First Base is Slightly Tougher than DH.

"Garciaparra said he looks forward to the challenge of playing first.

'I'll probably be working on it prior to spring training,' he said. 'Breaking in a new glove, that will be a challenge. You embrace them, you welcome them.' "

Yes, I'd agree with that. Breaking in a new glove probably is the most challenging aspect of playing first base.

My advice for Nomar is to buy some linseed oil, put a ball in the center of the glove, wrap it in rope, and put it under the mattress. Don't put it under Mia's side of the bed, of course.

Tell me all about Keith Hernandez, Don Mattingly, and Joe Pepitone. Call up WFAN right now and wax poetic about Hernandez racing in on the bunt and of Mattingly deftly turning the 3-6-3. But before you finish your point, let me remind you of George Scott, John "Da Butt" Mayberry, and Ed Kranepool.

First base is a hitter's position. In fact, my only gripe with signing Nomar is that his offensive output probably won't be that great for a first baseman. Defensively, he has played positions that are obviously a lot tougher than first base.

If first base is a challenge, then everything is a challenge. If everything is a challenge, then nothing is a challenge. Other than designated hitter, I can not think of any position in any major sport that is less athletically challenging than playing first base in Nine-Man-Stand-Around.

I don't know, does the NFL have a guy whose sole purpose is to hold the ball during kickoffs so it doesn't slip off the tee? That's probably easier than first base. As long as he never has to tackle or block.