"I just don't know what to say sometimes. I asked a lot of guys this winter, 'What am I supposed to say?' What do you tell them?" the Red Sox infielder said last week in Detroit. "It's really nice, but it took some getting used to."

That's because, in the wake of Boston's first world championship in 1986 years, Bellhorn and his Red Sox teammates find they rarely receive congratulations for winning the World Series. "You never hear 'congratulations,' except maybe from other players in the league," Bellhorn said.

"With Red Sox fans, no matter where we go, it's always the same," he added. "They say, 'Thank you.' ''

That sentiment, a testament to what a burden the championship drought was to New Englanders and their baseball family throughout the nation, has added a jubilant atmosphere to Fenway that lingers even today, win or lose.

"Everybody in Boston has a parent or grandparent or [someone like that] who [they believe] in some way, we won it for them," marvels outfielder Trot Nixon, who contributed three hits in the Series-clinching Game 4. "It's really personal, and that's neat. So everyone you meet says thanks."

That goodwill doesn't extend onto the field, however. The Red Sox know their title, and the unrestrained way they and their fans reveled in its aftermath, simply makes them a bigger target. Particularly on the road, opponents treat games with the Sox as though the postseason has already begun again.

"We've seen some of that. Teams are coming at us, emptying their bullpens, playing for one run. But that's good - we've got to find a way to grind it out every day and win games," said catcher Jason Varitek. "Probably the success we had last year is good for our confidence. It can't hurt. The old saying is, the best players fail 70 percent of the time. So maybe it's important for us to reap any benefit we can [from winning], because we have to deal with failure again tomorrow."

That's certainly the manager's approach. Terry Francona enjoyed his team's eight-game winning streak after falling behind 3-0 to the Yankees as much as anybody - "It was quite a different winter, I'll say that," he laughed - but he doesn't dwell on it anymore.

"The fans can enjoy it, and I'm glad they do. They're as passionate as any fans in baseball. But that's last year, and we've got all sorts of new challenges to deal with," Francona said. "We've got injuries to our pitching staff, and [we're] trying to fit in some new players, all the usual stuff. And when we lose a game now, it bites into you just as much now as it did last year."

There hasn't been much more losing than last year, however. The Red Sox are 18-13, just one game off their pace of a year ago, though two-fifths of the starting rotation - ace Curt Schilling and newcomer David Wells - is on the disabled list. The offense ranks third in the majors in runs scored, though it's on pace to produce about 90 fewer than a year ago.

"There are things we need to work on," Francona said. "Especially since the desire to win hasn't changed one iota."

So while their fans continue their yearlong party, the Red Sox are focusing on the day-to-day grind that they hope will produce another one.

Well, mostly they're focused. "You keep [last year] in your mind, what we accomplished how we did it. I think [about] how special it is. but you can't dwell on it, because it's not 2004 anymore," Bellhorn said. "Boston's not the easiest place to play sometimes. Hey, the [NFL] Patriot fans are happy, too. But now they want more."

"So do we."

pmiller@sltrib.com

Over time

In the 86 years between World Series wins for the Red Sox:

* The United States fought in two World Wars and the Cold War was won

* Halley's Comet returned into view and left the Earth again

* Ted Williams learned to walk, hit .400 three times, died and had his head cryogenically frozen

* Rock 'n' roll was invented, and swing dancing was cool twice