Japan, here we come
We?re ready and excited to go to Japan. If the flight could be cut down by 10 hours, it would be great. So the only negative thing about is the length of the flight. Other than that, I think people are looking forward to go see Japan. I?ve been hearing great things about the country and what it?s like to be there. I think the biggest thing right now is we want to see the culture and we want to see all the great stuff that Japan has to offer.
If you go there with an open mind and you?re excited, it?s going to be good.
You just have to stay positive. Hey, it?s two baseball games that count and two baseball games that could be huge down the road, so we have to go out there and not be negative and keep a positive attitude.
The longest flight I?ve ever gone on before was Taiwan. In college, we went there my freshman year, we played three colleges over there. That?s probably about the same length flight as this one will be. It was long.
I remember doing a lot of sleeping that time. But the biggest thing for me this time is I?m not going to try to sleep. I?m going to try to get accustomed to their time zone as quick as possible and then when we get back, I?ll try to get back on our time zone as quick as possible. It will be pretty tough, but we?ll try to work it out.
First and foremost, I?m there to play baseball. I don?t want to do too much where it?s going to put a toll on my body. If I?m tired, I?m not going to go do anything, I?m going to try and get some rest. We?re there to play baseball and that?s the first thing. But hopefully we?ll have some time to check out some cool things and be able to see what Japan has to offer.
It?s going to be great for Dice-K and Okajima I?m sure. You can definitely tell they?re probably going to be treated like royalty and they always tell us we?re going to be treated like royalty over there because they don?t get to see Major League games very often. I heard there?s a different kind of cheering over there, and how they go about the game. We?ll see how they react. It will be fun just to see another culture in the sport of baseball.
I?ve heard Tokyo is very Americanized, so hopefully they?ll treat us well. I think the hardest thing a lot of times is the language barrier and just trying to get things, like food or whatever. But some of us guys who go down to Mexico or other countries, we can speak a little Spanish. But none of us really know Japanese. It?s going to be a different experience for us.
It?s going to be a very eye-opening trip. The key is to try to have fun and enjoy it because it?s something you might not ever do again.
Yooooouuuuukkkkk 
Youk, welcome back! Good to see you back online. Just wanted to say I thought it was a tremendous gesture to see you and the rest of the team rally behind the coaches today. I’m glad it worked out because I can not wait for the season to start. Best of luck.
Welcome back Youk! Good to see you back and blogging again.
Good luck dealing with the jetlag to and from Japan. Tip: Mixing sushi, saki and baseball at the same time – not a good idea.
-Dan
http://fansonthefield.mlblogs.com
youk, that was indeed a great thing that the red sox players did for the coaching staff!!!! that is why the red sox are a class act!!!!! hopefully the players have a safe flight to japan, and have a great time there!!!! GO RED SOX!!!!!!!
Have a great flight! Whats your flight number so I can track the flight on flight tracker?????
Don’t forget to move around and breathe 🙂
Go Red Sox!
Thanks for a AWESOME Spring Training!
Savannah J.
It’s great to have you back in the blogosphere, Youk. Have a safe trip, enjoy Japan, and play ball!
–Lorianne
http://hoardedordinaries.wordpress.com/
Hey Youk,
Great to see the team stand by their coaching/training staff today.
Also great to see you hit a 3-run bomb this afternoon!
Good luck in Japan. My friend who was there when you guys won the World Series said they love the Sox over there, so expect more crazy fans 🙂
with movies,,card games,,,naps and dinner,,the time will be over b4 u even know u were in the air for 17hrs,,,,u have a good schedule for intra-league games u get to get home to cinci for a weekend which will be good to see the guys and the family,,talk to cousin mikey every month or 2,,more during season,,,have fun,,,
hey youk!! i m so excited u blog how cool is dat? omg i luv u and wish u good luck in Japan wish i could come!
Youk – great to see the blog back.
A 3-run homer and a resolved labor dispute: not a bad day’s work! Re this disagreement over coaches and staff compensation for the trip to Japan: In the end, with the information that was released to the public, it seemed plausible that the disagreement might have come about because of a big miscommunication/misunderstanding but I love the way the team stuck together to do the right thing. This is why we love the Sox, as much as anything that goes on on the field.
I had to smile at your description of the conference call in statements to the press. I learned by hard experience in the business world to take notes on every call and circulate them to all participants to get everyone’s explicit or implied (by no response) agreement – and when I learned my lesson it wasn’t in the glare of international media. Nice job all around, and have a great and successful time in Japan! Can’t wait to see you at Fenway.
hi again! so i luv that u guys boycotted the japan thing even though i was so excited and i know you have resolved it but the way u guys actually have like minds and think 4 urself. ok i phrased that like a yankee fan which i m not!! ok what i mean is this is a great way to show my friends that u guys r very smart er whateva. i already knew that u were smart and caring but now i can prove it. that and with your foundation things!!! u guys rock!
hi again! so i luv that u guys boycotted the japan thing even though i was so excited and i know you have resolved it but the way u guys actually have like minds and think 4 urself. ok i phrased that like a yankee fan which i m not!! ok what i mean is this is a great way to show my friends that u guys r very smart er whateva. i already knew that u were smart and caring but now i can prove it. that and with your foundation things!!! u guys rock! good luck!
hi! so i luv that u guys boycotted the japan thing even though i was so excited and i know you have resolved it but the way u guys actually have like minds and think 4 urself. ok i phrased that like a yankee fan which i m not!! ok what i mean is this is a great way to show my friends that u guys r very smart er whateva. i already knew that u were smart and caring but now i can prove it. that and with your foundation things!!! u guys rock! good luck!
Youk
I want to say I am very proud on how you and the rest of the team stuck up for the little guy that has no voice. Just proves how you and the rest of the team fits so well in a Blue Collar City Like Boston. Good Luck in Japan and see ya in Boston
I live on the west coast and I am a west coast fan. However,after hearing about the Boston players story and standing up for their staff and coaches to get paid I just wanted to say thanks to the Boston players and will I be cheering you guys on.
Youk,
1st, how *******’ proud am I of you guys for standing up for what was right for the coaches & staff today??!! I was actually in tears…not only do you guys rock, not only have you won 2 titles in 4 years but you’re stand up guys to boot! I am happy the issue’s been resolved! Have a great, safe time in Japan and again, serious props for doing something most teams wouldn’t do! So glad you’re back!!
Kevin, I’m a Yankees fan and labor guy all the way. That was great team solidarity you guys showed by your vote and principled stand today. That was outstanding, and there should be more of that in baseball and in sports generally. I was sincerely impressed. It was the right thing to do, and MLB is just awash in cash. That should never have been an issue. That you and your teammates shamed them into caving in was just excellent.
Enjoy the trip to Japan, enjoy the sake and sushi, but not too much wasabi.
http://heartlandpinstripes.mlblogs.com/
Nice comments and good TEAMwork on that “misunderstanding!”
I’m in Tokyo now (I arrived Wednesday night), awaiting the team’s arrival… a bit raw here today – rainy, blustery, temps in the 50’s – a typical spring day here I guess. Playing inside will be a good thing.
Have fun! Can’t wait to see you guys play!!
Mike
Hi!Youk,
Last September I had a trip to Boston from my homecountry, JAPAN, visited Fenway and surprised at differences of the way of cheering between Japan and US.Since then I’ve been a huge fun of REDSOX and especially of you. I’ll go to watch the game in Japan of course wearing #20 T-shirt. A’s is also a good team but actually most of Japanese funs are looking forward to seeing REDOSOX members I guess.
Have a good flight and please enjoy your stay in JAPAN!
looking forward to seeing you at TOKYO DOME.
Takamasa
Hi, be sure to catch some of the live Sumo action on TV during you time in Japan. The championship will be determined over the weekend. It’s on usually from 4-6 PM on channel 1 (NHK).
Wonderful to see you back, Youk. Have a terrific time in Japan and thank you (and the team) for standing up for labor.
Always knew you were the good guys.
YOUK! I can’t wait to see this season start up, this line up is unbeatable. I’ve already set up a room at my work to come in early to watch the 6am games.
I also can’t wait to yell Yooooooouukk at the first game against the Yanks in Boston. Make sure who ever is pitchin hits A-Rod. And keep staying fine as ****
http://www.ashley.mlblogs.com/
glad to see the team made it safely to japan!!! have fun and GO SOX!!!!!!!
Youk! Welcome to Tokyo! we Japanese look forward to seeing you & RedSox!!Go Rox!!
Kevin, Glad to know you made it. Headed to Tokyo on Saturday to catch the games. Can’t wait to see how different the Tokyo Dome is from Fenway, just hoping we’ll all be awake during the games (fans and players)! Interested in what you find of interest in Tokyo. Have no clue how to chose what to see when not at the Sox games.
Kevin Have a Wonderful Trip In Japan and Win The games of course!!!!!!. It was great to see you and the rest of your teamates stand up fot the coaching staff!!!!. Kevin Have a Great season to you and the Rest of the team. Also I want to thank Terry Francona, Jason Varitek, Coco Crisp, Hideki Okajima, Kyle Snyder, Mike Timlin, John Henry, and Larry Lucchino for signing autographs for me at spring training this year 2008. Have fun In Japan!!!!!!!
Jeff
Youk,
I’ve been a Red Sox fan since the Impossible Dream team of ’67. I’ve been a Teamster for the past 30 years and a steward for 15 of those 30 years. In addition to my wife and family, the Red Sox and standing up for what is right are two of my strongest passions. Yesterday those passions came together when you as a team stood as one in defense of your trainers, coaches, and manager and just like Mike, “I’m super proud” of you guys. I can only hope that blue collar America was watching. Now let’s go make it three out of five!
A FL member of Red Sox Nation!
Dear Youuuuk,
I’m really glad you’re taking a positive approach to the Japan trip. You’re right, it could be once-in-a-lifetime, and you’re right, these games COUNT and could be huge come September. Best of luck to you. I’ll be cheering for you from the first base side, as I’ll be at the Tokyo Dome too. Rock on,
— Regular Rob, VP of RSN
http://www.imamemberofredsoxnation.mlblogs.com