Mark Teixeira is a good guy. By all reports, he is a well-mannered gentleman and a disciplined baseball player.

And when he comes to bat tonight at Fenway Park, he will be booed and called names you don't want your children to hear.

All because he's a Yankee, and not with the Red Sox.

The other interesting at-bat tonight, when the Yankees and Red Sox play Game 1 of their 2009 series is when Kevin Youkilis steps in. Pitcher Joba Chamberlain has history of good command, except when Youkilis is batting. Suddenly, Chamberlain mistakes Youkilis' head for home plate.

Chamberlain has thrown four times at Youkilis and has been ejected once for it.

We'll see what happens tonight.

Speaking of Teixeira, he is off to a slow start (.222, 9 RBI). Teixeria is sure to improve those numbers. That man whom Teixeira would have replaced in Boston (Mike Lowell) is doing well at .315 with 16 RBI.

Teixeira talked to Newsday about playing at Fenway.

In the minors, the Sea Dogs lost Thursday but could still celebrate the promotion of
Iggy Suarez to Pawtucket. Suarez is truly one of the good guys in the game.

The Sea Dogs expect sellout or near-sellout crowds this weekend. About 1,500 tickets remain for tonight, 200 for Saturday (Junichi Tazawa's start) and 1,000 for Sunday.

In Pawtucket, Suarez will replace Jeff Natale (sore leg). Also, Zach Daeges (ankle) went on the DL, replaced by Jeff Corsaletti.

In advanced Class A Salem, two lesser-known players came through Thursday. Shortstop Kris Negron (.280) hit two home runs. Boston had loads of shortstop prospects (Argenis Diaz, Yamaico Navarro, Oscar Tejeda, etc.), but Negron cannot be ignored. He was a 7th-round draft pick in 2007.

Salem first baseman Mike Jones, a 25th-round pick in 2004, can simply hit. He batted . 317 in low Class A last year and is hitting .370 so far in Salem after a 2-for-4 night.

Check out our site at 3 p.m. I'm scheduled for an online baseball chat.

Also, if you're watching the Yankees tonight, check my blog for updates on the Sea Dogs. Felix Doubront is on the mound.

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