Red Sox Japan Trip
From SoSH
Contents |
The Trip is Announced
On November 14, 2007, just a few weeks after they won the World Series, Major League Baseball announced that that the Red Sox and Oakland Athletics would open the 2008 season in Japan. Larry Lucchino said after the owners meetings had concluded, "We were proud to get the invitation from MLB and Yomiuri. It comes at a good time for us, because we want to express our gratitude to the Japanese baseball world for the contribution their two pitchers made to our World Series championship." The trip would mark the third time MLB opened the season in Japan.
The Boycott
On the eve of their departure to Japan, the Red Sox players voted unanimously to boycott their final Grapefruit League game and the trip to Japan. The players made their feelings known to baseball that they were unhappy that coaches and staff were not going to be paid a promised sum of $40,000 for the trip. The start of the game was delayed as the players, ownership, and the Commissioners office reached an agreement. Ultimately, both sides agreed it was a simple 'miscommunication'. The Red Sox ownership and MLB would share the cost of the $600,000 in dispute. The game was eventually played, and the team left for the airport after the game, via a police motorcade in Ft. Meyers.
The Arrival
The Japanese media covered the Red Sox arrival in full force. A sea of cameras greeted the Champions as they arrived at 5.30am local time on the morning of March 21 at Narita International airport. Daisuke Matsuzaka and Hideki Okajima were the stars of the show over the next 2 days before the first exhibition game. The team had a copious amount of photo shoots, interviews, and 'meet and greet' events, such as Kevin Cash and Javier Lopez who signed autographs for local fans for an hour at the MLB Store in Shibuya only hours before the first exhibition game.
Two exhibition games followed on March 22nd and 23rd, and a new round of festivities began.
The Games
The first exhibition game took place between the Red Sox and the Hanshin Tigers on Saturday March 22 at 1pm (Tokyo time). Clay Buchholz made the start for Boston. David Ortiz got the offense started by hitting a solo homer in his first at bat in Japan since his 514' shot in 2004 and JD Drew followed in the same inning with a 3-run shot. Boston grabbed an early 5-0 lead before Buchholz coughed up 4 in the bottom of the 2nd and was replaced with 2 out in the 4th. The Red Sox would ultimately prevail 6-5, as "Dirty Water" was played in the stadium. JD Drew was honoured as Game MVP.
Boston sent Tim Wakefield to the mound in the second exhibition game the next day at 7pm against the Yomiuri Giants, who jumped out to an early 2-0 lead. JD Drew added his second homer in as many games, this time a grand slam in the 6th inning to put Boston ahead to stay. The local crowd grew excited as Hideki Okajima made his first Japanese appearance and first at his old home venue for 11 years in the 7th inning. He entered to a showcase of lightbulbs and a roar of applause before pitching a scoreless inning. Jed Lowrie impressed off the bench, ending the 7th with an unassisted double play and leading off the 8th with a homer. The Red Sox prevailed 9-2 in their finial exhibition game before the opener against Oakland. JD Drew was again honoured as Game MVP for his Grand Slam.
The Red Sox went back to the states to finish the exhibition schedule, including a trip to the Coliseum in L.A.
