2008 Woodie Awards
Red Sox reconsider, decide to make trip to Japan to play Athletics
By: THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Issue date: 3/20/08 Section: Sports
FORT MYERS, Fla. - The Boston Red Sox ended a threatened boycott yesterday of their final spring training game in Florida, resolving a dispute over paying coaches for the season-opening trip to Japan.
The game against Toronto started an hour late when the team voted unanimously not to play or go to Tokyo after learning coaches and staff would not get a $40,000 appearance fee for the Japan trip. Players said they believed that fee was part of the deal.
"Everyone connected with the trip will be fairly compensated," baseball spokesman Rich Levin said.
Red Sox spokesman John Blake would not say how the dispute was resolved.
"We're going to Japan," he said.
Earlier, catcher Jason Varitek said the team would not take the field or go to Japan until Major League Baseball agreed to pay the coaches and staff.
Kevin Youkilis, the Red Sox player representative, said the agreement still must be put in writing and that the compensation for coaches and staff "is not the greatest thing that we wanted for them, but it's good."
Manager Terry Francona and his players became upset after learning staff members were not going to get a $40,000 stipend.
"We're so united. And I don't mean just the players," he said in a dugout interview with ESPN during yesterday's game. "I mean the staff, the trainers and our players showed that, and that's what this was about. It wasn't about being greedy. It was about trying to be unified."
Daisuke Matsuzaka, who had been scheduled to pitch, left the stadium to pitch at a game against Minnesota's Triple A affiliate.
The game against Toronto started an hour late when the team voted unanimously not to play or go to Tokyo after learning coaches and staff would not get a $40,000 appearance fee for the Japan trip. Players said they believed that fee was part of the deal.
"Everyone connected with the trip will be fairly compensated," baseball spokesman Rich Levin said.
Red Sox spokesman John Blake would not say how the dispute was resolved.
"We're going to Japan," he said.
Earlier, catcher Jason Varitek said the team would not take the field or go to Japan until Major League Baseball agreed to pay the coaches and staff.
Kevin Youkilis, the Red Sox player representative, said the agreement still must be put in writing and that the compensation for coaches and staff "is not the greatest thing that we wanted for them, but it's good."
Manager Terry Francona and his players became upset after learning staff members were not going to get a $40,000 stipend.
"We're so united. And I don't mean just the players," he said in a dugout interview with ESPN during yesterday's game. "I mean the staff, the trainers and our players showed that, and that's what this was about. It wasn't about being greedy. It was about trying to be unified."
Daisuke Matsuzaka, who had been scheduled to pitch, left the stadium to pitch at a game against Minnesota's Triple A affiliate.
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