"I would have to say it is taking time off from the end of the college and then getting back in pitching shape," he said.

Fife said another change is seams on pro baseballs are lower than those on the balls used in college.

"For some reason it makes the ball move more," he said.

Drafted June 5, Fife flew to Boston about a week later and signed his contract after drug tests came back per Major League Baseball guidelines.

Some high draft picks sometimes hold out for more money.

"I felt it was time for me to get going," he said. "I didn't want to stall any organization by holding out. I got slot money. I wanted to get out and start playing. The progression I went through at Utah was very memorable. I really enjoyed my time. My teammates were fantastic. Each season there was unique in itself."

Now he is in a rookie league that has a 76-game regular-season that lasts until Sept. 6. "It is like a busy college weekend every day," he said.

NOTES: Fife played in the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa. during his youth in Idaho in 1999. Williamsport has a team in the New York-Penn League and Lowell is slated to play there Aug. 12-14. ... The Lowell manager is Gary DiSarcina, a former Major League infielder with the Angels.

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Note: David Driver is a freelance writer in Maryland. He can be reached through his Web site at www.davidsdriver.com.