Rise and shine, campers

It's 6:08 a.m. and it's on for a three-inning live blog.

6:09: JD Drew has already been scratched.

6:10: Strike to littly Dusty and we're on! Then LITTLE DUSTY SINGLES UP THE MIDDLE, and now the Japanese fans are "Youk"-ing!

6:12: Youk grounds out, Pedroia to second, Papi up. Watch your heads. Popout. Man-ny. Man-ny. The first hint of sunlight over here. Manny fouls out. Dice-K time.

6:18: T-Buck time. Grounds to LITTLE DUSTY and he's out. Then Mark Ellis hits the absolute crap out of the ball, homer to left center, 1-0 A's. And all of a sudden Dice-K cannot find the strike zone, and I'm quite a bit more tired than I was 10 minutes ago.

6:22: Jack Cust, the legend, is hit by a pitch. Then there's a wild pitch. And Emil Brown walks (on a full count, at least), loading the bases. Looked to me like Bobby Crosby just struck out, but they didn't get the call. On the next pitch Crosby bounces back to somewhere not all that near the pitcher and Dice-K makes a silly play to get him at first and it's 2-0. Restart! Nevermind, strikeout, and its Mikey Lowell time. One inning in the books!

6:35: Single for Mikey-poo. Brandon Moss is up. He's no Randy Moss. Fielder's choice and Moss is on first, so I'm looking for the stolen base. Oakland gets a little DP therapy on the grounder to short. Now I'm REALLY tired. I'm going to have some coffee and some of the $40 worth of breakfast food I bought yesterday.

6:42: Kurt Suzuki hits a single to center, giving us our first Jacoby sighting of the year. He fields it exquisitely, like The Natural. Ryan Sweeney flies out to right. Travis Buck strikes out by Suzuki steals second. Varitek's throw ain't great but we get our first Lugo sighting. Dice-K's first strike to Mark Ellis is an awesome fastball. He's dealing now... straight into a full-count walk.

6:53: Get your crazy on. Throw down some sake bombs. Tavarez is warming up. Another full-count walk leading straight into Jack "Pedro Cerrano" Cust with Dice-K only throwing fastballs and his new change-up. Cust is swinging like Robb Deer. Cust strikes out looking.

6:58: I just took a tape recorder out of my bag to do some work and my bag smells like Trident Watermelon Twist gum. Holy crap, I have a lot of transcribing to do.

7:01: JACOBY. Strikes out looking. But Lugo singles. This is the year. LITTLE DUSTY shows off some opposite-field warning track power, which is promising despite the out. Youk grounds it to the far side of third and Jack Hannahan gets it but can't get Youk out, which is dangerous for everyone involved for Papial purposes. Ortiz watches the first strike like it's nothing and eventually rocks it — right into the shift. We'll take the solid contact, I guess.

7:10: Dice-K comes out for the final half-inning of your live blog (sorry kids). Emil Brown aims to make it a quick one by popping to Youk, who drops it, equaling his error total from last year. Wow, that was unexpected. And a lie. Youk caught it. Sidney Bubba Bobby Crosby grounds back to Dice-K and he's out. Full count to Jack Hannahan, and a walk.

7:18: Kurt Suzuki lines out to a leaping LUGO! That's it for me. Work and breakfast beckon. Enjoy the next 161 and two-thirds. Baseball season.

Thanks but no

10 AM kickoff for Pats-Jets? Marvelous! 9 AM kickoff for Michigan-Iowa? Lovely! 6 AM for the Wimbledon finals? A little early, but I’ll do it! Monday Night Football concluding at a reasonable hour? Pac Ten basketball beginning at a reasonable hour? Superlative!

Pacific Standard Time is a glorious thing.
(Editor's note: Pacific Daylight Time ain't so bad either)

Alas, tomorrow the time zone gods frown upon we in the west. 3 AM! You in the East have nothing to complain about. 6 AM is isn’t even early! But this 3 AM business, well, it’s just not possible. 3 AM is like the island on Lost, you can approach it from any angle, but you won’t find the bitch.

I certainly haven’t seen 3 AM since my sad, unemployed days when I willed myself there by staying up to the wee hours pondering impenetrable thoughts like, “Perhaps I was wrong about Arquimedez Pozo, maybe Billy Jo Robidoux is the greatest name in baseball history.”’ Failing at that, I would then contemplate whether my bank account could handle a trip to Dick’s for a cheeseburger, some fries, and a chocolate shake. The ketchup at Dick's costs extra, and in those days five cents was precious.

I should note that those days I speak of were only a few weeks ago. Fortunately for me, Bryan was in need of a Head Writer for “Me and Pedro Down By the Ballpark.” Twenty-five cents they pay me for every post. And a nickel bonus for each mention of a Lou Gorman-era player. Rather sly of me to get the Robidoux reference in there, no? Yes, friends, times are good. As you can imagine, now when I enter Dick’s I buy a round of ketchup for everyone in the joint. The regulars have taken to calling it "Robidoux relish."

Anyway, by the time I wake tomorrow at 6:30, I expect a colorful tapestry of opening day events to reside above this post. A game blog so full of life and infinite wisdom that it will seem as though I did in fact wake at 3 AM and watch the game with my own eyes.

Of course, there is always the chance I have a restless night’s sleep, get out of bed at 2:30, head over to the International District, and watch the game with an excitable crowd of Japanese expatriates. I imagine they’re pretty amped for this one, what with Kurt Suzuki getting the start at catcher for Oakland.

7 hours to go.

Forty-six years of beautiful tradition: From Don Newcombe to Tuffy Rhodes

There’s an uninspiring Siena/Villanova matchup on my television. My mind wanders to the baseball, and to Japan...

Don Newcombe, the great Brooklyn Dodger who remains the only player to have won the Rookie of the Year, Cy Young and MVP awards, became the first big leaguer to sign with a Japanese club when he joined the Chunichi Dragons in 1962.

Larry Doby, the second black player to enter the major leagues and the second black major league manager, was the second big leaguer to sign with a Japanese club. He was a teammate of Newcombe's on the Dragons.

One of baseball’s all-time great fielders at third base, Clete Boyer, played for the Yaiyo Whales from 1972 to 1975. Boyer left America following a dispute with Atlanta Braves management regarding training methods. In Japan the 38-year-old was not allowed days off and, according to Wikipedia, the Japanese trainers, “had Boyer increase his workouts and provided him with so many vitamin injections that his arms were black and blue.” He stayed there for four seasons, so I guess he was cool with it.

Hall of Famer Goose Gossage was the closer for the Daiei Hawks in 1990. Along with Doby, Gossage is the only MLB Hall of Famer to play in Japan.

While Kevin Mitchell is best remembered in America for decapitating a cat, breaking his tooth on a frozen donut, beating up his father, and, of course, the bare-handed catch, in Japan he is remembered somewhat more fondly as the most disappointing American import ever. In 1995 Mitchell became the highest paid player in Japanese history when he signed a $4.5 million deal with the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks. He quickly drew the ire of Japanese fans by reportedly skipping games to go out on the town and then returning to America for ten weeks during the season to seek treatment on his injured knee. During his Japanese baseball career Mitchell batted .300 in 37 games.

All-time single season save leader Bobby Thigpen played for the Daiei Hawks in 1994 and 1995, posting ERAs of 1.93 and 1.96.

Mike Greenwell signed a contract with the Hanshin Tigers. Then he flaked out and didn’t go to Japan, then he went to Japan and hurt his foot, then he started driving racecars. Somewhere in there he considered using steroids but his wife, a nurse, told him steroids are bad. While Greenwell is not held in the same disregard as Kevin Mitchell, his Japanese career was obviously a major disappointment.

Scott Cooper, who capitalized on the Great Third Baseman Famine (and the Red Sox’ lack of any legitimate all-stars) to became the worst two-time all-star in the history of baseball, signed with the Seibu Lions in 1996.

Reggie Jefferson, a favorite of mine, had a career year for the Sox in 1996, hitting .347. Unfortunately, his inability to hit lefties (.214 career average) meant he was relegated to being and platoon player and could not rack up enough plate appearances to qualify for the batting title—in the end he would have finished second anyway. Jefferson played for the Seibu Lions in 2000, hitting .268 with 10 homers and 68 RBI. He went on to be an assistant baseball coach at the University of South Florida.

Arquimedez Pozo, who has the honorable distinction of owning the greatest name in Red Sox history*, played for the Yokohama BayStars in 1999.

*I’m probably selling Pozo short. Indeed, if not for Ambriox Burgos it would be fair to say that Pozo has the greatest name in baseball. Dick Pole is good for little more than eliciting giggles from children; Arquimedez Pozo is a hyrbird philosopher, explorer, Afro-Cuban musician, talking cartoon Owl. His name encompasses the totality of human history.

After spending the 1993 season wit Boston, Rob Deer joined the Hanshin Tigers where he put up typically Deerian totals in limited at-bats: .151 average with 8 home runs 79 strikeouts. Lou Merloni spent part of the the 2000 season in Japan. In 2003 Kevin Millar, current member of the Red Sox in his own mind, was headed to the Chunichi Dragons before Theo snatched him up and caused an international kerfuffle. Gabe Kapler hated his Japan experience so much he valiantly returned to Boston in mid-season only to rupture his Achilles tendon while rounding second base on a Tony Graffanino home run.

One of the more fascinating former Red Sox players to head to to Japan is Morgan Burkhart. He put up absurd numbers in 1998 while playing for the Richmond Roosters of the Frontier League. How about .404/.557/.861 with 36 home runs and 96 RBI. He had a fleeting chance to prove himself in the majors on a bad Boston team. I remember him as a lumpy looking switch hitter with some pop, nothing more. In reviewing Burkhart's major league productivity, I believe I located the worst starting lineup in Boston Red Sox history. And ah ha! look at that, the Red Sox starter that day was none other than Tomokazu Ohka, the first Japanese player to join the Red Sox. Anyway, Burkhart goes to Japan in 2002. Just the type of player you expect to mash across the Pacific, right? Well, it didn't really work out that way: .214/.293/.437 with 9 home runs in 126 at-bats for the Daiei Hawks.

While Tomo Ohka was the first Japanese native to join the Red Sox, he was not the first Sox from a Japanese ball club. There was (at least) one before him. The much ballyhooed Dominican pitcher Robinson Checo was signed by Boston after retiring from the Hiroshima team that refused to give him his release. He pitched in a total of 16 games over the course of his three-year major league career. It should also be noted that 2004 post-season here Dave Roberts is a native of Japan.

Like Checo, Alfonso Soriano began his career playing in Japan. Cecil Fielder, Orestes Destrade, and Julio Franco are included in the bunch who started in America, went to Japan and returned to America better (or in Franco's case younger) than before.

Three players, Tuffy Rhodes, Tyrone Woods and Alex Cabrera , whose careers in America were of little consequence, have gone on to pile up historic power numbers in Japan. Rhodes and Cabrera each tied Sadaharu Oh's single season home run record of 55. Neither of them broke the mark because Japanese pitchers refused to throw them strikes. Jerks.

OK, Butler-Tennessee is looking like it's gonna have a exciting finish. Gotta go.

Gaijin Leviathan

J.D. Drew is on fire. He's playing like Tuffy Rhodes right now. If the Sox were to leave him behind in Tokyo, Sadaharu Oh's home run record would be toppled in a matter of months. Drew hit a three-run home run in Japan exhibition #1 and a grand slam in Japan exhibition #2. So much for that jetlag he complained about.

Other positive news from the Sox' 9-2 win over the Yomiuri Giants: Okajima got a giant ovation when he entered the game and pitched a scoreless seventh. Crisp hit a triple. Lowrie hit a home run. Wake pitched well.

Now it's on to the 'regular season' games!

Different strokes for different folks

Lowell is a cagey vet: "I didn't sleep much on the plane, got to my room after 2 a.m., popped an Ambien and I feel pretty good today."

Matsuzaka is honest: "I'm a little bit jet-lagged. Sorry, I wasn't supposed to say that."

Drew is looking to excuse a slow start that hasn't even started yet: "It's going to be interesting. I don't think jetlag is overrated, not when you make this kind of a trip and then to back to spring training on the West Coast. It's a long time to be away from your family. We're going to play the hand we've been dealt, but it's a little weird to have games that count, then games that don't count."

Francona talks like a gradfather: “You know, what’s good, I feel like (expletive deleted) every day, so that’s what’s good about feeling like (expletive deleted) every day, I’m fine,”

Also:
TV/radio schedule for Sox in Japan
Lowell played in Japan as a 9-year-old
Some Sox pitchers visit a U.S. army base
Timlin injured pitching in Triple-A game
Matsuzaka's Japan homecoming bittersweet
The Mayor knew Sox' union would be solid one
Sean McAdam's travelogue from Fort Myers to Tokyo
Athletics looking for a few surprises against Sox in Japan
Yes, fans in Japan care about the A's too

Hell no, we won't go!

From Extra Bases:

Red Sox manager Terry Francona and his players were upset today after learning the team's coaches were not going to be getting the $40,000 per man they thought they were going to receive for the trip to Japan.

There was a players-only meeting held this morning on the topic, and David Ortiz said one of the options discussed was refusing to board the plane for Japan today unless the situation was rectified.

"That's one of the things we've been talking about," Ortiz said. "It's really [expletive] up."

Update: The Sox have voted not to go to Japan unless the coaches are paid.

In matters unrelated to labor strife:
Sox set roster for Japan
Lester will be a late arrival in Japan
Despite injury, Schilling headed to Japan
Ortiz won't be tripped up by trip to Japan
Feeling OK, Coco ready to make trip to Japan
Oakland's long day: two games, trip to Japan
A's giving long look to Sweeney (in Japan)
A's are on board for trip to Japan
Oakland roster set for Japan

View from the Bay

A’s enthusiastic over trip to Japan

"It'll be a great experience going over there," right-hander Joe Blanton said. "I like eating sushi. It'll be nice getting to see what they bring as far as that goes. It will just be a cool experience. Something new is always good."

Tokyo-bound, five years later

Five years ago, the A's were all packed and ready to go to Tokyo. Equipment manager Steve Vucinich was preparing to ship 14,000 pounds of gear and baggage with the team, and director of travel Mickey Morabito had passports and visas at the ready.

The onset of the war in Iraq canceled that trip one day before Oakland and the Seattle Mariners were scheduled to leave, disappointing many of the players and support staff. So the A's requested to be considered for future international travel, and here they are again, packing up after Wednesday's split-squad games in Phoenix and Mesa and taking off for Tokyo.