Abraham: Inside the American League clubhouse

It’s strange seeing Big Papi in Jorge Posada’s locker. Or Roy Halladay holding court where Mike Mussina usually does. Johnny Damon is gone and Kevin Youkilis is there in his place.

Ichiro Suzuki asked for his locker to be between two former teammates, George Sherrill and Carlos Guillen. Ichiro, they said, is one of the best teammates they’ve ever had. “People have no idea,” Sherrill said.

Michael Young is right next to Derek Jeter. Joakim Soria was busy getting a jersey autographed by Mariano Rivera. “My hero,” he said.

Yankees clubhouse manager Rob Cucuzza said how impressed he was with the Red Sox players. A few of them asked to see Thurman Munson’s locker. “Those guys and Terry (Francona) have been incredibly respectful,” he said. “I didn’t really know them before this and they’ve been great.”

Then we have Jonathan Papelbon, who is wearing a sleeveless blue t-shirt with a drawing of a hand making an obscene gesture. Yes, that obscene gesture.

Classy.