MLB Working On Red Sox/Yankees Asian Tour

[UNHWildCats]

Initial plans call for Boston and New York to play exibition games in China (likely the new Olympic Stadium?) Then move onto Japan to open the regualar season.

Boston has Daisuke Matsuzaka and Hideki Okajima and New York has Hideki Matsui who are all Japanese so a series in Japan makes sense. Also its possible Japan's biggest star Ichiro could be wearing one of those two jerseys next season.

Boston has a lot of Taiwaneese prospects in there system and New York has Taiwanese star Chien-Ming Wang which could add to the interest in China.

Most of Boston's Taiwaneese talent are in there early years of service so probably wouldnt make sense for a lot of them to get in games though I would expect one or two to get some playing time if they play in China.

[GannonFan]

Not being a fan of either the Red Sox or the Yankees (although by not liking New York I certainly dislike the Yanks) I don't see this as a good idea - more of the rich get richer concept. Both teams already are #1 and #2 in terms of salaries and both leverage their resources to remain that way. Having these two teams basically do a marketing swing for themselves through the Far East doesn't really help baseball all that much, but it does help these two teams further entrench themselves in that market and help both of them tie up talent for themselves. I know Wilbon on PTI brings this up a lot, but there are other teams out there besides the "Yanks and the Sox". Heck, between the both of them they only have 1 World Series title this millenium! :p

[UNHWildCats]

yea but u have 2 of the biggest stars of Japan on these two teams who would u rather have play there? Oakland with its Japanese gay porn star reliever and Texas?

[GannonFan]

yea but u have 2 of the biggest stars of Japan on these two teams who would u rather have play there? Oakland with its Japanese gay porn star reliever and Texas?

Like I said, it starts to be self-fulfilling. How about having Seattle play over there - Ichiro is still marketable in Japan, plus he'd play everyday? The Yanks were there not too long ago as well - are they going to get exclusive rights to that game/market now?

[citdog]

how did unh talk them into this? a whole asian tour just so he can go poke asian dudes in the rear!xnodx xnodx xnodx xnodx xnodx xnodx

[UNHWildCats]

I think the hesitation on doing a seattle/Sox game for instance is its likely Ichiro wont be a mariner next season. As I said its likely he will be in a Sox or Yankee jersey

[UNHWildCats]

hey doggie i have a Robert E Lee stamp :p is he one of ur heroes?

[GannonFan]

I think the hesitation on doing a seattle/Sox game for instance is its likely Ichiro wont be a mariner next season. As I said its likely he will be in a Sox or Yankee jersey

No doubt helped in part a little bit by those teams' already established advantage in terms of marketing in that region. It starts to get circular the more you do it.

[appfan2008]

i think it is good for the game but will screw those players up coming back to the states after playing over there in regards to time zone changes and also which club is going to be willing to give up some home dates to make this happen???

[bluehenbillk]

I'd like to be a fly on the wall when the conversation takes place as to who gives up a home game(s) to play over in Asia.

[UNHWildCats]

It would likely be the same as a few years ago, they head ovcer early play exebitions in China then go to Tokyo. I could see it being 2 games and NY and Boston both giving up a gate.

They would return to the US before the season starts and play another 4 or so exebition games in the preseason.

[GannonFan]

I'd like to be a fly on the wall when the conversation takes place as to who gives up a home game(s) to play over in Asia.

Come on, a home gate versus virtual exclusive rights to the Japanese, baseball-mad market??? Boston paid all that money for DiceK not because he's the best pitcher of all time but because he'd give them instant credibility in the Japanese market, something that the Yanks were starting to sew up all their own. Not only is it marketing dollars (yen actually) but it's also the ability to start to mine that area for talent. In the end, they're going to make out just fine for doing this and then some.