5. How will opening the season in Japan affect the team?
The Sox will be the first team ever to open the season with a three-country road trip, heading to Japan, Oakland, and Toronto before heading home. They'll also play three exhibition games in LA after Japan to get over the jet lag. When the Yanks opened the 2004 season in Japan, they were 8-11 in their first 19 games, including five losses in six games to the Sox. The team batting average was .217, the team ERA was 4.50, and veteran Mike Mussina's pre-trip complaining appeared justified. But after losing to the Sox on April 25, the Yanks won 8 in a row, finished the season with 101 wins, and led the Sox 3 games to 0 in the ALCS before collectively committing hara-kiri.
The Sox will be the first team ever to open the season with a three-country road trip, heading to Japan, Oakland, and Toronto before heading home. They'll also play three exhibition games in LA after Japan to get over the jet lag. When the Yanks opened the 2004 season in Japan, they were 8-11 in their first 19 games, including five losses in six games to the Sox. The team batting average was .217, the team ERA was 4.50, and veteran Mike Mussina's pre-trip complaining appeared justified. But after losing to the Sox on April 25, the Yanks won 8 in a row, finished the season with 101 wins, and led the Sox 3 games to 0 in the ALCS before collectively committing hara-kiri.
(Globe Staff Photo / David L. Ryan)