With all aboard, Sox settle in

The 18-day, three-country sojourn started eventfully when the Red Sox threatened to boycott their final exhibition game in Fort Myers Wednesday afternoon. In support of coaches and staff who weren't receiving the $40,000 compensation being offered to players, the Sox were prepared to cancel the game and stay in Florida until the matter was settled.

"We weren't going to Japan," said player representative Kevin Youkilis. "We were really strong about it."

After a settlement was reached, the Sox came out of their dugout an hour late, then lost to the Blue Jays, 4-3. Daisuke Matsuzaka and Hideki Okajima, both of whom pitched in the afternoon, canceled media appearances after the game.

At 4:45 p.m. EST, four buses filled with players, wives, children, Sox employees, and media members wheeled out of the players parking lot, advanced by a police escort. A few fans who had lingered stood along Edison Avenue, waving goodbye as Japanese television crews recorded the start of the journey.

All traffic on Interstate 75 South was halted when the baseball caravan reached the highway ramp, and there was no annoying airport security wait for the Red Sox. The buses rolled directly onto the tarmac and 160 members of the traveling party submitted to a quick pat-down and bag check before boarding a Japan Airlines Boeing 747.

The massive aircraft looked out of place at the modest terminal, like a Hummer parked outside a one-room, country schoolhouse. The plane seats 382, including a 72-passenger upper deck. Think Austin Powers meets Bull Durham.

Papelbon walked up the jetway stairs toting a nifty set of poker chips and a Tilt Brothers custom poker table. Behind Papelbon, Dustin Pedroia and Jacoby Ellsbury made plans for a marathon cribbage tournament. Once on board, team physician Larry Ronan (one of three team doctors making the trip) offered anti-embolism compression socks to anyone interested. Tim Wakefield rolled a pair of the old-man black stockings over his calves.

It took more than an hour to load the aircraft with assorted bags, bats, balls, a car seat for 5-month old Manny Delcarmen Jr., eight cases of Red Bull (four regular and four sugar-free), and the Wally the Green Monster suit.