NEW YORK –– Several Red Sox hitters stood in their clubhouse on April 18, glued to the flat-screen televisions as they watched the Cleveland Indians pound the Yankees, 22-4, with ball after ball flying out of the new Yankee Stadium. That day, the Sox hitters were licking their chops, chatting about the prospect of playing nine games a year in a ballpark some were calling Coors Field East.

In their first two games here, the initial returns are hard to gauge, Red Sox hitters said. It certainly is no pitchers’ park, but to know whether it’s a true launching pad, the Sox will have to return in warmer weather.

If it is, however, that could certainly mean big things for the Sox’ hitters, and some are not-so-secretly hoping that it does play like the bandbox it has seemed to be on occasion.

"Oh, no question," said Jason Bay, who has hit home runs on his first two nights in the park. "You've heard a lot about it and you want to see what it’s like. I think a lot of parks are different, different times of year and all that stuff, with the wind and all that stuff."

Bay hit a crucial home run in the fifth inning of Monday’s game, a bomb off the left-field foul pole. Then in the first inning Tuesday, he dropped a ball over the left-field fence for his second home run in two days. His personal jury was still out as to whether this is truly a hitter’s park, but he was certainly hoping it continues to play that way.

"As a hitter, you certainly don't mind seeing the balls go out a little easier," Bay said.

Both of Bay’s home runs were to left. The majority of the balls that have been flying out of the park have gone to right, the territory that Yankees right fielder Nick Swisher regularly patrols. Yankee Stadium has always been know for its short right-field fence, which has benefited lefty hitters since Babe Ruth.

Swisher said that the park seems to play both ways –– some balls that should be out stay in, others that should be fly balls carry out. But yes, the right-field porch certainly does seem close, he said.

"I think there were some balls hit [Monday] night that should have been home runs, but weren't,” Swisher said. "I think it's fair in general. The right-field fence, it looks like it’s right on top of you. And there have been a decent amount of home runs hit here. To the right side. Not many to the left side."

There has been much talk of a supposed jet stream that carries balls out over the left-center field fence. That certainly wasn’t in evidence Monday night.

Sox shortstop Nick Green crushed a ball to left-center that died at the warning track. Swisher himself hit a ball that looked like it had a chance, but ended up falling far short.

"I hit a ball that I thought was good enough, left-center, and it didn’t even get to the warning track," Swisher said.

The cold, many said, was the mitigating factor. The damp, cold air certainly helped to keep the balls down. Monday’s starting pitcher, Jon Lester, had certainly heard the stories, but found that the park played more fairly than he expected.

"I think it played both. There were some balls hit in the gaps that didn’t really carry, and then there were some balls driven. It was hard to tell, because I think the balls that were hit tonight, that went out, probably would have gone out in any stadium," Lester said.

J.D. Drew will likely come to know the ins and outs of the new stadium as well as any visiting player. As a lefty with 30-home run power, he is a prime candidate to reap the benefits if it is a true hitter’s park. Of course, as the Sox right fielder, he’s the one who will watch when balls carry over his head and into the stands or to the warning track.

"Looked pretty short to right field, which was good, but I think it plays deeper in center and the gaps. So I can see how it could be a hitter’s park," said Drew, who hit well in the old stadium.

"This has definitely got a good hitter's eye here. Some new amenities, same overall feel," Drew said. "The more we play here, the more we’ll have an idea as to whether it’s more of a hitter’s park than the old park was."

dbarbari@projo.com