Baseball and Eggs
Good morning to everyone waking up for what is sure to be a surreal Opening Day. I can't quite believe this game is going to count, but I suspect the energy, excitement from all the fans here will go up exponentially with real box scores. With that said, I still haven't seen a single sox fan walking the streets except right outside the stadium.
A few people read my article on NBCSports.com and wondered why I'm in Tokyo in the first place.
The only other time I've been to a baseball game in Japan was 2005 for the Yomiuri Giants Opening Day. The game carried a Red Sox connection as Gabe Kapler’s first game in Japan. Kapler remains one of my favorite people in the leaflet of famous Jewish Sports Legends, but his career in Japan end quickly in shame.
As a first-timer, I was blown away that the fans had a unique song/chant for each player. It was Kapler’s first at-bat in Japan, and even he got the treatment. (Yes, the chant was just “Kap-u-ra, Kap-u-ra.” but impressive fan unity nonetheless. We’re still stuck on “Lets go, Red Sox” for everyone.)
I probably look back on the game more fondly than Kapler, whose o-fer was a sign of things to come. I was visiting my best friend in Tokyo, and Opening Day was the second chance to meet Emika, a friend of his. Three years later, Emika and I are in Japan for the first time as a married couple. We’re staying with her parents; hopefully they think I’m here to see them, not Manny and Big Papi.
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I'm leaving for the game in 20 minutes, but had a couple random thoughts that didn't get into the article.
In Fenway, a score like that leaves everyone depressed, silent, or sarcastically yelling at their own team.
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Daisuke pitching today should make it pretty special. I've enjoyed watching the Japanese news talk about Joe Blanton at the top of their newscasts, even if I have no clue what they are saying. The two A's jerseys being solid at the stadium, by the way, are Barton and Blanton. Not exactly a team full of star power.
Matthew Pouliot is rocking the MLB news as usual, even with lineups at 3AM, and will have all our game notes. I'm signing off until Wednesday when I get back home. Go Sox.
Comments
I think it's very easy for MLB teams to play anywhere in the world, even if it's a regular season game. With so many games in a season, a 3 game series abroad wouldn't affect the out come. Not like it would the NFL, had the Giants lost the game in London, it could have effected thier playoffs chances greatly.
The only draw back of games played outside the US is the times they are shown but it still can work with no problem.
Enjoy Japan.
Posted by: GQ1NYC | March 26, 2008 02:02 PM
I think it's very easy for MLB teams to play anywhere in the world, even if it's a regular season game. With so many games in a season, a 3 game series abroad wouldn't affect the out come. Not like it would the NFL, had the Giants lost the game in London, it could have effected thier playoffs chances greatly.
The only draw back of games played outside the US is the times they are shown but it still can work with no problem.
Enjoy Japan.
Posted by: GQ1NYC | March 26, 2008 02:02 PM
Yawn. Wake me up when we're talking football again. I'm glad you're getting to see your in-laws Gregg, but baseball is one big snoozefest as far as I'm concerned.
Posted by: DJOmaha | March 27, 2008 01:33 PM