Atleast it turned out that Carl did not blow yesterday off, but anyway...

FORT MYERS, Fla. - Veteran pitcher David Cone walked across the carpet of a near-empty Red Sox clubhouse just before 10 a.m. yesterday and said to no one in particular, ''I thought the Bronx Zoo was something, but this place takes the [expletive] cake!''

There. The defining remark on Red Sox Spring 2001. Not even Al Gore had it this bad in Florida.

Here's the latest, baseball fans: On the team's last full day in Florida, Carl Everett apparently blew off practice, only to have it be revealed later he was suspended for three spring games for his latest run-in with team rules.

Manny ($160 million) Ramirez - who will finish the spring with a .138 average and two RBIs - DH'd in another Triple A game and won't leave Florida with the team tonight.

Meanwhile, shortstop Nomar Garciaparra met with general manager Dan Duquette for an hour and a half and it was decided to wait a few more days before he undergoes surgery on his right wrist.

The Sox apparently are expecting a shipment of bottled water from Lourdes.

''I'm not panicking,'' Sox manager Jimy Williams said.

The Everett situation seems to be reaching a critical mass.

He no doubt was embarrassed when Williams spanked him and sent him home after he missed another team bus Tuesday.

According to a clubhouse worker at City of Palms Park, Everett returned from Tampa later Tuesday and was extremely agitated - and it would be no surprise if he's asking to be traded.

Everett met with Williams for an hour Tuesday after the center fielder did not travel with the team, instead meeting them at Yankees' Legends Field.

His suspension was retroactive to Tuesday and will conclude with today's Florida finale against Minnesota.

The team also fined Everett an undisclosed amount.

Williams told reporters Tuesday Everett would work out yesterday. Everett was not scheduled to make the trip to St. Petersburg for a game against the Devil Rays.

In St. Petersburg, Fla., Williams was vague about Everett's whereabouts.

The manager talked about keeping things ''in house'' and hinted Everett may be involved with ''meetings.''

Williams did not appear upset with Everett nor did he explain why a day earlier he said Everett would work out.

Sox coach Tommy Harper, the official restrainer of Everett last year and a confidant to the troubled outfielder, said, ''Carl was off today. Scheduled off. He'll be here tomorrow ... Carl understands. Jimy has his rules. That's the bottom line.

''Jimy's the manager and all the players have to understand.''

Does Harper think Everett's troubles are behind him?

''I hope,'' answered Harper.

I'll bet you a sack of doorknobs Everett is asking to be traded. When he feuded with Williams last year, he bellowed, ''I never liked the guy anyway,'' in the middle of the clubhouse. Now he has twice been publicly sanctioned by his manager.

Duquette, making a rare appearance to talk with the media in Fort Myers, blanched when asked about Everett's status. It was the question that ended the Duke's interview.

''I don't have anything to say about that right now, I need more information on that,'' Duquette said as he turned and walked away.

A persistent reporter did the Sam Donaldson thing and shouted, ''Are you concerned that he isn't here today?''

''That's all I've got on Carl today,'' Duquette said as he continued to walk toward safer ground.

The Sox play the Minnesota Twins across town today and Everett will not be on the team bus that departs at 10:30 a.m.

The Sox will fly to Houston after the game and play an exhibition against the Astros tomorrow night. Williams hoped Ramirez would be able to play outfield yesterday, but he DH'd again. He has not played the outfield since injuring his hamstring 15 days ago. He's looking doubtful for the opener in Baltimore Monday.

Pedro Martinez, the lone Sox star who's performed as expected this spring, didn't want to say much about the team's dented prospects or fan panic back home.

''Whatever they want to do is up to them,'' said Martinez. ''Too bad. It's not my responsibility. I've done whatever I can. I can't do it alone. That's a fact. Why not be optimistic?

''I'm still thinking the same way. I still feel confident regardless of what the fans want to think or what the media wants to think. I hope we are OK because we want to win, that's something I can tell you for a fact.''

The Sox look like they have some pitching and they have scored runs in Florida. Williams and Duquette say they are not panicking.

''Our pitching staff is still darned good and our run production should be upgraded over last year,'' said Duquette. ''If you have a good pitching staff, that should keep you in the hunt for a good part of the season. It's a long season. This is a marathon, not a sprint, and if Nomar comes back for the stretch drive and we're in contention, that would be a good situation for the Red Sox.''

OK. Just put Florida in the rearview mirror. And make sure Carl's on the bus. And the airplane.

http://www.boston.com/dailyglobe2/088/sports/Sox_suspend_fine_Everett+.shtml

paul@redsox2000.com