TAMPA — The members of the most fierce rivalry in sports — the Yankees and Red Sox — meet tonight at George M. Steinbrenner Field, though nothing will be on the line.
Nevertheless, Yankees manager Joe Girardi believes the buzz in the stands will be louder than it is for any of his team’s other spring training games.
“I am sure there will be a different excitement level in the stands,’’ Girardi said of the first encounter between the blood rivals this spring. “I am not sure our players will get too caught up in it because I tell them not to get too caught up in it during the [regular] season. There is always a different atmosphere in the stands.’’
Girardi doesn’t want his players playing this meaningless game any differently because it’s the Red Sox in the other dugout.
“I don’t want guys going out and doing something crazy so they miss six weeks of the season,’’ Girardi said. “Do what you are supposed to do and stay within yourself and see where the chips fall. I don’t particularly want [Derek Jeter] jumping into the stands head-first.’’
Girardi didn’t put much stock in new Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine saying at the Winter Meetings in December that he “hated’’ the Yankees. And he didn’t pay any attention to Valentine erroneously saying the Yankees never practiced the famous Jeter flip play.
“I worry about our club, my present day club,’’ Girardi said. “I am not worried about three years ago, a year ago or 10 years ago. I worry about now.’’