The likes of Manny Ramirez and David Wells will have to pardon Tim Wakefield if he can't understand that omnipresent fans and the intensity of playing in Boston make them want to escape.

The highest-paid player in franchise history and the former late-night king of Manhattan's velvet-rope scene decided that they can no longer tolerate Boston, but Wakefield can't empathize. After all, nine months ago, the Sox' longest-tenured player agreed to an unconventional contract that basically bound him to the team in perpetuity after agreeing to a deal with automatically renewing option years held by the club.

Ramirez and Wells might not be able to deal with the constant hubbub in the Hub but Wakefield, who was honored last night at the Boston Chapter of the Baseball Writers' Association of America dinner as Red Sox Pitcher of the Year, wouldn't have it any other way.

"Playing in markets like Boston or New York, they're different cities, but the same kind of market," said the 39-year-old, who led the team in wins (16), starts (33), innings (225 1/3), strikeouts (151) and complete games (3) last year. "I've been embraced by this city in such a great way and I'm comfortable with it, but some guys, depending on their personalities, may not like that. They may want their personal space, but you have to learn how to deal with those kind of things.

"I've always said it takes a special person to be able to play here in Boston."

Wakefield, who joined the Sox in 1995, is a native of Melbourne, Fla., but he has assimilated into New England as well as the countless students who came for college and never left. His wife, Stacy, is a native of the area and on Dec. 29, they welcomed the birth of a second child, daughter Brianna Grace. Ramirez and Wells may be bothered by the privacy issues that come with playing for the region's favorite team but Wakefield had no problem adapting and establishing roots.

"Manny's a different story," he said. "A guy of that stature, in a city like this, he's a hero. That can be overwhelming at times. It all depends on your personality, whether you can handle the spotlight or you can't."

Unlike many of the natives, Wakefield has come to the realization that there is no need to overreact to change. With no other teammates remaining from his first Sox team, the right-hander has seen complete turnover in the clubhouse several times. Each time, the team has rebounded to remain in contention with the New York Yankees in the American League East race.

The team currently doesn't have a starting center fielder after losing free agent Johnny Damon to the Bronx Bombers and current plans call for Alex Cora to replace traded Edgar Renteria at shortstop, but Wakefield said that history has shown that there is no need to panic.

"Being here as long as I have, I've seen this a lot, so you take it with a grain of salt," he said. "It's the nature of baseball."