A relative few with time and the money made the trip to Japan, while others settled for a seat at one of the Kenmore Square bars that opened early Tuesday for the Red Sox' opener against Oakland. But the result was the first of what Red Sox Nation hopes will be many wins to come for the home team in 2008.
The freezing temperatures here and the fact that the rest of the teams are still playing practice games in Florida and Arizona made this a strange Opening Day. But those who turned on the TV a little after 6 a.m. saw Dice-K being Dice-K — shaky start, strong close — along with offensive heroics by Manny Ramirez — two, two-run doubles, including the game-winner in the top of the 10th. And it was another son of Japan, not starter Daisuke Matsuzaka but Hideki Okajima, pitching in relief, who got the win for the Sox as they prevailed over the Oakland Athletics by a 6-5 score.
Why start the season in Tokyo? As more than one sports commentator has observed: Just follow the money. It's the same reason the Sox are now sporting company logos on their game jerseys.
The Tokyo Dome was sold out Monday, and imagine the market for Red Sox and other Major League Baseball paraphernalia in a country with more than 127 million people.
So with daylight saving time and Easter coming early, why not get a jump on the baseball season with a couple of games on the other side of the Pacific Ocean? Even with snow in the forecast, it makes those of us here feel that much closer to the day we can enjoy the outdoors once again.
And what's wrong with watching baseball while you're having breakfast? Better than struggling to keep your eyes open for those late-night games on the West Coast.
Besides, everyone knows the baseball season doesn't officially get underway — at least as far as New Englanders are concerned — until the first pitch is thrown at Fenway Park. And that day — Tuesday, April 8 vs. Detroit — is right around the corner.
