TLANTA - With what appeared to be the reluctant acquiescence of manager Jimy Williams, who decided yesterday to shut down Nomar Garciaparra here for the rest of the weekend, the Red Sox shortstop will play in Tuesday's All-Star Game and compete in tomorrow's All-Star Home Run Derby.
Garciaparra, who hasn't played since aggravating a strained left groin July 2 in Chicago, announced his decision after meeting with Williams and the team's training staff yesterday morning. He said he probably would play just an inning or two Tuesday, long enough to have one at-bat.
''The All-Star Game is a time to relax, a time to come together and have fun,'' Garciaparra said. ''I'm going to enjoy it. It's not going to hurt me or injure me. It may help me, to see where I'm at. It will be a way for me to test it.
''It's quite an honor. It's nice the game is at Fenway. I've always loved the fans there, the way they treat me, this is the last All-Star Game of the century, they're talking about a new park, Fenway is going to be gone. If I'm part of that, it's definitely special.''
Garciaparra said participating in the home run derby poses no risk healthwise. ''They asked if I'd do it,'' he said. ''Shoot, how can I say no? It will be exciting. It doesn't hurt when I swing, only when I run.''
By not playing yesterday or today, Garciaparra will have missed the last nine games of a 10-game road trip. He also missed two games after first incurring the injury June 23 in Baltimore while running out a triple.
Garciaparra said Williams signed off on his playing in the All-Star Game. ''We talked about that,'' he said. ''He definitely brought that up. `Are you going to play? What do you feel?' We talked, we had the trainers there, who said what I can and can't do. We agreed that won't be a problem.''
Interestingly, Williams, who met with reporters after speaking with Garciaparra, spoke as if the shortstop's All-Star appearance was still uncertain, even unlikely.
''We'll leave the door ajar a little bit and see what happens,'' Williams said, holding his thumb and index finger an inch apart, when asked if Garciaparra would play Tuesday. ''Basically it's my call, it's best from the team standpoint.
''I know and understand the All-Star Game is coming up and it's in Boston. It's the last one of the century. That's why I leave it open. There's still three or four days. But when you look at it, at this particular juncture, will I green-light him to steal a base, or have him run from first to home on a double?
''Whether he can play or can't play in the All-Star Game, I'm not saying that right now. But the All-Star Game doesn't count for the Red Sox. Look at the team, what we strive for from spring training.
''I know what is special, and what the All-Star Game means for a lot of people. But there are no standings for that.''
Williams, who will serve on the American League coaching staff, said he plans to talk to the Yankees' Joe Torre, who will manage the AL squad.
The Sox front office apparently supports Garciaparra's decision to play. ''The organization doesn't have any concerns about Nomar playing in an exhibition game,'' spokesman Kevin Shea said. ''He knows his body better than anybody.''
Garciaparra said that if the groin still bothered him as much as it did a few days ago, he wouldn't be playing Tuesday. But the injury has improved significantly, he said, to the point where he said he went to bed last night thinking he would play. ''I'm feeling good,'' he said. ''I like the way I'm improving every day.''
When he arrived at the ballpark, Williams informed him he wouldn't be in the lineup for the last two games of the series.
''It was more his call,'' Garciaparra said. ''Am I angry or mad at him? No way. I understand. That's the manager's job. He had a decision and made his call. Jimy, I'm never upset with him.
''Look at the whole picture, think of the team. I play every year trying to get in the playoffs and go to the World Series. If that [sitting out two more games] is what it's going to take, I'm going to do it.''
