TAMPA, Fla. (AP) – When the Yankees and Red Sox step on the same field for the first time since Game 7 of last year’s AL championship series, many New York regulars are likely to be missing.

With Boston’s Curt Schilling, Trot Nixon, David Wells, Bronson Arroyo and Jason Varitek taking verbal swipes at Alex Rodriguez, fans are expected to be charged up when these rivals meet for the first time since Boston became the first team in major league history to overcome a 3-0 deficit in a best-of-seven postseason series.

New York is scheduled to play at Fort Myers on March 7. But the Yankees also are scheduled to play Cleveland on March 7 in a split-squad game at Legends Field.

Which game will have the most New York stars?

Well, the Yankees’ YES network is scheduled to televise the day game against the Indians, not the night game versus the Red Sox, a 2 1/4-hour bus ride away.

“We like to play our regulars here,” Yankees manager Joe Torre said Friday. “Comments have nothing to do with who’s going to (play against) Boston, but my guess is it’s probably going to be a lighter than normal group.”

Torre said his decision on whether to send Rodriguez won’t be affected by the sniping.

“No comments are going to keep me from taking anybody,” he said.

Upon his arrival at spring training on Thursday, Wells joined in the bashing of A-Rod, who has not responded. Rodriguez isn’t scheduled to get to spring training until Sunday or Monday.

“I have no problems with Boomer,” Yankees captain Derek Jeter said Friday. “Me and Boomer got along great. He sent me a Christmas card.”

While several Yankees have expressed support for Jason Giambi, in the spotlight because of possible past steroid use and 11/2 seasons of injuries, none has defended Rodriguez against Boston’s verbal attacks.

“I don’t come out here and run my mouth. I basically go out and play,” Jeter said. “You can’t control what people say. They’re going to have their opinion and they are entitled to their opinion. Me personally, I’m not going to get into it.”

Yankees owner George Steinbrenner had pretty much the same attitude.

“We’ll play the game on the field,” he said.

Torre said Rodriguez will have to decide whether to respond and predicted the third baseman would “dismiss it.”

“When you’re that talented and make as much money as he does, your a target,” Torre said. “It’s easy to shoot at you.”

Wells, who played for the Yankees from 1997-98 and 2002-03, said Thursday that he never had a good relationship with Torre and that he had run-ins with pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre.

“I don’t know where that comes from,” Torre said. “The fact that he left here and came back, that should answer the question to begin with.”

Stottlemyre said he interpreted the remarks as Wells wishing the Yankees had signed him during the offseason.

“Boomer likes to play his games, and I’m not part of them,” Stottlemyre said.

With Boston coming off its first World Series title since 1918, Torre figures the comments from the Red Sox might be coming out because more questions are being asked.

“They’re excited about it, obviously, with our rivalry and beating us the way they did, they feel pretty good about themselves, which they have every right to feel that way,” Torre said.

New York and Boston play in Tampa on March 29, then meet in the major league opener on April 3 at Yankee Stadium, a matchup that could have Randy Johnson pitching against former Arizona teammate Schilling.

“I guess they’ve got to let off a little steam before concentrating on working out I guess,” new Yankee second baseman Tony Womack said.

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman looked at Boston’s comments this way: “We are more understated than they are.”

Jeter said it’s understandable that not all players like each other. Asked which Red Sox he didn’t get along with, Jeter smiled.

“I like them all,” he said.

Notes: Torre on the scrutiny Giambi will face: “It’s going to be an interesting study this spring.” … While Jeter hit first at the end of last season, Womack hope to be No. 1 in the batting order. “I’m a leadoff guy coming into camp … unless they tell me otherwise. If it changes, it changes. It’s their decision.” … Andy Stankiewicz will manage the Yankees’ Staten Island minor league team this season, according to the team’s Web site. He is replacing Tommy John, a guest instructor at spring training with the Yankees. Stankiewicz, who managed Staten Island in 2003, was a minor league roving instructor last season. Mike Thurman will be the pitching coach and Rob Ducey the hitting coach. … Hideki Matsui arrived in Tampa and might work out Saturday.

AP-ES-02-18-05 1917EST