Where Tomorrow Is Today

It's official. The Red Sox will open the 2008 season in Japan against the Athletics, a move long awaited but seemingly delayed by player reluctance.

Of course, the Sox are the World Champs, have two Japanese players who played large roles in their success, and as a result are apparently the most popular team in the island nation at the moment. It's hard not to be excited about Red Sox Nation becoming Red Sox World (which sounds more like a weird board game or long-distance plan, but whatever).

We might not be singing that tune in April, though, after the jet-lagged Sox drop their first 15, and Daisuke didn't even make the trip because his wife had her baby...

Comments

[LocklandSF]

I realize this is good for the game, good for the Red Sox brand and all.

But...

Ugh.

[sam-YF]

As a YF, Im happy about this. This sucked when we did it and Im glad you guys are going to now. At least you wont have Moose to complain about it. The tokyo dome is actually a pretty cool place for an indoor ballpark. I saw the giants play the yakult swallows there a few years back and it was an awesome, albeit a bit strange, experience. The highlight was the beer girls, they wear bright neon colors and carry a mini keg on their back to fill your glass of draft beer on the spot. Much more appealing than the cans of bud light from smelly dudes here in the states.

Paul where did you hear that the Sox have passed the yankees in popularity in Japan? My dad is actually in Tokyo right now and says that Yankee hats way out number Sox hats still....

[Paul SF]

I forget now, Sam. I'll try to see if I can trace it back. It was someone who lives over there and said Sox memorabilia is everywhere since the World Series win. I don't think it was Matsuzaka Watch. It might have been a story in the Globe or another blog I ran across. I'll try to find it later today, as I'm running out the door...

[sam-YF]

Sounds like it may be anecdotal. I do know that the yankee games are still all broadcast live over there Im not sure if the sox games are yet. All I know is that generally its the Yankees and Sox world and everyone else lives in it!

[Lar]

I would guess you'll have to start DMat off the season in this case!