Jeter's Jumpin

[BuckFoston]

Tonight is not just another game for Derek Jeter. It's Opening Day, and to the Yankee captain, starting up a new season far outweighs the excitement of playing against the Red Sox on national television on a Sunday night. It's also the first time since 1919 that Boston opens the season as Defending World Champions.

"Opening Day is always special," Jeter said yesterday, sitting for the first time this year in front of his Yankee Stadium locker, surrounded by TV cameras and microphones. "But for us as players [the opponent] doesn't really matter at all."

That the season begins against the Red Sox following their first World Series title in 86 years doesn't creep into Jeter's head. He said the teams will play 19 times during the regular season, however, by Boston winning the World Series last year, it made the rivalry an even better one.

"It's more of a rivalry, by definition, because they won," Jeter said. "When it comes to a rivalry, usually both teams win."

Always cool and always calculated in his public statements, Jeter said he puts no extra stock into opening the 2005 season against the Yankees' blood rivals. Losing the American League crown to the Sox, blowing a 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven series and the heat being turned up on the rivalry don't mean much to Jeter, who said he is simply looking forward to getting started again.

"Honestly, playing Boston really is no different than playing anyone else Opening Day," Jeter said. "There are more stories, the fans will enjoy it. But I think it'll be a little different when we go there because they'll have their own ring ceremony; but to players, I don't think it really matters."

Yankees GM Brian Cashman echoed Jeter and said tonight is just another game — No. 1 of 162. However, a game between the Yankees and Red Sox will never be confused for one out on the sandlot.

"Every game against Boston has an October feel about it," Cashman said, adding, "Whatever happens is not going to have an effect on the season. You have to take it one day at a time."

http://www.nypost.com/sports/yankees/43776.htm

[RockSports17]

True. We do have to keep in mind, that we'll have more games against Sox, and we will lose some of them.

Hopefully we start off on the right foot and beat Sox tonight, like we should.