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Colon, Thurston headed for LA

BY JOE McDONALD
Journal Sports Writer

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Red Sox pitcher Bartolo Colon and utilityman Joe Thurston will leave Florida on Thursday and join the team in Los Angeles for the exhibition games against the Dodgers.

The addition of Thurston maybe a precautionary move because of the back problems experienced by J.D. Drew in Japan and the nine-hour flight to the West Coast, but the Red Sox have not confirmed that.

Posted by Joe McDonald  at 6:02 PM | Permalink

Red Sox 6, A's 5: One-stop wrapup

A quick list of all Sean McAdam's stories from Tuesday's 6-5 Red Sox victory over the A's:

-- Manny Ramirez gets off to his quickest start in years with a pair of two-run doubles, including a two-out shot in the 10th that breaks a 4-4 tie, and leads the Red Sox to a season-opening win over the A's.

-- Daisuke Matsuzaka overcomes a rocky start to pitch five solid innings and leaves the game with a 3-2 lead.

-- The red-hot J.D. Drew can't answer the bell, as a bad back forces him to the sidelines.

-- A complete list of postgame notes.

-- Commissioner Bud Selig attends the game and is non-committal on whether or not punishment will be meted out to players named in the Mitchell Report. He also has little to say about the Sox' threatened boycott of the Japanese trip, concluding, "All's well that ends well."

-- Prior to the game, Sean accompanies representatives of the Red Sox and A's to a reception at the home of Thomas Schieffer, the U.S. Ambassador to Japan. "They'll let anyone in here, I guess,'' jokes A's general manager Billy Beane when he spots Sean.

Posted by Art Martone  at 2:05 PM | Permalink

Red Sox 6, A's 5: Postgame notes

BY SEAN McADAM
Journal Sports Writer

TOKYO -- With Daisuke Matsuzaka gone after five innings, the Red Sox got a chance Tuesday to look at a number of relief pitchers they're evaluating. Some fared well; others didn't.

Kyle Snyder gave back the lead almost as soon as the Red Sox got it in the sixth, giving up a single to the first man he faced (Bobby Crosby) and a two-run homer to Jack Hannahan.

But Javier Lopez faced two hitters and struck one out and Bryan Corey added a spotless eighth inning.

--- Brandon Moss became the fifth player in major-league history to hit his first regular-season home run outside the continental U.S. or Canada. The others: Joey Hamilton (Aug. 18, 1996 in Mexico); Eric Valent (April 11, 2004 in Puerto Rico); Ron Calloway (April 16, 2004 in Puerto Rico); and Charles Thomas (July 7, 2004 Puerto Rico).

Also, home-run historian David Vincent notes that Moss became only the third Red Sox player to hit his first major-league home run in a season opener and the first since 1945. The last to do was Ben Steiner on April 17, 1945. Tom Winsett also did in on April 14, 1931.

Vincent also discovered that Moss is the 10th Red Sox player to hit his first homer as a member of the Red Sox in a season opener. Among those to do so were Don Baylor (April 7, 1986), Jack Clark (April 8, 1991), Tony Clark (April 1, 2002) and Mike Lowell (April 3, 2006).

-- For all the interest in Matsuzaka and his first start in Japan since joining the Red Sox, the crowd reaction was almost as loud for teammate Hideki Okajima, who entered the game in the ninth. Okajima received a huge ovation, having been a member of the Yomiuri Giants, the team which ordinarily calls the Tokyo Dome home.

-- The Sox faced a couple of familiar faces in the Oakland bullpen. Keith Foulke, the closer on the 2004 World Series team who took last year off, pitched the eighth and retired Kevin Youkilis, David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez in order. Both Youkilis and Ortiz took good swings, however, with Youkilis sending Ryan Sweeney to the warning track in center and Ortiz stinging a liner to left that was caught. Later, after the Sox beat up closer Huston Street, Lenny DiNardo came in and walked a batter before getting Moss to fly out.

-- Jacoby Ellsbury made the defensive play of the game, robbing Emil Brown of extra bases in the eighth, leaping before the wall to make a terrific grab. Ellsbury banged into the wall hard and was wearing an ice pack on his back and shoulder, but appeared fine.

-- Tuesday was only the fifth time in franchise history that the Sox had played extra-innings and the first time they came out on top. Before Tuesday, not since 2001 had the Sox been pushed beyond nine innings in their season opener.

-- Julio Lugo was the first repeat opener at shortstop on Opening Day since Nomar Garciaparra in 2002-2003.

-- Jason Varitek started his ninth straight opener, the most Opening Day starts for a catcher in club history. It's the longest streak for any Red Sox player since Mike Greenwell started nine in a row from 1988 through 1996.

-- Until Tuesday, the Sox had lost six of the previous seven season openers.

Posted by Art Martone  at 1:26 PM | Permalink

Red Sox 6, A's 5: Selig takes in the opener

BY SEAN McADAM
Journal Sports Writer

TOKYO -- Taking in the action of the Red Sox-A's season opener Tuesday was commissioner Bud Selig, who had also been on hand to watch the two previous season openers in the Land of the Rising Sun (Met-Cubs in 2000 and Yankees-Devil Rays 2004).

"Not only do I feel like I'm watching history,'' said Selig during the game, "but we're doing what we set out to do. Baseball has never been more popular (in America) and our goal is to take the game internationally.''

Selig was unsure when MLB when again have a season-opening series here, but revealed that the sport is looking for an opportunity to stage a season-opening series in Europe, too.

"We want to open in other places, too,'' he said. "But we'll be back here.''

Asked when he might be ready to announce some disciplinary measures against players and others named in the Mitchell Report last winter, Selig was non-commital.

"We're still reviewing on a case-by-case basis,'' he said.

He boasted that baseball's drug-testing program was "toughest testing program in any sport,'' but vowed to strengthen it further by working with the Players Association to implent some recommendations from the Mitchell Report.

"We're more than satisfied (with the progress being made),'' he said, but noted that MLB is helping to fund a study on human-growth hormone at UCLA.

Selig didn't wish to comment much on last week's potential boycott of a Grapefruit League game by Red Sox players who were angered to learn that coaches wouldn't be getting their promised stipend for the trip here.

"It got handled and it got handled well,'' he said. "There were some misunderstandings, but all's well that ends well.''

Posted by Sean McAdam  at 1:22 PM | Permalink

Red Sox 6, A's 5: Drew forced to back out of starting lineup

BY SEAN McADAM
Journal Sports Writer

TOKYO -- Following a blistering weekend in which he hit two homers and knocked in seven runs in exhibition game against Japanese teams, J.D. Drew couldn't wait for the season to start.

Then, when it did, Drew couldn't.

Drew experienced some lower back soreness during batting practice and when he tried to run on the field to get loose minutes before pregame introductions, found he couldn't get comfortable.

The Sox tabbed Brandon Moss to replace Drew and Moss responded with a go-ahead RBI single in the sixth and a solo homer to tie the game with one out in the ninth.

With one more game left here, it's unlikely Drew will play Wednesday, especially since the Sox then have a nine-hour flight to Los Angeles immediately after the game.

Posted by Sean McAdam  at 1:15 PM | Permalink

Red Sox 6, A's 5: Matsuzaka recovers from rocky start and pitches five strong innings

BY SEAN McADAM
Journal Sports Writer

TOKYO -- Earlier this week, in a quote sheet distributed to the media, Daisuke Matsuzaka expressed the hope that he would pitch "long innings" in his season-opening assignment against the Oakland A's.

The phrase was the result of some of poor translation, of course. What Matsuzaka was trying to say what that he wanted to pitch deep into the game.

But Tuesday, pitching in his native land, the prodigal pitcher almost took himself too literally. He needed 60 pitches to get through the first two innings and displayed poor command, walking four, hitting a batter and throwing a wild pitch.

"I think he a little over-amped,'' said manager Terry Francona. "He was jerking pitches clear across the plate.''

The A's took advantage of his wildness to score two runs in the first, but Matsuzaka bailed himself out of further trouble in the second when he fanned Jack Cust to leave the bases loaded.

That seemed to serve as a turning point for Matsuzaka. Thanks to his high pitch count in the first two innings, Matsuzaka lasted only five. But over his final three innings he was nearly perfect, retiring 9 of the last 10 hitters he faced.

He did not allow another hit and issued just one more walk.

"I didn't feel that anxious in the early part of the game,'' he said. "But I think I was a little overly cautious because of my tendency to start slow. For my next start, I would like to be a little more assertive.''

Matsuzaka said that, despite the improved results, he didn't make any significant adjustments after the second inning.

"I didn't approach the game any different,'' he said. "I was given the opportunity to start on Opening Day and I did feel a little nervous. I felt my calf muscle tighten up a little in the second, which turned out to be a good thing actually. It helped me relax after the first inning on.''

Posted by Sean McAdam  at 12:36 PM | Permalink

Game story: Red Sox 6, A's 5, 10 innings

BY SEAN McADAM
Journal Sports Writer

TOKYO -- It's uncertain, even as he suddenly has turned loquacious, whether Manny Ramirez is determined to prove any sort of point this season. If he is, he's traveled a very long distance to do so.

But the same hitter who has mostly sputtered through the first two months of the last two seasons wasted no time getting into gear for 2008. He smacked two two-run doubles Tuesday to help the Red Sox outlast the spunky Oakland A's, 6-5 in 10 innings, as the Sox successfully opened defense of their world championship a half-world away.

"I'm ready to go,'' said Ramirez after his second double, a two-run belt to right-center off Huston Street, gave the Sox a two-run lead in the top of the 10th. "I'm hungry -- hungry to get 600 (career homers).''

Ramirez didn't move that needle with his two doubles, but he did make the Red Sox offense go in the opener. Earlier, his first double -- slashed down the left-field line, just inside the third-base bag in the sixth -- had erased a 2-0 hole Daisuke Matsuzaka had dug for himself in the first inning.

If Ramirez was uncharacteristically hot in the first game, the Sox' other offensive hero didn't even think he would play until minutes before the first pitch. Brandon Moss was literally a last-minute substitute for J.D. Drew, who experienced some tightness in his lower back during batting practice and then couldn't get loose in time to be cleared to go.

Instead, the Sox tapped Moss as his replacement, both in right field and in the sixth spot in the batting order.

"Straight up,'' said a smiling Terry Francona, relating that he had no time to re-arrange the batting order when choosing Drew's replacement.

Moss had given the Sox their first lead of the game when he followed Ramirez's first double with an RBI single to right.

Then, after Kyle Snyder gave the lead back in the bottom of the sixth on a two-run homer to Jack Hannahan, Moss tied the game in the top of the ninth with a solo homer to right off Street, the first home run of his major-league career.

When the Sox return to the U.S. and have to get down to 25 players on the roster, Moss will almost certainly be optioned back to Pawtucket. But Tuesday was, quite unexpectedly, his day to shine.

"They told me right before (game time that I was in the lineup),'' recounted Moss. "I didn't have much time to feel anything. I was kind of shocked.''

Moss conferred with hitting coach Dave Magadan and teammate Sean Casey, trying to find what to expect from Oakland starter Joe Blanton. Casey told Moss that Blanton had a habit of throwing changeups to left-handed hitters, and in the sixth Moss pounced on one, driving it to right.

In the ninth, Street had fooled Moss badly with a changeup of his own. But when he tried to throw him another on 2-and-2, Moss drove it into the seats in right, bringing the Sox even.

"It feels great on a personal level, because we won,'' said Moss. "But if they have their mind made up (about having him start the season in Pawtucket), I don't think one game is going to change it.''

Still, there was no denying his euphoria, however temporary.

"I think any kid who's ever touched a baseball dreams of a day like this,'' he said.

Ramirez, of course, has had many days like this. But not many have come in April in recent seasons. Last year, it took him 10 games to accumulate the four RBI had collected Tuesday in two at-bats. The year before, it wasn't until the 14th game of the season that he had amassed four RBI.

No one associated with the Red Sox has an explanation for why Ramirez has begun slowly the last two seasons.

"But once he gets locked in,'' said Francona earlier this week, "he's ready to go.''

His slow starts weren't on his mind in the 10th inning Tuesday. As the inning unfolded with a leadoff infield hit by Julio Lugo, a sacrifice from Dustin Pedroia and a two-out intentional walk to David Ortiz, Ramirez told Alex Cora that he was hoping to face Street.

Why so eager to hit against one of the league's better closers?

"He's nasty,'' said Ramirez with an almost sheepish grin. "I like those challenges.''

Even after Ramirez rose to the occasion, the Sox had a scare in the bottom of the 10th.

Closer Jonathan Papelbon seemed out of sync almost from the beginning, walking leadoff man Daric Barton. After fanning Jack Cust, Papelbon yielded a run-scoring double to Emil Brown.

But here, too, Moss factored in. He made a strong throw to Pedroia, the cutoff man, and the Sox caught Brown making too wide a turn around second, nailing him in a rundown between second and third.

Two more singles followed, putting the tying run in scoring position and the winning run at first, before Papelbon got Kurt Suzuki to ground out to end it.

"I feel like I'm obviously better than I showed today,'' said Papelbon. "But I made some pitches when I had to. It's still early for me. I had to keep battling.''

Posted by Sean McAdam  at 11:54 AM | Permalink

Photos: How the game was won

Journal photos / Bob Breidenbach
Brandon Moss circles the bases after tying the score in the ninth inning with a solo home run.

On-deck hitter Jason Varitek waits to congratulate Moss.

Hideki Okajima pitched a scoreless ninth inning, enough to eventually earn the win.

Manny Ramirez stood and watched for a while as his game-winning hit -- a double, as it turned out, not a home run -- soars into the outfield.

Posted by Mike McDermott  at 10:35 AM | Permalink | Comments 2

Final, in extra inning: Sox 6, A's 5

BY SEAN McADAM
Journal Sports Writer

TOKYO -- Jonathan Papelbon was far from efficient -- allowing four of the the first five hitters of the season to reach against him -- but he closed out the Sox win, 6-5 over Oakland in 10 innings.

One down, 161 to go.

More details and updates throughout the day.

Posted by Sean McAdam  at 9:54 AM | Permalink | Comments 1

Photos: Manny's double, Jacoby's catch

Journal photos / Bob Breidenbach
Manny Ramirez doubles in the sixth inning to tie the game at 2-2.

Kevin Youkilis and Dustin Pedroia scored on Ramirez's hit.

Kyle Snyder handed Oakland a 4-3 lead by surrendering a home run to Jack Hannahan.

Jacoby Ellsbury robbed Emil Brown of a hit in the eighth inning with this leaping catch.

Posted by Mike McDermott  at 9:45 AM | Permalink

Manny strikes again, Sox up by 2

TOKYO -- A two-run double in the top of the 10th by Manny Ramirez has given the Sox a 6-4 lead over Oakland.

Ramirez doubled home Julio Lugo (infield single) and David Ortiz (intentional walk) to give the Sox the edge.

-- SEAN McADAM

Posted by Sean McAdam  at 9:31 AM | Permalink

9th-inning heroics, Moss ties the game

TOKYO -- With the Sox down to their final two outs, Brandon Moss just launched a solo homer into the seats in right, tying the game 4-4.

Moss, a last-minute replacement for J.D. Drew in right, has knocked in two of the Sox' four runs. The homer was his first in the big leagues.

Posted by Sean McAdam  at 8:56 AM | Permalink | Comments 1

Photos: Dice-K's day, he's a fan favorite

Journal photos / Bob Breidenbach
Fans held a sign congratulating the Red Sox starter and native Japanese on becoming a new father.

Matsuzaka got the loudest ovation of any player at the start of the game.

He had a shaky first inning, though, surrendering a home run to Mark Ellis, walking a batter, hitting another and throwing a wild pitch.

He settled down, though, in the third, fourth and fifth innings, and left the game with a 3-2 lead.

Posted by Mike McDermott  at 8:41 AM | Permalink

Sox' lead doesn't last long; A's homer

TOKYO -- Not long after the Sox took a 3-2 lead, Kyle Snyder gave it back.

Taking over for Daisuke Matsuzaka ( 5IP, 2R, 2ER, 2H 5BB 6K), Snyder allowed a leadoff single to Bobby Crosby and a two-run homer to Jack Hannahan, giving the A's a 4-3 lead in the bottom of the sixth.

-- SEAN McADAM

Posted by Sean McAdam  at 8:13 AM | Permalink

Photos: A different kind of pregame

Journal photos / Bob Breidenbach
The pregame ceremony was rich in traditional Japanese costume and music.

Manager Terry Francona and second baseman Dustin Pedroia walk the field before the game.

Fans try to spy some players inside the Red Sox dugout.

Principal owner John Henry visits shortstop Julio Lugo and designated hitter David Ortiz in the dugout before the start of action.

Posted by Mike McDermott  at 8:03 AM | Permalink

Sox pull ahead on hit by Moss

TOKYO -- A run-scoring single to right by Brandon Moss with two out in the sixth inning has chased Oakland starter Joe Blanton from the mound and given the Sox a 3-2 lead, their first edge of the season.

Moss's single delivered Manny Ramirez from second. Ramirez drove a two-run double down the left field line two batters earlier, tying the game at 2-2.

Former Sox reliever Alan Embree has relieved Blanton.

Posted by Sean McAdam  at 8:02 AM | Permalink

Baseball Today: Tuesday, March 25

Journal photo / Bob Breidenbach

IT'S ON: The Sox and A's are playing as we speak, and you can find the results elsewhere on this blog and on this page. So, in these unique circumstances, we'll focus on things other than the game on hand . . .

RIGHT ON, SETH: When I first read this in the Maple Street Press Red Sox 2008 Annual, I was hoping Seth Mnookin would eventually post it to his site. Well, he has, in two parts, and it's required reading: "Overfeeding The Monsters: Entitlement And The Continuing Evolution of Red Sox Nation." It's about the morphing of Red Sox fans from "stoic, loyal, and intelligent" (compared to the "obnoxious, self-entitled, uninformed, drunken louts" of Yankee Universe) into an "immensely unappealing, I-deserve-what-I-want-and-I-deserve-it-right-now" crew, a transformation I've noticed -- to my horror -- myself over the last few years. You can read Part One here and Part Two here. And, if it applies to you: Take heed.

HIS OWN HALL OF FAME: Did you know there's a Dice-K Museum in Wakkanai, Japan? ESPN.com's Jim Caple does, and he visited it.

FAVORED NATION STATUS: ESPN.com's Jayson Stark writes that "Unless you're older than Eddie Joost, older than Dom DiMaggio, older than Zsa Zsa Gabor, you've never lived in a world like this. You've never lived in a world where a baseball season was about to begin and the Boston Red Sox could be described with a word millions of New Englanders were once completely unfamiliar with: Favorites."

FAVORED FOR WHAT? After 10 straight years of picking them to win the A.L. East, Chad Finn picked the Red Sox to finish second last year . . . and you know what happened. So, this year, he's picking them second again, albeit with a chance for "another suspenseful and very possibly joyous autumn." (touchingallthebases.com)

YOU GOT IT, CHAD: According to the Replacement Level Yankees Weblog, Diamond Mind Baseball also has the Sox finishing second. Also picking Boston to finish second: Baseball Musing's David Pinto.

CAMPAIGN SLOGANS: ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick comes up with one for every team. The Sox': "Workers of the World, Unite". You'll have to click the link to find out why.

FLY ME TO THE MOON: When the Red Sox play at the Los Angeles Coliseum Saturday night, they'd do well to follow the lead of Wally Moon, who made his name taking advantage of the short left-field fence while he played there. (Los Angeles Times)

WHO ARE THOSE GUYS? For all the hoopla surrounding the Red Sox' visit to Japan, there's been a corresponding lack of enthusiasm for the Sox' opponents, the Oakland A's. "Perhaps they aren't quite the Washington Generals of the Tokyo Dome, but the A's open the season Tuesday night as the anonymous foil to their opponents, the Boston Red Sox," writes the San Francisco Chronicle's Susan Slusser. "That has been abundantly clear since Oakland arrived in Japan last week."

A-SURPRISE: The normally guarded Alex Rodriguez lets his hair down in an interview with the New York Daily News in which he says the biggest mistake he ever made was deciding to sign with the Rangers instead of the Mets in 2000 -- "I went for the contract when my true desire was to go play for the Mets" -- and that was at the base of his decision to stay with the Yankees . . . and to break with Scott Boras, whose first, last and only concern is chasing the very last nickel wherever it may be. "So to make the right decision just feels really good," Rodriguez said, "versus being taken down a road [by Boras] where I'm like, 'Oh, my God, where am I? Oh, $400 million to play in some place I hate? Great, I'll blow my --- head off.' I wanted to remain a Yankee and for once I put my money where my mouth was."

BACK OFF: Andy Pettitte may miss his first start because of back spasms. (New York Post)

THE SCOUTING REPORT: Foxsports.com does its detailed breakdown of the Yankees.

LOOKING AHEAD: The New York Post reports the Yankees and Mets are trying to buy their old ballparks before the arrival of the wrecking balls "so they can plunder them for lucrative memorabilia to peddle to fans."

BUT I'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS CASE SO LONG! That's Rusty Hardin's argument to requests by Brian McNamee's lawyers to remove Hardin from the defamation case that Roger Clemens' legal team filed against McNamee in January. (New York Daily News) McNamee's lawyers argued that Hardin had at one time represented Yankee pitcher Andy Pettitte, who admitted to using HGH after he was named as a user by McNamee in the Mitchell Report.

NOT HAPPENING: The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reports that Bud Selig is unlikely to discipline players cited in the Mitchell Report. Talks on changes in the drug agreement between players and owners are continuing. (AP via projo.com)

Q AND A WITH . . . Mark Fainaru-Wada, one of the authors of Game of Shadows. (sportsmediaguide.com)

IT'S NOT ABOUT THE MONEY: That's what the Rays are saying about their decision to send third-base prospect Evan Longoria to the minors, but no one -- least of all the players in their clubhouse -- believes them. (St. Petersburg Times) "If I say I commit to winning, he's on my team for sure," said Tampa Bay outfielder Jonny Gomes. The blog Rays of Light "can’t help but feel we were lied to by the Rays."

LOCAL BOY: Chris Iannetta, now hitting .344 this spring after a 3-for-3 performance Monday (rotoworld.com), is starting to draw some attention from the Colorado press. He was the subject of recent features in the Longmont Times-Call and the Casper Star-Tribune.

REVISIONIST HISTORY: In the old days, baseball people could say things -- any things -- and we all shrugged and figured, well, they're probably right. But now the facts are a click of the mouse away. So when Dusty Baker says he was protective of his young pitchers' arms in Chicago, it doesn't take long for Redleg Nation to determine "Dusty’s insane on this one."

MAKE OR BREAK TIME: That's what SI.com's John Donovan thinks the Giants' Barry Zito is facing these days.

HERE AND THERE: The Blue Jays' B.J. Ryan will start the season on the disabled list (Toronto Star), and Scott Rolen, who has a broken finger, may miss all of April (mlb.com) . . . No word on the future of Kris Benson, who has an opt-out clause in his minor-league deal with the Phillies that he can exercise today (Philadelphia Daily News) . . . The Rangers have picked up former Nationals starter John Patterson (Fort Worth Star-Telegram) . . . The Angels' Gary Matthews Jr. suffered a sprained ankle in yesterday's game against the Padres (mlb.com) . . . Another player with a bad back: The Cardinals' Troy Glaus (mlb.com) . . . The sore-shouldered John Smoltz, who a few days ago said the pain was so minor that he'd have pitched through it if it was the regular season, is likely to start the season on the disabled list (Atlanta Journal-Constitution) . . . If he does, he'll be joining Phillies closer Brad Lidge (Philadelphia Inquirer) . . . It looks like Juan Pierre may be losing his job, and it also looks like he's not too happy about it. (Riverside Press-Enterprise)

MONEY LINE: The Brewers are contemplating making multiyear contract offers to Prince Fielder and Ryan Braun (Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel) . . . The Blue Jays are close to reaching a long-term agreement with Alex Rios (Foxsports.com) . . . It's four years, $47 million for the Twins' Joe Nathan. (Minneapolis Star-Tribune)

WHISPERS: The Washington Post reports the Nats are trying to trade Felipe Lopez . . . The Rays may be interested in the recently released Reed Johnson and Jeff DaVanon (St. Petersburg Times) . . . The Cubs are beginning to look elsewhere in their search for an outfielder, but the Dallas Morning News says a Marlon Byrd-to-Chicago swap is unlikely . . . SI.com's Jon Heyman says Dodger manager Joe Torre is pushing the front office to pursue Brandon Inge and Joe Crede as they wait for Nomar Garciaparra to recuperate from his latest injury . . . It doesn't look as if Marcus Giles is going to stick with the Rockies (Denver Post). The Dodgers were rumored to have some interest in Giles, but Joe Bick, Giles' agent, says a deal is unlikely (Los Angeles Times) . . . The on-again/off-again Brian Roberts-to-the-Cubs talks are off again. (foxsports.com)

OLD FRIENDS: Kason Gabbard is having a miserable spring in Texas (rotoworld.com) . . . David Murphy, the player dealt with Gabbard to the Rangers in the Eric Gagne trade, is doing much better (Fort Worth Star-Telegram) . . . The Cardinals' Joel Piniero appears to be on the road to recovery (mlb.com) . . . Doctors say Freddy Sanchez has no structural damage in his shoulder (mlb.com) . . . Longoria's demotion means Eric Hinske will probably stick with the Rays (rotoworld.com) . . . Kevin Millar, who needed stitches after being hit on the left pinkie by a pitch last Friday, is just about ready to return to the Orioles' lineup (Baltimore Sun) . . . Jason Johnson didn't make the Dodger staff. (Orange County Register)

-- ART MARTONE

Posted by Art Martone  at 8:00 AM | Permalink

Manny ties the score with a 2-run double

TOKYO -- Manny Ramirez slapped a double down the left field line, scoring Dustin Pedroia (double) and Kevin Youkilis (walk) with one out in the sixth. It's 2-2.

-- SEAN McADAM

Posted by Sean McAdam  at 7:58 AM | Permalink

Not the best start for the Sox and Matsuzaka

TOKYO -- Daisuke Matsuzaka is struggling mightily in his native land in the Red Sox' season opener.

Oakland leads 2-0 heading into the third inning. Matsuzaka has thrown 30 pitches in each of the first two innings. He yielded a solo homer to Mark Ellis for one, then, after loading the bases with two walks and a hit batsman, allowed another to score on an infield out.

He's walked five in two innings.

The Sox, meanwhile, have singles from Dustin Pedroia and Mike Lowell.

-- SEAN McADAM

Posted by Sean McAdam  at 6:58 AM | Permalink

Meanwhile, back in Providence...

Journal photo / Bill Murphy
Jerry Duffy, left, of Providence, and Kyle Bosworth, of Coventry, watch the early-morning Red Sox action from Tokyo at McFadden's, in Providence.

Posted by Mike McDermott  at 6:30 AM | Permalink

Lineups for season opener

BOSTON

Dustin Pedroia 2B
Kevin Youkilis 1B
David Ortiz DH
Manny RamirezLF
Mike Lowell 3B
Brandon Moss RF
Jason Varitek C
Jacoby EllsburyCF
Julio Lugo SS
---
Daisuke Matsuzaka P

OAKLAND

Travis Buck RF
Mark Ellis 2B
Daric Barton 1B
Jack Cust DH
Emil Brown LF
Bobby Crosby SS
Jack Hannahan 3B
Kurt Suzuki C
Ryan Sweeney LF
---
Joe Blanton RF

Posted by Sean McAdam  at 6:01 AM | Permalink

Drew, battling lower back tightness, a late scratch

BY SEAN McADAM
Journal Sports Writer

TOKYO -- The Red Sox were just introduced here and there appears to be a last-minute lineup change.

J.D. Drew had been in the original lineup -- in right field, batting sixth -- but Brandon Moss was just introduced in that spot as the teams took the field here at the Tokyo Dome.

Now comes word that Drew was scratched because of lower back tightness. Drew had a monster weekend in exhibition play, hitting two homers and knocking in seven RBI.

Posted by Sean McAdam  at 5:55 AM | Permalink

Casey active, after all

BY SEAN McADAM
Journal Sports Writer

TOKYO -- Sean Casey, who had been expected to be one of three inactive Red Sox players for the two-game series here, is on the 25-man active list after all.

Casey has been hampered by a severely stiff neck, incurred during the 17-hour flight here last week.

To make room for Casey, the Sox optioned Dusty Brown to Pawtucket.

The Sox wanted to have three catchers here in the event of an injury. Brown will remain with the team today and tomorrow. In the event that something should happen to either Jason Varitek or backup Kevin Cash, the Sox could option Brandon Moss to Pawtucket and call up Brown.

Posted by Sean McAdam  at 1:38 AM | Permalink

Embassy sweets (and other lunch items)

BY SEAN McADAM
Journal Sports Writer

TOKYO -- I just returned from a ceremony and lunch at the residence of Thomas Schieffer, the U.S. Ambassador to Japan.

Ambassador Schieffer, who once was the president of the Texas Rangers when President George Bush was the club's managing general partner, welcomed representatives of the Red Sox and Oakland A's, assorted baseball officials and a small group of reporters to his home.

"There is nothing that unites (Japan and the U.S.) like baseball,'' he said in his remarks. "Baseball is the best export the U.S. has ever made to Japan and it still pays dividends.''

Schieffer spoke in a room where Gen. Douglas McArthur first met with Emperor Hirohito, and where, a decade earlier, Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig were once honored.

Commissioner Bud Selig spoke and noted that the season opener between the Sox and A's served as "a great testament to what (baseball) is doing internationally.''

Both the A's and Sox presented Schieffer with signed jerseys. Red Sox chairman Tom Werner, who said the Sox were honored to be here, joked that he hoped the ambassador would wear his Sox jersey over the Oakland one.

Representing the Sox: pitchers Jon Lester, Clay Buchholz, Tim Wakefield, Terry Francona, Larry Lucchino, Theo Epstein and John Henry -- among others.

Billy Beane, the general manager of the A's, conducted a double-take when he spotted me.

"They'll let anyone in here, I guess,'' said Beane. "No wonder so much takes places in embassies all over the world.''

Food was delicious -- roast beef, scallops in ginger sauce, crab cakes and tuna steaks in tomato salsa -- and everyone agreed that it was a nice change to be offered forks with which to eat.

Posted by Sean McAdam  at 1:22 AM | Permalink