Red Sox fans will have to set their alarms to catch the season-opening games in Japan.
Start times March 25 and 26 against the Oakland Athletics at the Tokyo Dome will be 6:07 a.m. EST.
The information was announced in Tokyo yesterday at a press conference attended by Sox setup man Hideki Okajima.
The Ricoh Japan Opening Series 2008 will also include a pair of exhibition games for the Sox: with the Hanshin Tigers March 22 (11:07 p.m. EST March 21) and the Yomiuri Giants March 23 (6:07 a.m. EST).
After their March 26 game, the Sox will fly to Los Angeles for exhibition games against the Dodgers.
General tickets for all four Red Sox games in Tokyo go on sale Feb. 9. For more information, call 011-81-3-5777-8600 between 6 p.m. and 10 a.m. EST. More ticket information should be available through Major League Baseball in the near future.
In addition, Fenway Sports Group, through its Red Sox Destinations program, has put together a full travel package for the Japan Opening Series.
Standard Red Sox destination packages to Japan start at $4,999 and are available now. Upgraded packages, including business class seating on the charter flight, a hotel suite, and premium game tickets, are also available on a limited basis. For more information, visit redsox.com/redsoxdestinations, call 617-226-6400, or e-mail travel@fenwaysportsgroup.com.
Done deal for Mirabelli
The Red Sox made official the signing of Doug Mirabelli to a one-year, incentive-laden deal. It will be Mirabelli's eighth season with the Red Sox and he will continue as Tim Wakefield's personal catcher. Mirabelli, 37, hit .202 with five home runs and 16 RBIs in 48 games with Boston in 2007. He started 33 games, missing time with a strained right calf muscle (Aug. 17-31) and a strained left hamstring (Sept. 6-16). Mirabelli committed just one error in 214 chances and threw out 10 of 45 runners (22.2 percent) attempting to steal, his best percentage since 2002 . . . Kevin Youkilis was one of 110 players who filed for salary arbitration. The team and player will exchange arbitration figures, which should be public tomorrow. The Sox have not gone to arbitration in the Theo Epstein years, but as of now are not close on a deal . . . The 69th Boston Baseball Writers' dinner will be held tonight at the Westin Waterfront Hotel. Among the award recipients: Terry Francona: Boston BBWAA Major League Manager of the Year; Jon Lester: Tony Conigliaro Award; Mike Lowell: Thomas A. Yawkey Red Sox MVP Award/Tommy McCarthy Good Guy Award; and Dustin Pedroia: AL BBWAA and Red Sox Rookie of the Year. Also on hand will be Sox pitching coach John Farrell and hitting coach Dave Magadan.Nick Cafardo can be reached at cafardo@globe.com.
