By GLENN MILLER
The (Fort Myers, Fla.) News-Press

FORT MYERS, Fla. - In 1972, a light-hitting second baseman named Doug Griffin became the first Gold Glove winner at that position for the Boston Red Sox. They haven't had one since.

Now, the Sox have picked up a second basement with two Gold Gloves already to his name. Pokey Reese replaces Todd Walker at second, and the team hopes Reese will provide spectacular defense.

Terry Francona, the team's new manager, is excited about a Nomar Garciaparra-Reese double-play combination.

"I think you're going to see some highlights," Francona said. "Pokey's got a nice set of hands on him. With range. I saw this kid in Double-A playing shortstop. When he was a second baseman I thought he might have been the best defensive shortstop in the National League. He just wasn't playing it."

Reese is no longer a kid. He's 30 and has been a major-leaguer since 1997. His entire career has been in the NL. Until now. Not only is he in a new league, he'll be playing in stadiums he's never seen. Fenway Park and Yankee Stadium, for example.

"I'm looking forward to being in every city in this league," Reese said.

Joining a contender after playing the past two years with the Pittsburgh Pirates is another plus. The Red Sox have a Cy Young Award winner in Pedro Martinez. The starting rotation of Martinez, Curt Schilling, Derek Lowe and Tim Wakefield is one of the best. They have three batting champions, Garciaparra, Manny Ramirez and Bill Mueller. They came within five outs of winning the 2003 American League pennant.

"All these All-Stars," Reese said. "I'm happy to be a part of this thing."

The enthusiasm goes two ways. Garciaparra is looking forward to a middle-of-the-infield partnership with Reese.

"He's definitely got some hands," Garciaparra said. "It doesn't surprise me the way he is. You hear a lot about him and you see him. Oh, that's why everyone talks about him, how great he is."

Since Garciaparra became Boston's starting shortstop in 1997, he's averaged nearly three second basemen a season.

"I haven't counted," Garciaparra said. "It might be like 20. I don't know. I'm starting to get a complex."

Health permitting, Reese will be in the lineup virtually every day, playing for one of the game's premier franchises, one that fills Fenway Park nearly all the time and is expected to win. He'll take the field wearing No. 3 and a Jack Wilson model Rawlings glove on his left hand. His thumb, injured last May, is healed. He's ready to play.

"I'm an athlete and what more do you want than coming to the yard and knowing 40,000 people are going to be there every day screaming and yelling and pulling for the home team?" Reese said.