Tampa, Fla. ? On a day of arrivals and notable absences, Randy Johnson got lost on his way to the New York Yankees’ spring training camp, and the Chicago Cubs started getting used to life without Sammy Sosa.

The Yankees and Red Sox tried not to react to Trot Nixon’s criticism of Alex Rodriguez a day earlier. In other Boston news, closer Keith Foulke said he tried to get the ball from the final out of the World Series, the one Doug Mientkiewicz kept.

Across Florida and Arizona, pitchers and catchers on seven teams reported for spring training, a day after the Yankees, Washington Nationals and Cincinnati Reds opened. Eleven more clubs begin today, with the remaining nine scheduled to start by Sunday.

For the Chicago Cubs, it is their first spring training camp without Sosa since he was acquired from the White Sox in March 1992. The All-Star right fielder, whose relationship with the team deteriorated last year, was dealt Feb. 2 to Baltimore.

“He did a lot of things for this organization, for baseball and for the city,” Cubs pitcher Mark Prior said in Mesa, Ariz. “But in general, I think probably now we’re better off.”

Back in Florida, Johnson held an opening news conference after finding his way to Legends Field and cracked one-liners with the ease of a Henny Youngman.

His opinion on steroids?

“I definitely know nutrition is a big part of staying healthy and being successful but, obviously, it’s something that I guess kind of goes beyond the normal things at GNC.”

His thoughts on former Arizona teammate Curt Schilling, who could pitch against him when the Yankees play Boston in the major-league season opener April 3?

“I’m glad to see that I’m quickening up his rehab program because I see that he’s pretty excited about opening day. I’m pretty excited about that root canal I’ve got next week, too.”

Down in Fort Myers, Foulke talked about asking for the famous World Series ball, the one he flipped to Mientkiewicz last Oct. 27 at St. Louis, sealing the first title for the Red Sox since 1918.

“I’d have definitely liked to have it back,” Foulke said. “When we got back to Boston, I asked him about it, and I didn’t get it. So that’s the end of that.”

He doesn’t regret that he didn’t run over and step on the bag himself.

“It’s not my job to run the ball to first base,” Foulke said. “My job is to throw it over there and let him do his job. We got him out. That’s all that matters.”

Foulke didn’t want to talk about the remarks by Nixon, who praised A-Rod’s playing ability, but said: “He can’t stand up to (Derek) Jeter in my book or Bernie Williams or (Jorge) Posada.”

“I’m not getting into a war of words with them,” Jeter said. “That’s between Trot and Alex. You ask Trot what he meant.”

In Viera, 69-year-old Frank Robinson walked up the dugout steps and announced he had passed his physical.

“It only took six, seven hours,” the Washington manager said.