updated 4:32 p.m. ET March 4, 2005

BRADENTON, Fla. - Now that the Boston Red Sox have reversed The Curse, New York Yankees manager Joe Torre wonders what will happen to the teams’ rivalry.

“I’m curious to see, every year the pressure seemed to mount because that 1918 was further back in time,” Torre said Friday before the Yankees played Pittsburgh. “Now that’s not an issue anymore, I’m curious because The Curse is not the motivating factor.

“I’m not sure if the rivalry is going to be the same. That was part of how the fans (talked) to each other.”

Last season, the Red Sox overcame a 3-0 deficit to the Yankees in the American League championship series and then went on to win their first World Series title since 1918. It’s also Boston’s first championship since selling Babe Ruth to the Yankees in 1920, the supposed origin of The Curse.

“I don’t know how it can intensify the rivalry,” Torre said. “With the Red Sox, our No. 1 rival, snatching it away from us last year, you can’t wait to get back on the field. It made it very frustrating for us, no question about it. At no time did we think we had it in our back pocket.”

The Yankees and Red Sox play for the first time this spring Monday night in Fort Myers, Fla. Most of New York’s regular position players will participate in an afternoon spilt-squad home game against Cleveland, and won’t make the trip for the Boston game.

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