For Openers, Garner Opts for Nomo, Moehler

Phil Garner, the new Detroit Tiger manager, announced his starting rotation Sunday.

Hideo Nomo, the free agent right-hander who pitched for Garner last season at Milwaukee, will be the starter April 3 when the Tigers open in Oakland. Nomo will be followed by left-hander C.J. Nitkowski, then right-handers Brian Moehler and Dave Mlicki.

Because they play six games before the home opener April 11--and because right-hander Jeff Weaver will remain in Florida for extended spring training--that will make it Moehler’s turn when the Tigers play the first game in their new stadium, Comerica Park.

“It was a tough call, because Mlicki pitched the best down the stretch last year,” Garner said. “But Moehler pitched the last game in the old stadium and now he’ll pitch the first game in our new park. I kind of like that.”

The decision to go with Nomo in the season opener appears to be a personal thing between Nomo and Garner. They formed a bond last season when it looked as if Nomo’s career was on the skids until Garner gave him a chance to pitch for the Brewers.

Nomo was released by the New York Mets after the 1998 season and released by the Chicago Cubs at the end of spring training last season. He signed a minor league contract with Milwaukee, then went 12-8 for the Brewers after being called up. He signed with Detroit this season strictly because he wanted to stay with Garner.

“Nomo was pleased when I told him he was pitching the opener,” Garner said. “I wanted to reward him for what he did last year. This will be a big deal for him back in Japan.”

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Although pitchers and catchers reported to spring training more than a month ago, Curt Schilling’s spring training officially didn’t start until Sunday.

Schilling, Philadelphia’s ace right-hander recovering from shoulder surgery, had his first full session of throwing in the bullpen. It might have been the most important 10 minutes of the Phillies’ season.

“Physically, I don’t know that I could feel better than I do right now,” said Schilling, whose warmup stint effectively started the normal six-week timetable a pitcher needs to be ready for the season. “Definitely, in my mind it does. I’m still shooting for April.”

Schilling had surgery Dec. 13 to tighten his right shoulder capsule after missing most of the last two months of the 1999 season. Initial projections had him coming back in May, but Schilling’s workhorse mentally has him focusing on an earlier return.

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Mark Langston announced his retirement after yielding four runs in the seventh inning of Cleveland’s 10-0 loss to Kansas City. A seven-time Gold Glove winner, he finished with a 179-158 record and 3.97 earned-run average in 16 seasons with Seattle, Montreal, the Angels, San Diego and the Indians.

Langston ranks seventh among left-handers with 2,464 strikeouts after leading the American League three times in his first four seasons.

“It’s a relief from the standpoint I know I gave it my all, but the sadness is leaving what you love,” said Langston, who gave up 12 earned runs in nine innings during six appearances this spring.

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With rain forcing the cancellation of Boston’s game against Baltimore at Fort Lauderdale, Red Sox ace Pedro Martinez struck out eight in five innings of a minor league game. The workout was necessary to keep the Cy Young winner on schedule to start Boston’s April 4 opener against Seattle. . . . Dr. Michael Schafer, the Chicago Cub team physician, examined Kerry Wood and said his reconstructed elbow is fine. Wood started Saturday for the first time since surgery last April, giving up one hit in one inning against a Chicago White Sox split squad.