Daisuke Matsuzaka will open the Red Sox World Series championship defense (I love writing that!) on March 25 in Tokyo against the Oakland A's, most likely against Joe Blanton. Terry Francona confirmed that today, and also said that Jon Lester will start the second game of the series, also possibly against Rich Harden. (A's manager Bob Geren hasn't made any formal announcement yet.)

Clay Buchholz and Tim Wakefield will start the two exhibition games this weekend after the Red Sox arrive in Japan on Thursday. They may both pitch the first two regular season games in Toronto, but that will depend on the health of Josh Beckett, and when he's ready to go.

The word from Red Sox camp is that Commander Kick Ass had another pain-free session today, throwing from 120 feet. He maybe ready to go when the Sox reach Oakland to start the season in the US on April 1, but we will see.

As I write this, the Red Sox are just arriving in Japan for the exhibition and regular season games they will play there. Today's Boston Globe has the complete schedule for the three-week trip that also include the games they will play in Los Angeles, Oakland and Toronto, before returning to Boston to raise the world championship flag on April 8.

Here is the long road ahead for the Sox (all times are Eastern):

March 21: Red Sox vs. Hanshin Tigers, 11:05 p.m. (Exhibition in Japan)
March 23: Red Sox vs. Yomiuri Giants, 6:05 a.m. (Exhibition in Japan)
March 25: Red Sox vs. Athletics, 6:05 a.m. (Regular season opener in Japan) NESN, ESPN2
March 26: Red Sox vs. Athletics, 6:05 a.m. (Regular season game in Japan) NESN, ESPN2
March 28: Red Sox at Dodgers, 10:40 p.m. (Exhibition)
March 29: Red Sox at Dodgers, 10:10 p.m. (Exhibition at LA Coliseum) NESN
March 30: Red Sox at Dodgers, 4:10 p.m. (Exhibition)
April 1: Red Sox at Athletics, 10:05 p.m. (Regular season) NESN
April 2: Red Sox at Athletics, 3:35 p.m. (Regular season) NESN
April 4: Red Sox at Blue Jays, 7:15 p.m. (Regular season) NESN
April 5: Red Sox at Blue Jays, 1:07 p.m. (Regular season) NESN
April 6: Red Sox at Blue Jays, 1:07 p.m. (Regular season) NESN
April 8: Red Sox vs. Tigers, 2:05 p.m. (Opening Day at Fenway) NESN

It's now official. If you want to see the Red Sox opener in 2008 live and in person, you'll have to go a long way to see it.

The Red Sox will open the 2008 season, and the defense of their World Series championship (I love writing that) on March 25 and 26 at the Tokyo Dome (pictured) in Japan against the Oakland Athletics.

My friend Jules passed along to me today the updated Red Sox spring schedule on NESN. The network is showing just seven Grapefruit League contests, along with the two regular seasons games being played in Japan this year. Here is the schedule:

Friday, February 29 vs. Minnesota Twins at Hammond Stadium, Ft. Myers, FL 7:00 PMSunday, March 2 vs. Minnesota Twins at Ft. Myers, FL 1:00 PMSunday, March 9 vs. Los Angeles Dodgers at Vero Beach, FL 1:00 PMSunday, March 16 vs. Pittsburgh Pirates at Bradenton, FL 1:00 PMMonday, March 17 vs. New York Yankees at Tampa, FL 1:00 PMWednesday, March 19 vs. Toronto Blue Jays at Ft. Myers, FL 12:00 PMSaturday, March 29 vs. Los Angeles Dodgers at LA Coliseum, 10:00 PM

The Red Sox won their second exhibition game in Japan today, defeating the Yomiuri Giants, 9-2 at the Tokyo Dome, as J.D. Drew hit his second home run in two days, a grand slam in the first inning.

Tim Wakefield pitched five solid innings, allowing two runs against Japan's most famous baseball club. But the biggest moment of the game was when hometown hero Hideki Okajima came in to pitch in the seventh (pictured). The former Giant reliever received a thunderous ovation in pitching a scoreless inning.

Jed Lowrie also added a solo homer, and Brandon Moss and Coco Crisp drove in runs to lead the Red Sox offense. Monday is an off day, and the Red Sox will play the Oakland A's on Tuesday night in Tokyo (early morning in the US) to open the 2008 MLB season.
I'll be witnessing it at Professor Thom's along with some other early birds on Tuesday.

And I hope you all have had a Happy Easter.

East
1. Boston Red Sox
2. New York Yankees
3. Toronto Blue Jays
4. Tampa Bay Devil Rays
5. Baltimore Orioles

The Red Sox should be one of the top teams in the MLB. They still have a dominant line up with David Ortiz, Manny Ramirez, Mike Lowell, plus Jacoby Ellsbury will be a great leadoff man. The starting pitching rotation is solid with Josh Beckett and Jon Lester leading the way and the bullpen remains one of the best with Jon Papelbon and Hideki Okajima. The Yankees will obviously fight for the top of the division but their pitching staff isn't that strong. Also, watch out for the Blue Jays they may finally get into the playoffs if they stay healthy.

Central
1. Detroit Tigers
2. Cleveland Indians
3. Chicago White Sox
4. Minnesota Twins
5. Kansas City Royals

In the immortal words of Henry Hill in the classic movie Goodfellas: "The way I see it, everyone takes a beating sometime."

The Red Sox took one on Friday night.

Just a badly played game all around. Bartolo Colon made his first lousy start in four appearances, and he also made two errors that led to three unearned runs. The Red Sox had some early opportunities, but could cash none of them in. Manny Ramirez and Jacoby Ellsbury both sat out with the injuries they suffered on Thursday night (both are day-to-day).

The Seattle Mariners coasted to an easy 8-0 victory at the Fens. It was awful and ugly, and the less said about it the better.

Before the game, the suspensions were announced for the brawl on Thursday.

Foul tips and other observations: I suppose there will be some lingering effects from the Japan trip, whether it's an extended case of jet lag for a few players or, less likely, a team-wide outbreak of the dreaded Giambi Parasites. And given their hellacious early schedule - they have five games with the Yankees, three with the Angels, three with Detroit, and two with Cleveland in a stretch from April 8-27 during which they have exactly zero days off - they'll be fortunate to escape the season's first full month with a .500 record . . .

It was a strange night for the Red Sox in Seattle on Tuesday night. Manny Ramirez finally got the "498" taken off this blog by clubbing a three-run homer in the seventh inning to tie up the game with the Mariners at 3. But Mike Timlin kept up his terrible record at Safeco Field, as he gave up a run in the bottom of the ninth to give Seattle a 4-3 win. The Sox are now 1-4 on this current 10-game swing.

Daisuke Matsuzaka didn't look sharp at all, and allowed two runs in the first and one in the third, before leaving the game before the bottom of the fifth with what was at first thought to be a hip or back problem. The Red Sox later said it was shoulder fatigue. His next start is scheduled to be in Baltimore on Monday, and his status for that is currently unknown.

The bullpen did a fine job after Dice-K left, as they pitched four shutout innings before Timlin gave up the winning run in the ninth. Sarge is now 0-6 with an ERA over 10.00 lifetime at Safeco.

Both Julio Lugo and manager Terry Francona got tossed from the game after Lugo argued with ump Angel Hernandez (an umpire of questionable ability) on a third strike that Hernandez said Lugo had swung at. Tito came out after Lugo was thrown out and gave the ump a piece of his mind too, and was ejected for the first time all season.

Monday was a truly awful day for the Red Sox, and not just on the field.

Hideki Okajima entered the game on Monday against the Orioles as the Sox had a 3-2 lead in the eighth inning. He had absolutely nothing, as he allowed four runs, including a bases loaded double to Adam Jones. A fine outing from Tim Wakefield went totally to waste, and it also included Manny Ramirez' 502nd home run, and his third in as many games. Baltimore won, 6-3.

As bad as that was, the news after the game was truly terrible. I was watching the game on the MLB package tonight, and the Oriole announcers had the game. They said early on that the Red Sox would make an announcement on David Ortiz, who had returned to Boston for an MRI, after it was over. I could hear the bells tolling.

Once again, the Red Sox offense on Saturday night inspired the immortal words of that noted philosopher Harry Doyle: "What, just one goddamn hit?"

Yep, that was all the Red Sox offense could muster against Justin Duchscherer and the Oakland A's, as they dropped yet another game on the road, and the second to Oakland in two nights, 3-0.

It was simply an awful performance by the Red Sox offense. They seemed to be popping everything up, and didn't get a man to second base all night. They didn't get a baserunner until the sixth, when Jason Varitek was hit by a pitch. David Ortiz broke up the no-hitter in the 7th with one out with a clean single to center. But he was the last Red Sox player to reach base.

Take nothing away from Duchscherer. He was simply terrific, retiring the first 15 men he faced, and striking out four in eight innings. Josh Beckett was very good, and allowed just 2 runs on 7 hits in 7 innings. But Manny Delcarmen was awful again, and basically put the game out of reach for the Sox by allowing Oakland another run in the 8th.

And it was another lousy performance by the Red Sox on the road, where they are now a miserable 10-16. They have been simply murder at home, but underwhelming away from Fenway. They have now dropped the first two games of an 10-game trip.

Lots of good news for the Red Sox pitching staff this weekend.

Daisuke Matsuzaka's wife Tomoyo gave birth to a boy on Saturday, the couple's second child. Congratulations to the Matsuzakas on the new addition to their family. And that's VERY good news for the Red Sox and their fans, as Dice-K can now travel home to Japan this week with the team and start one of the two games at the Tokyo Dome against the Oakland A's.

And the word on Josh Beckett continues to get better. Terry Francona has confirmed what everyone seemed to know, that Beckett will stay back in Florida for the Japan trip. It's not worth risking his balky back on such a very long trip. He played catch with pitching coach John Farrell yesterday and reported no problems with the back. Tito did not say when he'd pitch next, but he may very well be in line to start one of the games at Oakland either April 1st or 2nd when the regular season resumes for both clubs.

Now, did anyone, even the most cockeyed optimistic Tampa Bay Rays fan, ever think that the title I just wrote here would be true?

Well, it is, as they moved into first after a sweep of the Baltimore Orioles this past weekend, and another stinker by the Red Sox in Oakland, as they lost another series on the road, 6-3. The Red Sox are now in second place, 1/2 game behind Tampa Bay.

No, Jon Lester didn't pitch another no-hitter yesterday. We go through this crap every time a pitcher throws a no-hitter: Can he duplicate what Johnny Vander Meer did in 1938? Who cares. I just wanted a good outing from Lester and a win yesterday. Didn't get either. Lester struggled against the A's yesterday. He didn't have it, allowing a run in the first after David Ortiz' top of the first blast, and allowed three earned runs in five innings.

(Jon also revealed yesterday that his dad John is also suffering from non-Hodgkins lymphoma, the same disease he has so far successfully fought. Our thoughts and prayers to Mr. Lester in his fight with it.)

My friend Adam sent me an email the other day about the alleged "the greatest pitcher of the modern era" Roger Clemens, and his postseason numbers with the Red Sox. As most of you Red Sox fans know, he had a very mediocre record for the Sox in his postseason appearances of 1986, 1988, 1990 and 1995. His record was 1-2, with an ERA of 3.88. He had only one shining moment in the postseason for the Red Sox: winning Game 7 of the 1986 ALCS to get the Red Sox into the World Series. But he also got hit hard in that World Series in Game 2, but the Sox hit Dwight Gooden harder and won. He pitched decently in Game 6, but he famously asked out after 7 innings (or did he?), as the Mets tied the game in the eighth, and...you know the rest.

The Red Sox were scheduled to leave for Japan after today's game with the Blue Jays, but the word came out today that the players will boycott the trip and not get on the plane today (as well as not play the final game in Florida against Toronto) unless the coaches and training staff, who are also making the journey, are also compensated as the players are.

Each player is getting $40,000 for the games over there, but apparently MLB reneged on an agreement back in November that the coaches would also get a stipend for it as well. It is my understanding that the two other times MLB teams made trips over to Japan (Mets-Cubs in 2000 and Yankees-Rays in 2004), the coaches and training staffs were compensated.

Terry Francona found out about it yesterday, and the players likewise found out and held a vote and right now will not play today or get on a plane later today. I also heard that the Oakland A's, who will play the Sox in Tokyo, are watching what happens today in Ft. Myers and may also boycott the trip.

Honest truth, it wouldn't break my heart if the Red Sox don't make the trip. They can just make those games up in Oakland. I support the players on the stand they are taking.

As I write this, no decision has yet been made, as negotiations are still ongoing between the Red Sox and MLB. Stay tuned.

Spring has sprung! Well, the actual beginning to spring is still over five weeks away according to the calendar, but today is the day when pitchers and catchers report to spring training for the Red Sox at Fort Myers. Many of them have already arrived ahead of time, like Daisuke Matsuzaka (pictured, sporting a new mullet) and Jon Lester. The first workouts begin this weekend, and the first spring training games begin in two weeks.

Enough of all the talk of illegal drugs and lowlifes like Roger Clemens. Now is the time for baseball. Thank God it's about to return.

I've also updated my countdown clock at the top of the blog. The count is now on for the first regular season game, the opener in Tokyo on March 25th against the Oakland A's. Just under six weeks to go, and I'm sure it will be here before you know it.

J. D. Drew and Mike Lowell both hit grand slams on Thursday afternoon, as the Red Sox completed a clean sweep of the Kansas City Royals, 11-8.

Drew went deep in the second, and Lowell hit one in the sixth, as it looked like the Sox were cruising in a laugher. It was also the first time that the Red Sox hit two grand slams in the same game since July 2003, when Bill Mueller hit two (one from each side of the plate) in his three home run game against Texas.

But the Achilles heel of the Red Sox struck once again, and that is their middle relief. Craig Hansen gave up two runs in the seventh, including a home run, and David Aardsma gave up a three-run shot in the eighth. Granted the game appeared to be won, but it forced Terry Francona to bring in Jonathan Papelbon, who proceeded to put two on before getting the last out for the save.

The Red Sox won their second straight game over Tampa Bay, 5-1 on Wednesday night, as Josh Beckett won his sixth straight game, and the Red Sox took over first from their new archrivals.

J.D. Drew continued his hot hitting and clutch fielding in the absence of David Ortiz, as he drove in another big run and made another fine running catch in the first, as he did on Tuesday night.

The bullpen did another fine job over the final three innings, as Manny Delcarmen, Hideki Okajima and Craig Hansen pitched scoreless ball to get Beckett the win. It was especially important that Okajima have a good outing, as his last one was one of his worst ever in a Red Sox uniform. He allowed a hit to the first batter, then retired the side after that. And Hansen continued his fine pitching as well, and it allowed Terry Francona to avoid using Jonathan Papelbon.

It was a great night to be a fan of the Boston teams last night, especially if you were among the throng at Professor Thom's pub in the Village. There was a huge crowd in to watch the Red Sox-Orioles game as well as the Celtics Game 6 matchup with the Detroit Pistons.

The day started off with some bad news for the Red Sox on Friday, as Daisuke Matsuzaka was placed on the 15-day DL with soreness in the right rotator cuff. It doesn't sound serious, as it appears the Red Sox want to rest him. He will probably just miss two starts, and he will be replaced by either Justin Masterson or Clay Buchholz for the start on Tuesday night against Tampa Bay.

It was a bizarre night at Camden Yards, as the Red Sox opened with two runs in the first to take a fast lead. But in the second, with a man on third and one out, Terry Francona put on the suicide squeeze, with Alex Cora at the plate. Cora missed the bunt, and Coco Crisp was a dead duck. I can't remember the last time Tito tried that play. Granted the Sox have been hurting for runs lately, and Cora is a good bunter. I just hate that play, especially as the Orioles were playing the infield in at the time. And for the next ten innings, the Red Sox couldn't put a run across the plate.

The Red Sox opened their four game jaunt in Japan with a win on Saturday afternoon (Friday night/Saturday morning in the Eastern US) with a 6-5 win over the Hanshin Tigers in the Tokyo Dome. A raucous, sellout crowd saw the Sox score four runs in the first on a David Ortiz home run and a three-run shot by J.D. Drew.

The Tigers are very similar to the Red Sox in that they have probably the most knowlegeable, rabid and passionate fan base of any team in Japan. They follow the team all over Japan, and sometimes outnumber the home team's fans. (Sound familiar?)

Clay Buchholz once again struggled this spring, giving up four runs to Hanshin in the second. In all four starts he's gotten knocked around. Granted, you can't get too high or low when it comes to spring training, but you have to wonder if Buchholz could probably do with some more time in AAA.

Things have been rather quiet this winter for the Red Sox, and it's probably been the most stress-free off-season for them that I can ever remember. (Winning World Series and signing your key free agents can do that.) There are a few questions still to be answered, and most are concerning the bench.

Yup, I'm here. Joining me are the Baseball Prospectus, the Baseball America Prospect handbook, the Bill James handbook, a matching pair of Shipyard IPAs, and my already bored wife, who between sighs mentions she would much rather be watching something called "The Memory Keeper's Daughter" on, I'm assuming, Lifetime. Fortunately, I have removed the batteries from the remote. I predict she'll catch on to my scam sometime around the fifth inning. (Oh, okay, she's actually being sweet enough to DVR the ridiculous thing. The best marriages are based on compromise, my children. Sincerely, Dr. Phil.)

Playing nine innings while hoping Terry Cashman is banned from the premises today . . .

In case you just woke up from a coma or something, NFL Football is back, thank goodness, after an off season that seems to last longer and longer each year, we can now get our fix of bone crushing hits and scintillating one-handed touchdown catches. But hold your horses it's not real NFL Football, it's preseason football, the games don't count, the stars rarely play and you will see nothing but a generic game plan, in other words, no exciting plays from the play book.

Justin Masterson (pictured) faced the unenviable task of trying to follow up Jon Lester's no-hitter last night, but certainly did himself proud, as he pitched 6 1/3 innings of quality work, allowing just one run on three hits (all by Alex Gordon) as the Red Sox beat the Kansas City Royals, 2-1, at Fenway last night.

It was just his second MLB start (I was at his first back on April 24), but once again Masterson couldn't have been better. He was brought up just for this one start from AA Portland, and he was sent back, not to Portland, but to AAA Pawtucket. He left the game in the 7th inning with the 2-1 lead.

Hideki Okajima struggled in the eighth, filling the bases on a double and two walks and getting two outs. Jonathan Papelbon came on to strike out Billy Butler to preserve the lead, and then got Kansas City 1-2-3 in the ninth to get his 13th save of the year. The Red Sox got two early runs off Gil Meche and made them stand up, as Masterson struck out five and walked three.

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By Stefan Ming

Image: Brandon Marshall

The NFL Football season is one quarter over and it's time to start adjusting your fantasy football rosters. By now we can start identifying trends in performance and injuries and we need to do some tweaking to our rosters to stay competitive.

You knew this was coming.

After all the hard feelings of the previous night, you knew it was just a matter of when the Tampa Bay Rays would retaliate against Coco Crisp. Surprisingly, it was in the bottom of the second inning, when Tampa Bay pitcher James Shields hit leadoff batter Crisp on the second pitch of the at-bat, and Crisp charged the mound, and it set off a benches-clearing brawl. Coco was tackled by Dioner Navarro, the Rays catcher, and it allowed Jonny Gomes, Akinori Iwamura and Carl Crawford to punch him, in full view of the TV cameras. Coco, Shields and Gomes were all tossed from the game, and will be facing suspensions, as will Iwamura and Crawford when MLB looks at the video. (UPDATE: For those of you looking for video of all the Fenway hijinx of last night, check out my next post for the clips.)

And it wasn't the only scuffle of the evening.