BOSTON — Red Sox manager Terry Francona and his club do a pretty good job of keeping outside distractions from disrupting the clubhouse environment, especially at this time of the season.

Ask about the upcoming three-game set against the New York Yankees and you’ll get the standard line: “We’re just concentrating on winning our next game.”

That philosophy has reverberated around the Red Sox and the players swear by it. It’s quite possible that this weekend’s series at Fenway Park might be a little different this time around for some, mainly the rookies on the team.

While the Red Sox remain mum, the rest of the baseball world is expecting a tremendous, all-out, high-stakes battle in one of the best rivalries in all of sports. It doesn’t get any better than the Red Sox and Yankees battling for A.L. East supremacy in September.

Boston’s lead heading into tonight’s game is 5 1/2 games. Red Sox September call-ups Jacoby Ellsbury, Brandon Moss, Kevin Cash and Bryan Corey will have a front-row seat for the festivities and they’re all fired up.

“It’s going to be exciting,” said Moss. “It’s going to be big. I’m really excited and my family’s coming up for it, too.”

Because the Red Sox are battling for a postseason berth, it’s all business around the club, and the rookies are careful to keep their mouths shut and eyes open while doing their work. Francona and the veteran players already realize the young core of players in the organization are pretty special and talented guys, so there’s no worries.

Plus, it will be kind of hard to keep everyone’s emotions in check this weekend, especially the first-timers to this rivalry.

“It’s my first Yankees series and I’m fired up about it,” admitted Moss. “I’m excited about it, but at the same time they’re right, it is only one game at a time. You can’t look too far ahead. When the time comes I’m sure [the veterans] will say ‘this is pretty intense.’”

While Moss has been mainly on the bench since his call-up, Ellsbury has played a significant role for the Red Sox with Manny Ramirez (strained oblique) out of the lineup.

Ellsbury is always calm and keeps things on an even keel for the most part. This weekend, however, will be special.

“This is my first one and I’m excited for it,” said Ellsbury, who is riding an 11-game hitting streak for Boston. “I’ve only seen them and heard about them on television, so to be a part of it is a totally different story.”

This intense rivalry between the two storied franchises isn’t relegated to the major-league teams alone. It trickles down through the minor-league systems, too, so the young guys will be feeding off that experience for this weekend.

“It’s just a little glimpse of it,” Ellsbury said. “But it’s definitely going to be different when you play the Yankees.”

This weekend will be a little bit weird for Ellsbury. For the first time he’ll be on the same field as Johnny Damon, the player and man Ellsbury has been compared to since he turned pro. Some baseball personnel who have seen both players at the developmental stages of their careers say Ellsbury is more talented than Damon was.

The rookie’s not concerned with comparisons, he’s feels it’s an honor.

“It’s a great compliment to me,” he said. “At the same I’m trying to be my own player. I haven’t molded my game after anyone. Obviously there are a ton of guys I got stuff from like how they go about their business and how they play, but I’m pretty much trying to play my own game and develop my skills to maximize my potential.”

While Moss and Ellsbury are newbies to the rivalry, veterans Cash and Corey have had a little taste of it.

Corey pitched in last season’s series finale in New York and said it was memorable, but he’s hoping that experience will prepare him if he gets a chance to pitch this weekend.

“It’s pretty cool,” he said. “I think last year will help and it’s going to be fun. But, it’s still a game and you have to go out there and execute. I’m glad I’m here and it’s going to be real exciting.”

jmcdonal@projo.com