this place would blow up. I've read these letters. If I did what they wanted, it's not physically possible."

Martinez said he didn't care that he will miss the Yankees for the second time in four series this year.

"It doesn't matter," he said. "Why do I have to face the Yankees all the time?"

Since joining the Red Sox in 1998, Martinez has started 25 regular-season games against the Yankees. The Red Sox are 10-15 in those games.

"People got their money's worth," Martinez said.

Nomar rumors lose steam

Martinez doesn't think trading Nomar Garciaparra would necessarily make the Red Sox better.

"I don't believe in just talking or bringing [in] anybody else that's going to make us any better," Martinez said. "I think we have to go out there, prove that we're better, improve our game and then say we got better."

Garciaparra wouldn't speak to reporters about the rumors.

Francona said he got nine phone calls about the rumors involving Garciaparra. He eventually called general manager Theo Epstein.

"I called Theo finally and said, 'Theo, is anything happening?' He says, 'No.' So it's stupid to comment on it," Francona said. "It's like you're lending credibility to something that's not there. I feel bad for Nomar. It's silly."

Williamson to test elbow

Scott Williamson, on the disabled list because of a right elbow strain, rejoined the team yesterday and begin a long-toss program that will last about a week. He has been out since July 2 . . . Tim Wakefield is scheduled to pitch one of the games in a doubleheader against the Orioles next Thursday, but Francona isn't sure who will start the other. Frank Castillo could be recalled from Pawtucket, or Abe Alvarez of Portland could make his big league debut.