01:00 AM EST on Thursday, February 23, 2006

BY STEVEN KRASNER
Journal Sports Writer

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Mark Loretta, the Red Sox' new second baseman, was just a rookie with the Milwaukee Brewers when he made his first trip to Fenway Park.

And he remembers it as if it were yesterday.

"It was September, 1995, when I was called up," said Loretta yesterday after arriving in Boston's training camp.

"On my second road trip, we went to Fenway. We were out there for early batting practice and it was a beautiful fall day. I remember the white baseballs, the green grass and thinking, 'This is the major leagues, right here.' " he said.

Loretta, meanwhile, has gone on to have a solid big-league career and now, at the age of 34, is being projected to play second and to bat second in the Red Sox' lineup. The defensive position could have been his three years ago. As a free agent, he talked to general manager Theo Epstein about joining Boston.

"But they already had Todd Walker," said Loretta, a 6-foot, 185-pounder. "They couldn't guarantee me a starting position and I wanted to go to a situation where I could be an everyday player again. It came down to San Diego or Boston."

So he chose the Padres. Now, after being acquired for backup catcher Doug Mirabelli, Loretta is in the "major leagues" with Boston.

A year ago, working around surgery to his right thumb, Loretta batted .280 with 3 homers and 38 RBI in 404 at-bats. His main numerical goal this year, he said, is to score 100 runs.

Whatever it takes, Part I

Trent Durrington is liberally listed at 5-foot-10. He's also listed on the Red Sox' roster as an infielder.

But the Sydney, Australia, native has been catching in the bullpen. And he's happy doing so.

"At the end of the day, you want to do anything you can to help your chances of making the team," Durrington said in his thick Australian accent.

Durrington was property of the Anaheim Angels when, in 2002, it was suggested to him that he might want to add catching to his résumé in an effort to make himself more valuable. Durrington, who had a little big-league time with the Angels as a second baseman, went to Double A to learn how to catch.

Over the years, he has been invited to camp with Anaheim and Milwaukee along with the pitchers and catchers, and the Sox are making use of his versatility early in camp, having invited him as a non-roster player.

"I actually love the position," said Durrington yesterday. "I've always loved it. I especially love the games, figuring out what to call."

Durrington's versatility extends elsewhere on the diamond. He'll play either center field or second base for the Australian team in the World Baseball Classic.

Whatever it takes, Part II

Craig Breslow, a New Haven, Conn., native who pitched for Yale, is in camp trying to hook on with the Red Sox as a left-hander out of the bullpen.

Breslow, 25, who made his major-league debut last year, pitching in 14 games for San Diego (0-0, 2.20 earned-run average), is one of several lefties in camp. He has been throwing with a group of lefties, also featuring Lenny DiNardo, Phil Seibel, Mike Bumatay and Mike Holtz. All are non-roster invitees.

Breslow was used in a variety of roles by the Padres, mostly long relief, but he has had good success getting out left-handers, and if the Sox want him for that role, Breslow won't complain.

"If that's the role they want me to fill, absolutely I'd embrace it," said Breslow, a 6-foot-1, 180-pounder.

Around the horn

There are indications that Manny Ramirez, who has been granted a March 1 reporting date by the Sox, may not play for the Dominican Republic team in the World Classic after all. That was the word around camp yesterday, but as with anything relating to Ramirez, that could change at a moment's notice . . . Manager Terry Francona will conduct the first full-squad workout of the spring today. The position players were to take physicals in the morning and then, after a meeting with Francona and his staff, the players were scheduled to fill the five fields for their first official workout . . . Each pitcher has thrown two bullpen sessions. Some of them will throw batting practice tomorrow, though that will be a personal decision for the veteran pitchers, at least . . . Coco Crisp has been winning over the fans with his smile and his willingness to tirelessly sign autographs . . . First baseman J.T. Snow, one of the best defensive first basemen in the game, arrived in camp. He will wear uniform number 84 to honor his recently deceased father, Jack Snow, a former football star who wore the number with Notre Dame and the Los Angeles Rams, and also a longtime broadcaster . . . John Fantauzzi has been named director of international scouting and Craig Shipley has been promoted to vice-president for professional and international scouting.

skrasner@projo.com / (401) 277-7340