Season Opener

Bad Idea. I'm sure it's going to line the owners pockets, so once again the owners say hooray for us and fack the fans. Who the heck wants to watch a game at 6am. That is Balogna of the highest degree.

I'll be sleeping in and watching it at 10am on MLB.TV. This is the one time the London time change will actually be good. Is it a good idea? Not really. It's cool for the Japanese players to play in their home country again, but Japanese baseball in general is always trying to separate itself from MLB. They don't want to be associated with American baseball at all. Some of the greatest players in Nippon Professional Baseball have been American or foreign, but they won't get voted into the Hall of Fame.

Bad Idea. It alienates the core fanbase by playing the game at a time when most are unavailable to watch it, let alone buy tickets and attend it.

TiVo and avoid AGM,ESPN until i watch the game in full....sound like a plan

I think it's a good idea. With the 4 exhibition games played over the weekend, about 130,000 people who normally wouldn't get a chance to see Major League teams, got a chance to see them in person. And people watching on television (in prime time) got to see their national team (Yomiuri) take on the World Series Champs, and have a lead going into the 6th inning. That must have been sick to watch (thanks ESPN for not broadcasting those games).

I think having games in Japan is a good thing. Japan is the 2nd biggest market for baseball. It's starting to produce some serious talent and will be an integral part of baseball's future.

It's kind of Americocentric to be whining about the start time of a game, or not being able to see 2 games out of 162. We're spoiled here. All our favorite sports are our own sports, and they're played at our own times. Japanese fans of MLB have to watch their games at 8 AM, European fans of the NBA and NHL have to watch those games at midnight or later. I think we can toughen up, set our alarms earlier (or stay up all night like me) and handle a 6 AM start time.

But I do feel bad for the A's and their fans. They have a 3 AM start time in Oakland. And this series counts as two home games for them, even though there will be many more Red Sox fans there. MLB should have split the series, having each team get a home game and an away game. And they should have selected another east coast team to avoid such a horrendous local starting time.

It doesn't really matter. Considering there are 162 games, some of which will pass even the most dedicated fan by (Niteowl excepting), holding a dozen a year elsewhere won't really hurt. Why not arrange one home and away game for everybody in a different country? There are a heap of countries available, Australia was missed off an earlier list, even some games in Europe. Missing 2 games over 162 per season isn't that much of a loss.

I like it. Japan loves the game, why should they not get a chance to share in it? It's 100x better than the NFL going to London.

Time difference between the US (ET) and Japan is 13 hours, depending on which way you look at it. You're never going to get a time that pleases both markets.

i am watchin on nesn, because i will be to woried to sleep and get some last chance studying done for this weeks English MCAS, that i must ass to graduate. Plus it is a lot easier to wake up and watch then to stay up and watch a game in my opinion

Regular season games overseas, no. Exhibition games, clinics, stuff like that, no problem.

I'm just wondering what the big deal about opening day being in America is? I always watch the first baseball game of the year, but it wouldn't bother me if it were played on the moon. The game isn't just America's anymore. You're going to have to learn to deal with games in other countries, and players with unpronounceable names. As Alex said above, it's not as if the World Series is being played over there. There are 2,430 Major League games on the schedule this year. I think we can handle having two in Tokyo, even if they are the first two. And having the series in March makes so much sense. The teams get a few days to adjust to the timezone change, then a few days to readjust once they come home. You couldn't do that in the middle of the season.

I have to admit, it kinda sucks to alienate what is essentially, the entire American Baseball public to play an opening game in Japan. You said it yourself Rob, you watch every opening game...most people (baseball fans) do...and playing it at 6am will prevent me from watching due to work, sleep and the like...

I understand the concept, but its just difficult to execute...and like much of baseball's publicity stunts...was executed poorly...

Toyko is 13 hours ahead of EST and 16 on PST, which means its gonna be 3am when coverage starts for As fans...I just don't understand why they don't push it to an 8 or 9pm start Tokyo time to at least get it to 7 or 8 am EST and 4 or 5 PST...

I'm watching it right now...The A's are out to an early 2-0 lead.

Same, it's a tie ball game in the top of the sixth.

I wish there had been a live blog going! They frigging played Sweet Caroline!!! I could so get used to 6am baseball.

extra innings!!

I know someone else saw that... Manny with a huge double off the wall. Street got rocked... sucks for him...

Yeah, I thought that was gone.

Jesus, even Japan can't avoid Shipping out to Boston. I love the Dropkick Murphy's, but never hearing that song again would make me a happy person. They have plenty of songs at least as good that mention Boston! Gaaaaah! Sorry I hate when good songs get ruined due to over-playing. See entire Soundgarden album Superunknown ruined because of Black Hole Sun's over-playing.

Papelbon walks the lead-off batter.

And now Cust is 0-2.

cust just got his 4th k of the game...

Just to clearify the score it is 6-5 Boston in the bottom of the 10th.2 out.

Horrible base running. Stay on second and the tying run is in scoring position. A run did cross the plate, but now the offense has to start back up.

Base hit for the A's.

Papelbon isn't looking good...

Another base hit.Runners at first and second.

Good idea. Give Papelbon a minute to settle down. The winning run is on first with the tying run on second. He just needs to get the batter out to close out the game...

And the Redsox win 6 to 5.

The Red Sox are the only undefeated team in the MLB (I've always wanted to say that)

Oakland made this game interesting at the end but it is Boston that comes out on top. Papelbon got hit, but he fell into the "bend don't break" philosophy... and it worked...

I'd say the player of the game is Manny Remeriz, because of the 4 rbi's

What a game! Now that is the way to showcase a product! Blown save, extra innings, lead changes, japanese players, patient batters, Papi scoring from first. The only things better would have been a no hitter (PG included!) or someone hitting for the cycle!

What a way to start off the season for the Red Sox and MLB!

Great win for the Sawx! Way to go!

It's too bad I couldn't watch the game. Just got back from playing basketball. I'm an idiot!

I usually get up at 5 do the articles so today I just watched the game and kept notes and posted the article after the game. Might not do an extensive article on tomorrow's game since the same overviews can be found online. Think they are replaying this morning's game at 2PM...Eastern time I guess?