Kevin Youklis made his first appearance at Yankee Stadium since being acquired from the Red Sox Sunday. When he saw that the media contingent surrounding his locker in the White Sox clubhouse, he said described the small size of it as “awesome” compared to the Boston media.

Youkilis is off to a quick start in his first three games with Chicago. He came into Thursday night hitting .417 (5-for-12) and hitting .423 (11-for-26) in his previous six after going hitless in 18 at-bats.

The traded ended tension in Boston for Youkilis who had lost playing time to rookie third baseman Will Middlebrooks and when he spoke, he admitted he was relieved that it happened.

“Oh yeah, I’m definitely over it,” he said. “The past few days have been a lot easier. Once that first series is over, kind of getting on a plane for the first time and knowing where to sit and where people sit on the bus, it’s like being a rookie again. I’m over that now and I am just excited.

“I’m in a better place mentally. I’m just enjoying myself. So that’s the best part about it. My wife called me and said you look so happy out there and it’s so great to see you out there and having fun.

As for why his relationship with the Red Sox eroded under new manager Bobby Valentine, Youkilis conceded that he did play well but did not elaborate otherwise.

“That’d be a question you’d have to ask the people in the other organization,” Youkilis said. “I just came up every day and tried to do my job. I didn’t play well and that’s on me. I got off to a slow start and it went downhill from there.

One thing that is certain about Youkilis’ mindset is that he doesn’t miss the hype surrounding the Yankees-Red Sox rivalry that he participated in 97 times.

“No. I’m not worried about that. It’s a better thing as a player when you don’t have that rivalry with all that hoopla, a 4 o’clock game on Saturday, an 8 o’clock game Sunday.

Buchholz ripped

Clay Buchholz was cleared by doctors and the Red Sox to attend a charity event at Foxwoods casino, a day after being released from the hospital following a case of esophagitis.

Buchholz was placed on the disabled list Sunday due to gastrointestinal sickness.

The Sox pitcher, however, was criticized by 98.5’s Toucher and Rich and Boston.com’s Eric Wilbur for attending the event so soon after his release from the hospital. Buchholz did not drink at the event.