Sox trip to Japan should be memorable, but challenging

TOKYO – Boston Red Sox manager Terry Francona has been a busy man the past few days.

“So much has been made of this series that what we, as a coaching staff, are trying to do is keep things on an even keel,” Francona said of Boston’s opener today against the Oakland Athletics in Tokyo. “These are two games that are not more or less important than the rest of the games this season.”

The Sox manager waited Monday as the interpreter repeated his words and waited for the next question that would be translated before he would answer. As one Boston writer said at that point, anticipating the next question, “It’s all Daisuke, all the time.”

He was referring to Sox pitcher Matsuzaka, who has returned home to Tokyo to pitch the first game. Even his own teammates could not imagine how popular he is here until they saw it in person.

Francona then took another question about Daisuke.

This is a tough opener for the Sox. They were not keen on making the trip in the first place. They wanted to start their defense of the title under normal conditions.

Major League Baseball wanted them in Japan. It was a chance for the league to showcase Japan’s most popular baseball export – Dice-K – and continue to build their marketing connections in a country that loves the game.

It is the third time a MLB season has started in Japan and it will not be the last. MLB wants to rotate the teams that make the trips, always looking for teams that will draw.

Securing the Sox to make the trip took some time and effort.

The Sox players wanted more money and held out for it. They and Oakland got $40,000 per player plus a piece of the gate.

Then came last week’s threatened cancellation of the trip by both the Sox and Oakland if the coaches and team staff weren’t paid extra for the trip. The extra will be paid.

Then came the return trip and three exhibition games against the Dodgers before continuing the season, and the series, in Oakland.

The Dodgers want the games to be played under NL rules: no DH. That might be fine for most spring games, but it was not all right with the Sox since the season had started and they wanted David Ortiz to get his at-bats.

That involves more negotiations, probably directly between now Dodger manager Joe Torre and Francona.

There is no question the trip is an experience none of the players will forget. Yet, it is the start of the regular season and players are creatures of habit. There is little normalcy for players during a trip like this.

The Sox will survive and may even thrive on the trip, but that will come only with at least solid performances, if not wins.

So I go to this noodle cafe to order lunch. In my best Japanese I point to the menu and stumble through some words that I hope say, “I would like that.”

The smiling lady then asks, “Would you like coffee with lunch?” in perfect English.

A polite and deep bow seemed appropriate.

Play ball.

bdnsports@bangordailynews.net