Well, since their 747 did land a few hours ago, and the media frenzy is in full effect, the more appropriate question is: who is in Japan? Well, there’s the 127 million Japanese. In addition to this, there’s the (now fully compensated) Boston Red Sox.

After the most recent roster move of sending Bartolo Colon down to the minor league camp, the roster for Japan had been set. Let’s take a look at the 30 players making the journey.

C:
Jason Varitek
Kevin Cash
Dusty Brown

1B:
Kevin Youkilis
Sean Casey

2B/SS:
Dustin Pedroia
Julio Lugo
Alex Cora
Jed Lowrie

3B:
Mike Lowell

OF:
Coco Crisp
J.D. Drew
Jacoby Ellsbury
Manny Ramirez
Bobby Kielty
Brandon Moss

DH:
David Ortiz

SP:
Daisuke Matsuzaka (Opening Day Starter)
Jon Lester (Game #2 Starter)
Clay Buchholz (Exhibition Starter)
Tim Wakefield (Exhibition Starter)

RP:
Julian Tavarez
Kyle Snyder
Bryan Corey
David Aardsma
Manny Delcarmen
Javier Lopez
Mike Timlin
Hideki Okajima
Jonathan Papelbon

Notes:

• Out of the 30 players listed above, only 28 will be active for the 2 regular season games. The 2 inactive pitchers will likely be Tim Wakefield and Clay Buchholz, who are scheduled to start in exhibition games prior to the matchup with Oakland.
• Curt Schilling is with the team in Japan, but is of course not available (60-Day DL).
• One name that might stick out here is top prospect Jed Lowrie, but the odds of him actually seeing time in the Oakland games is microscopic.
• Lowrie, along with Bobby Kielty and Kevin Cash, are not on the 40-man roster. Lowrie is certain to be sent to AAA after the trip, and Kevin Cash is certain to make the big team. Kielty’s fate is more uncertain, and depends on a variety of factors, not least of which is Coco Crisp’s summer address.

The first Japanese exhibition matchup takes place tomorrow (Friday) night at 11:05 PM, against the Hanshin Tigers. Can you think of anything more fun than closing out a bar whilst watching the Sox?

Neither can I.

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