Japan trip boon and curse as Sox try to start off on right foot

TOKYO – For the third time in the three regular series season openers in Japan for major league baseball, the two games have been split. The Sox and Oakland are back home.

Sox manager Terry Francona said his concerns as Boston prepared to re-enter the exhibition season in Los Angeles were to be “ready, rested and healthy.”

“We’re just trying to make it through the weekend,” said Francona. The trip is a tough one, even if “a great one,” in Francona’s words.

His biggest concern about playing in Japan, besides the travel issue, is mental preparation.

“We want to win every game,” he said, “and making this trip is never an advantage to anyone.”

He was speaking about both the games played in Japan with all the ceremony that surrounds the visit, and the games to come with the convoluted “back to exhibition, then back to regular season” road.

A Japanese correspondent, wanting the Red Sox manager to know how much the trip meant to Japanese fans even with the toll on the team, said, “Your team moved Japanese fans.”

Francona, somewhat taken aback and not wanting his comments about the toughness of the trip to reflect negatively on the visit, immediately reiterated that it is a great trip and experience and he was genuinely appreciative of the kindness he and the team had received.

That is the conundrum. The Japanese fans love to have the teams come. They are enthusiastic and supportive.

For the teams, the atmosphere resembles that surrounding the World Series. Every word, every move is scrutinized to the nth degree. There are constant ceremonies at the stadium and visits to and by government and baseball officials.

With players trying to find their season rhythm, there is little chance to do so. Even running sprints prior to the game is tough.

Sox players tried to do that prior to game one and found the field filled with hundreds of dancers. The players were running in the outfield between the kimono-clad performers.

For game two, the dancers were replaced by samurai sword carriers. Nobody was warming up for game two.

There are plenty of issues for the Sox to deal with prior to continuing the series against Oakland. Josh Beckett had what Francona called “his best spring outing” throwing on the side this week.

If all goes well, Beckett probably will pitch in Toronto, but Francona said “That is the best-case scenario.”

J.D. Drew, so ready to begin the season, has a back that acted up minutes before the start of game one and Francona said he came to game two “no worse, but no better.” He did not play.

Bartolo Colon will get a shot today in a start and try to be the big surprise of the spring for the Sox.

Julio Lugo has a bad back and hasn’t played nine innings yet. He ran well in game two, but Alex Cora will substitute late in games until Francona is convinced Lugo is completely ready.

What will the Sox do with Coco Crisp? His groin is healthy, but Francona said Wednesday, “I do not see a platoon in center [with Jacoby Ellsbury].”

So the season is under way – oops – it’s spring training again.

bdnsports@bangordailynews.net