Though Kevin Youkilis might think that The Rivalry is "no big deal" to the players, I beg to differ. He has been spoiled.

Consider where some of these players are coming from - Florida. Even in its World Series year, the Marlins only attracted and average of 16,000 fans per game. Granted they had 65,000 people in the stands for their home games during the 2003 Series, I suspect that most were Yankee fans.

Most often Beckett, Lowell and Gonzalez played to a seemingly empty house.

At Fenway, every game feels like a playoff game, every game is sold out. It's hard enough to get a ticket to see them when Tampa Bay is in town, let alone the Yankees.

The same can be said in Yankee Stadium. While most of the pinheads (Yankee fans) pretend that the opposition doesn't matter, there's still something special when the Sox are in New York. There is not an empty seat and it's electric.

The fans in the north east are downright passionate, sometimes venomously so. It's not the same in the south nor in the west. Ask anyone. It must have something to do with the weather. Here in the northeast we hybernate all winter. We read about the offseason transactions, we calculate odds, we add up stats, we speculate trades.

When season finally begins, we release all that built-up tension, energy.

It's not just Boston. The same can be said about New York and Philadelphia.

In cities like Atlanta, Miami, San Diego and even Los Angeles, fans are more lax about their sports teams. The games are almost secondary to the consession stands where there may be bands playing, arcades, contests, heck even televisions showing other sporting events.

The one downside is that with this added pressure, some of these players may be trying too hard.

Josh Beckett is playing for a contract - a sizeable one at that. Mike Lowell and Alex Gonzalez are playing for their baseball lives. All are contributing admirably, especially on defense.

It will be interesting to see how the three react in enemy territory. Where will Lowell's doubles fall in this bigger park? Will Gonzalez get his average up to .240 (which is all I ask)? Will Beckett return to 2003 form?

First things first they need to relax.

It will and should feel different for the Boston 9 or at least those three former Marlins. It will feel like the World Series all over again. Let's hope for similar results.

Go Sox!

Predictions anyone?

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