Comments on: Red Sox beat A’s a week early

By: joser

joser — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 19:42:44 +0000

I don’t feel bad for Oakland either. They’re going to be smart and rich in a brand new stadium packed with home fans soon enough.

I watched a repeat broadcast — well, the first couple and last couple of innings — and it looked like a great game. And for all the Red Sox bias, the fans were obviously into the game and could teach American fans a thing or two. It’s good for baseball. Anything that increases interest in MLB in Japan helps the Mariners. Anything that hurts Oakland in the standings helps the Mariners. What’s not to like?

As much as I hate to cheer for the Red Sox, it

By: DMZ

DMZ — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 08:47:02 +0000

Don’t feel bad for Oakland, they sold their home games. They made out fine in the deal.

By: Wilder83

Wilder83 — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 08:43:05 +0000

I feel bad for Oakland. These two games count as “home” games when everyone in the crowd is pulling for the Red Sox because of Matsuzaka and Okajima.

I think it is ridiculous because what do the Japanese people care that it is a regular season game? It doesn’t make it any less meaningful if they just counted it as Spring training. Why didn’t the Padres vs. Dodgers games in China not count towards the regular season? Oh yeah, because it would have been just plain dumb.

I am fine with teams going overseas for exhibition games, but regular season games makes no sense. Yay for Oakland losing the first game, but they are going lose plenty enough it isn’t going to make a difference in our division title hopes.

By: JerBear

JerBear — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 06:32:20 +0000

Yeah, I was at a M’s-Sox game at Safeco in 2006 – it was like 50-50 on the fans. Kinda sad. But the cool thing was it was the last game of the series and we swept them – and I was at the game a few days before that and we knocked off the Yanks. Good times.

But I concur, starting the season a week early in Japan is simply rediculicious.

By: smb

smb — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 03:33:53 +0000

You’re right, my mistake. The Sox play home games in Seattle, too–look at the stands when they’re in town. It’s a bummer.

By: James T

James T — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 02:39:44 +0000

I got up before 6 AM to watch this. And I’m very much not an early riser. But, hey, it’s the Sox. I had to.

I understand that they need to have a few off days to readjust to west coast time but I agree with an earlier poster that it will be bizarre to play 2 games in Tokyo that count then 2 in LA that don’t. WTF?!

And, yes, it’s not fair smb but it’s two games not three.

By: derubino

derubino — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 00:38:09 +0000

Anything that hurts 2 of the 13 teams that we compete against works for me!

By: Terminator X

Terminator X — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 00:24:13 +0000

Watching the game now, just flashed “Cubs and Reed Johnson agree to a 1-year deal” on the ticker at the bottom of the screen.

By: smb

smb — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 00:24:05 +0000

Another thing that doesn’t make sense about it is that they conflicted with Japan’s games as well. Read Bobby Valentine’s comments for a feel of what I mean. The most ridiculous thing is having them come home for three more exhibition games, but I also think it’s lame that Oakland has three “home games” in a Tokyo stadium filled with Sox fans.

By: Churchill

Churchill — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 23:53:47 +0000

There’s no reason for it to be a full week early, though. MLB admitted that they “gave in” on the dates of these games to accommodate the local ballparks.

They originally were shooting for Friday and Saturday, then giving Oakland and Boston until the following Wednesday night to play again.