Big in Japan

When I heard that the Yankees were going to be playing the season opener against the Devil Rays in Japan, I didn't think much of it, beyond a simple "good idea - great for baseball". However, Tyler Kepner points out just how complicated the trip (with its 17-hour flight and associated jet-lag problems) is going to be for the Yankees generally, and for Yankee trainer Gene Monahan specifically.

The Yankees are trying to prepare for and prevent the dehydration and muscle cramps that a 17-hour flight can produce. They are sending three massage therapists on the trip, and Monahan will spend the flight buzzing through the cabin, reminding players to drink at least 16 ounces of water or sports drink every hour.

"I'll be going around telling them the correct times to eat and how to take on fluids," Monahan said. "We're pushing fluids on this trip."

I have visions of a kind of school field trip for sports multimillionaires', with Monahan as the stressed-out teacher running around yelling "Alex hasn't drunk his fluids!", "Jorge - time to eat!", "Joe - time to turn off the DVD player off!". My guess is that Monahan will need a couple of days' rest himself when the team gets back to New York.