Devil Rays, Yankees headed to Japan

? Even halfway around the world, the New York Yankees bring a buzz.

Their season opener at Yankee Stadium usually is a time for pinstriped pomp, with politicians and celebrities filling many of the prime seats.

When the Yankees start the 2004 major league season at the Tokyo Dome on Tuesday night against Tampa Bay, Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani will throw out ceremonial first pitches.

Even before the two-game series — the first time the Yankees have played outside the United States and Canada since 1955 — Devil Rays pitcher Paul Abbott knew the score, at least as far as popularity.

“Kind of rock star-ish — I’m sure the Yankees will be just amazing to them,” he said.

After playing separate spring training games in Florida Thursday afternoon, the Yankees and Devil Rays began the trip, 18 to 20 hours door to door. The only other time major league baseball played regular-season games in Japan was in 2000, when the New York Mets and Chicago Cubs split a pair to start the season. The Mets went on to win the NL pennant.

Is that a sign that the Devil Rays could make it to the World Series this season after six straight last-place finishes in the AL East?

“There isn’t enough sake in Japan for that,” manager Lou Piniella said. “Not right now. But we are better. And we are going to be competitive.”

New York has won six AL pennants and four World Series in the last eight seasons and is baseball’s biggest spender. The Devil Rays will have one of the two lowest payrolls this season.

But both teams do have one thing in common — they train in the Tampa area. That’s where New York owner George Steinbrenner will remain.