March 25: Land of the Rising Sox

As reigning world champions, the 2008 Red Sox were asked to play their first two games in the Tokyo Dome in Japan. They went, although not before the players threatened to boycott if the coaches and staff didn't get full pay for the trip. Sox starter and Japan native Daisuke Matsuzaka got the ball for the first game of the season, and the Sox got their 2008 campaign started with a victory.