FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) – Manny Ramirez called reporters over to chat.

He really did.

The happy-go-lucky slugger who runs from the media faster than he runs out some grounders was in a playful mood in Boston’s clubhouse on an already unusual Sunday.

It was 90 minutes before the exhibition game between the Red Sox and New York Yankees that had fans lined up hours before it began and a full house in a usually half-empty press box.

“It’s just a game, man,” Ramirez said. “You are going

to go and have fun. It doesn’t matter (if) you go 0-for-4 or 4-for-4.”

He went 0-for-2 on groundouts then was replaced in left field in the top of the third during New York’s 11-7 win.

But it must matter to him that after last season the Red Sox placed him on waivers then tried to trade him to Texas for Alex Rodriguez.

“Whatever happened in the winter that’s in the past. I’ve got to move on,” he said, then paused. “Guys, let me go and get Millar.”

Ramirez, the warmup act, went to the workout room in the clubhouse and returned about a minute later with Kevin Millar, a media darling with a good feel for one-liners.

The first baseman stood on a metal folding chair in front of a locker while Ramirez sat in one to Millar’s left, with a plate of food on his lap and a smile on his face.

“Manny’s speaking,” Millar said. “I’m translating.”

The first question was what Ramirez, who speaks and understands English well, thought of Rodriguez and Derek Jeter making the two-hour trip from Tampa for the game. Millar repeated it then let Ramirez answer.

“It’s good for baseball,” Ramirez said. “Everybody’s looking for this matchup, but we’re just going to go out there and have fun.”

Then he was asked, “is it hard for him to hate the Yankees considering” he grew up in New York?

“Let me translate,” said Millar, who was stealing the show. “Is it hard for you to hate the Yankees considering” where he grew up?

“Not really, man, this is just a game,” Ramirez said. “Everybody’s so mad at the Yankees because they win all the time. Why? They’re the best team out there.”

Then Millar was handed a television station’s microphone and kept repeating questions.

Would Ramirez charge the mound if Yankees starter Jose Contreras threw behind him?

“OK. That’s not a good question,” Millar said to howls of laughter. “Stupid question. Next question.”

The questions kept coming as reporters, sensing it might be a while before Ramirez would be so accessible, touched several subjects.

Ramirez said his favorite player is Raul Mondesi, who plays hard, he’s not used to batting third where manager Terry Francona put him but is confident he can do well, and

he doesn’t want to peak too soon.

How does he feel about the steroid issue in baseball?

“That’s a stupid question,” Millar said with a laugh. Ramirez remained silent.

What does he think of the Yankees trading for Rodriguez last month?

“I think that was good for him because he was trying to get out of Texas,” Ramirez said. “So now he’s on the best team in the American League, so that’s good for baseball, especially because he was born in New York.”

There were no questions about games in which Ramirez didn’t run out grounders or refused to pinch hit when asked last year by manager Grady Little.

After reporters got a rare glimpse of Ramirez’s cooperative side that his teammates talk about, pitcher Curt Schilling, sitting at his locker, was asked about the slugger.

“Manny is everything you guys said he wasn’t,” Schilling told reporters. “He’s a good teammate. He’s a great guy and he’s going to go out and he’s going to do his thing like he does every year.

“He’s going to hit .330 with 40 and 145 RBIs and somebody’s going to (complain) about him doing something stupid that is absolutely irrelevant.”

Moments earlier, Ramirez was asked one last question about why he spoke at such length with the media.

Millar responded with a smile, “This is just for today,” as he and Ramirez went off to finish lunch.