Matsuzaka is going to play for Japan in the World Baseball Classic this spring and will try to win another championship for his home country. Dice-K was the MVP of the WBC in 2006. He told reporters the following yesterday:
"I'll accept the offer if I'm asked to play," Matsuzaka said. "I'll pick up the pace of my training in December so that I won't have to scramble at the last minute."Read more...
The Globe is now reporting that Coco will make the trip to Japan. One reason for this might be the Red Sox wanting to show off Coco first hand to the A's. Oakland and Boston have been discussing potential trades since the A's options in center are limited. If Coco can be ready to play by next week we may see him in some of the games in Japan to showcase his talent to a possible suitor.
Read more...It's official. Dice-K will get the opening day start for the Red Sox in Japan. While every Red Sox fan wishes Beckett was 100%, it is great to see Dice-K given this opportunity. You know he will bring his A-game in front of his home-country fans. It's also likely that the Red Sox will now get the Tokyo crowd on their side in the Japan opener.
I expect Dice-K will put in a memorable performance. Stay up late, get up early. Either way, be sure to tune in.
According to ESPN.com the Red Sox games against the A's to start the season in Japan have been sold out. If you were planning a trip to see them your price just got higher....although if you can afford to go to Japan to see the Red Sox you can afford the scalper price. The Tokyo Dome seats 55,000 and sold all of the tickets for March 25 and 26 in two weeks. (What's up with the Japanese fans? They would have sold out in 2 hours in Boston.)
Also in Red Sox news: Trot Nixon has signed with the D-backs.
The first regular season game for the Red Sox will take place on March 25 and the game is scheduled to start at 6:07 AM ET (3:07 AM PT) at the Tokyo Dome in Japan against the Oakland A's.
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Dice-K has been in some of the country's newspapers today for a couple of reasons today. He arrived in Japan and answered some questions to reporters about his season saying it was "not up to my standards." Dice-K's marketing pull was also reported on because of some comments by Red Sox executive Sam Kennedy. Kennedy said the marketing dollars from Japan did not arrive in the way Scott Boras had outlined during the negotiations for Matsuzaka. The trip to Japan for the start of the season should help keep the Japan chapter of Red Sox Nation going and the marketing dollars should follow.
The Red Sox players agreed to the trip to Japan to start the '08 season. Boston will play 2 games against Japanese teams on March 23 and 24 and then start the regular season on March 25 and 26 with 2 games against the Oakland A's. The games will be played at the Tokyo Dome and are considered home games for the Red Sox. With Dice-K and Okajima on the team most of the crowed should be cheering for the Sox. We'll see how many members of the Nation make this road trip.
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