Yankees bring buzz to Japan for games against Devil Rays

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TOKYO (AP) Yogi Berra remembers the last time the New York Yankees went to Japan.

It was 1955, and they went 24-0-1 on a six-week postseason tour of Hawaii, Asia and Guam.

''I know one thing, it was cheaper,'' the Hall of Famer said. ''You'd get a hair cut, a shave, a manicure and a shampoo for a dollar-and-a-half.''

The prices have gone up.

When the Yankees start the major league season at the Tokyo Dome on Tuesday night against Tampa Bay, fans will have paid up to $250 for a ticket. Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani will be on hand to throw out ceremonial first pitches.

Even before the two-game series, Devil Rays pitcher Paul Abbott knew the score, at least as far as popularity.

''Kind of rock star-ish I'm sure the Yankees will be just amazing to them,'' he said.

After playing separate spring training games in Florida on Thursday afternoon, the Yankees and Devil Rays began the trip 18 to 20 hours door to door. The only other time major league baseball played regular-season games in Japan was in 2000, when the New York Mets and Chicago Cubs split a pair to start the season. The Mets went on to win the NL pennant.

Is that a sign that the Devil Rays could make it to the World Series this season after six straight last-place finishes in the AL East?

''There isn't enough sake in Japan for that,'' manager Lou Piniella said. ''Not right now. But we are better. And we are going to be competitive.''

New York has won six AL pennants and four World Series in the last eight seasons, and is baseball's biggest spender. The Devil Rays will have one of the two lowest payrolls this season.

But both teams do have one thing in common they train in the Tampa area. That's where New York owner George Steinbrenner will remain, deciding not to join his team on the trip to a ballpark 7,250 miles away.

''The trip would be fine without the 17-hour plane flight. That's the part of it that's going to be tough on everybody,'' said New York's Kevin Brown, slated to pitch the second game Wednesday. ''I think it's been about 20 years since I've had to face a flight like that.''

Maybe Joe Torre and Yankees general partner Steve Swindal were to spend the time working on a contract extension for the manager. They've had informal discussions throughout spring training.

When they arrived in Japan, both teams figured to be surrounded by tight security. Baseball discussed the trip with the FBI, the State Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration.

The national police in Japan are part of the plan, along with employees of the Tokyo Dome, according to Kevin Hallinan, senior vice president for security in the commissioner's office.

Last year, baseball canceled a planned series in Japan between Oakland and Seattle because of the war in Iraq. Several players were uneasy about leaving the United States.

''The world situation is changing every day, and we want to make sure we have everybody on the same page,'' Hallinan said.

After news conferences and workouts Saturday, the teams have two days of exhibition games. The Yankees play the Yomiuri Giants, the former team of New York left fielder Hideki Matsui, on Sunday night after the Devil Rays meet the Hanshin Tigers.

They switch opponents the following day, then start the season against each other in a caffeine special the game begins at 5:07 a.m. back on the U.S. East Coast.

''It's really contrary to what your body is telling you,'' Torre said. ''It's a 14-hour time change. Basically, the flight over is really where the most problems can arrive.''

Even though New York is the visiting team in both games, the Yankees received special permission from the commissioner's office to wear their famous home pinstripes. Heading to a ballpark where eel is sold at concession stands along with sushi and sake, some players were unsure what to expect.

''All I know about Japan is what I saw in `Mr. Baseball,''' Tampa Bay center fielder Rocco Baldelli said, referring to a 1992 movie starring Tom Selleck as a major leaguer trying to revive his career in Japan.

Matsui knows a whole lot more. He was a three-time MVP of the Central League during 10 seasons with the Giants before signing with the Yankees after the 2002 season.

He'll probably get a warm reception at the Tokyo Dome before the exhibition game.

''I'm actually looking forward to playing against my former teammates,'' he said through a translator. ''I think they are really looking forward to it, actually especially against a major league team, and of all teams, the New York Yankees. I think they are looking to show what they have.''

Warm might be an understatement.

''Just watch old Beatles' tapes,'' teammate Mike Mussina said. ''He's the biggest sports figure in Japan. Maybe bigger than that.''


By Ronald Blum, Associated Press
 

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