The Rays take off for Japan, where they'll face zealous fans and fight distractions and fatigue.
By MARC TOPKIN
Published March 26, 2004
ST. PETERSBURG - When the Devil Rays finally get to Japan today after a nearly 20-hour journey, they'll notice that a lot of things are different. Including the fact that it already will be tomorrow.
Depending on how adventurous they are, they'll find food that doesn't look quite like what they're used to eating; bathrooms that don't have, shall we say, all the standard equipment; money that, because of the exchange rate, will seem like it came from a board game (with $110 converting to about 10,000 yen); and nightclubs in the Roppongi area that aren't exactly like the ones in Ybor City.
But no matter where they go, they're going to find fanatical fans. Mark Guthrie, a journeyman middle reliever who went to Japan with the Mets to open the 2000 season, still marvels at the levels of passion and knowledge the fans showed and how many there were.
And that was just the first day.
"We were treated like royalty over there," Guthrie said. "The people were amazing. They're very familiar with American players, probably more familiar than a regular crowd here. That they knew a guy like me was kind of strange."
Rays infielder/outfielder Eduardo Perez, who played the 2001 season in Japan, has been trying to prepare his new teammates for what's ahead.
"The guys are going to experience something," Perez said. "We'll be like rock stars over there. Everyone is going to be a superstar over there. The average Joe player is viewed a little differently over there. And we're going to be bigger and taller than the rest of the community. We're going to stand out."
Most of the Rays seem to consider the trip in two ways: an incredible journey they'll probably never make again; and an incredible hassle they hope they never have to do again.
"You've got to view it as an adventure because you're going to a place that - in a literal sense, and in a metaphorical sense - is a different world," Rays veteran Paul Abbott said. "So we get to see that, but they also play the same game we're playing here. It's going to be just interesting to see. You hear how baseball-crazy they are, so to go to a whole other place where they have the same interests as we do here, that make it even more cool."
The Rays drove their cars to Tropicana Field after Thursday's game, bused to St. Pete-Clearwater Airport, boarded a Japan Air Lines 747 and flew five hours to San Francisco for a refueling/leg-stretching break. They left there shortly before midnight Tampa time and prepared to fly another 11 hours and land in Japan by 11 a.m. today, which would be shortly after 1 a.m. Saturday Tokyo time.
"I view it as, "I don't want to go but I do want to go,' " Robert Fick said. "You just kind of wish you could snap your fingers and be there."
Want to get some squid?
Obviously, the Rays and Yankees are worried about the effects the travel has on the players. The other issue is making sure they remember that though the first two Tokyo games are exhibitions, the other two are regular-season games.
"It's not that we need to be reminded that we're playing the New York Yankees in the first two games of our championship season, but it's in an unusual atmosphere," Rays general manager Chuck LaMar said. "As much as we want to enjoy the trip and enjoy the people of Japan and their culture and their country, we're there for business. We're there to play one of, if not the finest organization in baseball, and these two games count like any of the other 160.
"We won't lose sight of it, but there will be a difference around those first two games. So that would be my first concern, to not let there be any distractions."
Or, as managing general partner Vince Naimoli has said more than once: "We have to keep in mind the main objective in going there is to win four games."
The players understand the importance of the games and the efforts being made to make their field time as routine as possible. But this is by no means a normal road trip.
There are going to be wives (and in a few cases, moms) along for the ride to be concerned about, language barriers to overcome, currency to exchange, souvenirs to buy, places to explore and sea creatures to be eaten.
"I don't find the idea of eating a fresh eel in the morning too appealing," manager Lou Piniella said, "but everybody's different."
When Jon Gruden and the Bucs made the journey in July for what was essentially a pre-preseason game, it was hard enough to keep the players focused.
To play games that count? "It's a big challenge," Gruden said. "I wish them luck."
Isn't that Huff-Daddy?
Technically, the success of the trip will be determined by how the Rays do in the two regular-season games against the Yankees.
Realistically, the Rays came out ahead just by going.
"It's good exposure for our team," Piniella said. "The eyes of baseball haven't been focused on the Devil Rays too much. And this is an opportunity."
The Yankees are obviously the main attraction, with the return of Japanese star Hideki Matsui so huge a story that Alex Rodriguez's regular-season debut may seem like a footnote and Derek Jeter's presence may go almost unnoticed.
But the Rays aren't necessarily the Washington Generals, a nameless and faceless group brought along just to give the Globetrotters a good game.
"People there know the game," said Jim Small, managing director of MLB's Japan office. "They know the Devil Rays bring the No. 1 hitting outfield in the league. They know who Aubrey Huff is. They know who Rocco Baldelli is. They know who Lou is because his comments about Rocco being rookie of the year were very well-publicized there."
Baldelli figures to be at the center of attention because he was seen in Japan as Matsui's main rival for the AL rookie of the year even though Kansas City's Angel Berroa ended up winning.
What Baldelli doesn't know is if he'll be considered the enemy, or more of a curiosity.
"Probably both," he said. "They were saying in our meeting they are really nice people. Maybe they won't boo me too much. But even if they do, I won't know what they're saying, so it doesn't matter."
Money matters
The Rays are going to Japan because Naimoli is a member of MLB's international committee and a strong believer in global expansion of the sport.
But they aren't just doing it out of the goodness of Naimoli's heart.
Basically, the Rays agreed to do something a lot of teams wouldn't do: sell two home games to the Japanese promoters. They'll be reimbursed for the lost net revenues from those games (including the money they had to pay the St. Petersburg for its usual take) plus the three home spring training games they had to give up. Though official figures are not available, it's safe to assume they probably won't come out behind in the deal.
Once MLB decided to make the Yankees the showcase team, MLB president Bob DuPuy said the Rays were invited for several reasons.
"They're a good young team, they're in the Yankees' division, the schedule worked out," DuPuy said. "And they're a team where the home games don't always (always?) sell out, so this is an opportunity to play in front of 50,000 people."
The Rays are incurring additional expenses by bringing along some top sponsors, which will cut into their proceeds. But Naimoli said it was still a good deal.
"If you weigh the costs vs. the recognition, it's a good investment from the advertising standpoint," Naimoli said.
It's definitely a good financial deal for the players. They get the chance to bring an adult guest for luxury accommodations on a once-in-a-lifetime trip and about $200 a day in meal money. And when it's over, they're expected to end up with around $30,000 apiece, as each team gets a chunk of the proceeds to divide among its players, much like postseason shares are distributed.
"It's a huge deal from two aspects," Naimoli said. "It gives us substantial international recognition and it's a fairly substantial payday for our players, and I think they deserve that."
Except for getting there and back, the rest of the trip has the potential to be a fantastic journey.
"When we get off the plane in Tokyo," LaMar said, "I think it will hit us what a huge event this really is."
HIT THE GROUND RUNNING: After hopefully getting a few hours of sleep, the Rays first official activities in Japan will be a news conference at the Tokyo Dome followed by a Kids Day workout, where 40,000 youths are expected. Saturday night will be a formal reception at the New Otani hotel, featuring the traditional sake barrel-breaking ceremony. Vince Naimoli, Lou Piniella and two players are expected to don ceremonial robes, called Hapi coats, and smash the barrel with baseball bats. "It's a traditional thing to do and it means good luck," said Jim Small, managing director of MLB's Japan office.
DAILY SCHEDULE
SATURDAY IN TOKYO
2 a.m. (Noon today EST) - Arrive at hotel
1 p.m. (11 p.m. today EST) - News conference at Tokyo Dome
2-3:30 p.m. (Midnight-1:30 a.m. EST) - Kids Day workout at dome
7 p.m. (5 a.m. EST) - Welcome reception, New Otani SUNDAY IN TOKYO
Noon (10 p.m. Saturday EST) - Exhibition game vs. Hanshin Tigers at dome
MONDAY IN TOKYO
10:45 a.m. (8:45 p.m. Sunday EST) - Clinic at Yokosuka Navy base
7 p.m. (5 a.m. EST) - Exhibition vs. Yomiuri Giants at dome
TUESDAY IN TOKYO
7 p.m. (5 a.m. EST) - Regular-season opener vs. Yankees
WEDNESDAY IN TOKYO
Noon (10 p.m. Tuesday EST) - Reception at U.S. Embassy
7 p.m. (5 a.m. EST) - Regular-season game vs. Yankees
Rays leave after the game and get back to St. Pete-Clearwater Airport at approximately 12:30 a.m., roughly the same time they took off in Tokyo.
