Yankees keep new view in perspective

It seemed, in so many ways, to be business as usual for the Yankees -- playing the Red Sox on an Opening Day.

Only it was different. Yesterday was the Red Sox' home opener and the Yankees sat in the visiting dugout on a 46-degree afternoon and watched World Series rings handed out to someone else, watched a new World Series flag flapping at Fenway for the first time since 1918 and, almost comically, heard what sounded like genuine cheers to star relief pitcher Mariano Rivera, who has blown four straight saves against the Sox (two in the AL Championship Series last season).

The fans saved their loudest boos for third baseman Alex Rodriguez, another reminder of postseason follies last season that enhanced one of the most enduring rivalries in sports.

All of this during an afternoon that produced an 8-1 Red Sox victory, much to the delight of the 33,702 who filled Fenway for the 146th consecutive sellout.

After it was over, the Yankees tried to treat it as "another day at the office" that will be merely a footnote in a 19-game regular-season series that might spill over into late October.

"We've been a little flat the last two days," said Rodriguez, whose error in the fourth inning led to the Sox expanding a 4-1 lead to 7-1.

Rodriguez received mock cheers in the eighth when he fielded a Doug Mirabelli grounder cleanly. "I think I've become a cult figure in Boston," he said.

The other "cult figure" to Red Sox fans is Rivera, who laughed and waved as the crowd cheered. Afterward, he could only laugh some more.

"Just laugh with them,' he said. "Keep cheering with them. They are going to have their fun. They didn't win for a lot of years."

Manager Joe Torre came up with an instant analysis of the fans' reaction to Rodriguez. "Obviously you hear it," said Torre, who received perhaps the most respected ovation. "But you know, the great players are the ones that take the most abuse. You know, I played for a while and every place Pete Rose went he took a lot of abuse. You can't say it doesn't bother you, but you know, you go on and you have to do things. I think it's more of a credit to your ability than it is anything else."

As for the cheers for Rivera, Torre laughed. "Well, I thought he was a good sport about it. You know, it's what they do here. Yankee Stadium is no different."

Starting pitcher Mike Mussina did not get a rise out of the fans, but he had a rough time against the Sox. He pitched five innings and allowed seven hits and seven runs (four earned).

"It just wasn't my best day," said Mussina, who threw 94 pitches. "Today, I didn't have good command of my pitches. That happens early in the season."

What hadn't happened early in the season for the Red Sox was a championship ceremony.

The Yankees absorbed the festivities with decorum.

"Well you know they certainly deserved everything they got today," said Torre. "They won the championship last year and even though you certainly envy what's going on and you're a little jealous of it, it doesn't mean you can ignore it. You can't ignore it. I think everybody was curious to see what the Red Sox would do on the day they got their World Series rings."