FORT MYERS, Fla. – Los Angeles Dodgers manager Grady Little quickly found himself surrounded by reporters Monday after emerging from the clubhouse prior to Monday’s spring training game against the Red Sox.

The successful former Red Sox skipper is best remembered for not pulling Pedro Martinez in the eighth inning of Game 7 of the 2003 American League Championship Series against the Yankees, who won 6-5 on Aaron Boone’s 11th-inning solo home run.

Little is still being asked about that decision. Does he ever second-guess that move?

“No, I leave it up to you guys,” Little told one reporter.

Was it unfair that he subsequently was not retained by the Sox?

“No, things happen for a reason,” Little said succinctly.

For the record, he clearly doesn’t harbor any ill will toward the Boston organization.

“This [organization] is a big part of my past and an important part of my past and there’s nothing that will ever overshadow that,” he said.

These days, Little is dealing with some of the same players he managed in Boston – Nomar Garciaparra, Derek Lowe and Bill Meuller – and some of their old problems.

“Everybody knows the [injury] history of Nomar,” Little said of the former Sox fan favorite while talking about LA’s injury concerns and revamped lineup.

Garciaparra, a former shortstop who has been converted to a first baseman, did not make the trip to Fort Myers on Monday. He is working hard to make the transition to his new position.

“When he played shortstop there were a lot of injuries for him,” Little said. “He moved over to first, there are a lot of things over there that aren’t easy for him, but every day he’s shown improvement. He’s just getting better and better.”

Little’s Dodgers went on to beat the Red Sox 7-5 in 10 innings.

Easy come, easy go

Major league spring training camp is a fluid business for the players trying to make an impression on their respective organizations.

Ninth-year pro veteran Josh Pressley found that out again Monday when he was among 13 players reassigned by the Red Sox.

Pressley, a 25-year-old former Bangor East Little League and Bangor Comrades American Legion Zone 1 Most Valuable Player, has been sent to Boston’s minor league camp. The 6-foot-6, 231-pound first baseman was one of 21 nonroster invitees who came here in the hope of at least getting his foot in the door with the organization.

Pressley didn’t have a very productive spring offensively, hitting .143 with three RBIs and eight strikeouts, but he’ll have the opportunity to work on his game, at least for the time being, in Boston’s minor league system.

However, Sox manager Terry Francona had some encouraging words about Pressley on Sunday, lauding his defensive ability and pointing out the need for the Fort Lauderdale, Fla. native to make his swing more compact to be a more effective hitter.

Other players sent down by Boston included promising lefthanders Jon Lester and Abe Alvarez, along with righties Edgar Martinez, David Pauley and Jermaine Van Buren and outfielders Brandon Moss and David Murphy, who were optioned to Triple-A Pawtucket.

Pressley will be joined in minor league camp by pitchers Tim Bausher and Franklin Nunez, infielders Luis Jimenez and Rodney Nye, and outfielder Tyler Minges.

Nixon has Little’s back

Red Sox outfielder Trot Nixon was taking his turns during batting practice Monday morning when he noticed all the activity surrounding the Dodgers’ Little, his former manager in Boston.

He quickly came to his old skipper’s defense.

“Let him breathe, Orsillo. Let him breathe,” Nixon shouted to NESN play-by-plan announcer Don Orsillo, who was in the process of interviewing Little.

Still trying to break what he obviously perceived as some tension with the situation, Nixon continued to intervene. He walked over, stood beside the NESN cameraman and playfully made faces at Orsillo as he quizzed Little.

When the interview ended, Nixon went back over and gave Grady a hearty hug.

Always a tough ticket

Trying to get tickets to a Sox game at Fenway Park in Boston is a tougher, and more expensive challenge, with every passing season.

Even when they’re in spring training, there are no guarantees about being able to get into City of Palms Park.

An enthusiastic throng of 8,067 paying customers jammed the stadium for Monday’s game against the Dodgers, establishing a City of Palms spring training record. Fans were treated to sunny skies and temperatures in the low 80s as they surpassed the previous high of 8,056 set March 30, 2005.

Basketball talk persists

The excitement and anticipation of the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament is certainly not lost on the baseball fanatics in and around City of Palms Park.

“Peter, you got any inside info on the NCAA Tournament? Francona queried Monday morning, speaking to ESPN baseball analyst Peter Gammons.

The small group of media people gathered around Francona in the Red Sox third-base dugout all started chiming in with comments about teams in the 65-team field.

“Sometimes I come in early in the mornings because I’m going to watch every game,” Francona said. “There’s nothing better than watching the NCAA Tournament eating Hungry Howie’s (a favorite pizza and sub shop chain).”

Righthander Matt Clement, upon finishing his press conference after Monday’s strong outing, also wondered about a particular NCAA team.

“How good’s BC (Boston College) gonna do?” he asked the media contingent.