Gothamist never thought we would see the F-Rays atop the Yankees in the AL East, but when you're playing games halfway around the world, it seems like anything can happen. The Yankees are now 1 game out of the lead and a half game behind the Red Sox. Lucky for them, they have 161 more games to play. more ›

At the Tokyo Dome, the Hanshin Tigers played the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in an exhibition game, where the fans turned out and cheered their team enthusiastically. The fans are led by "oendan", or cheerleaders, using drums, horns, whistles, and songs. Of the fans, Alex Rodriguez said, "It's like nothing I have ever seen." Unlike the United States, fans in Japan just cheer for their players, and don't boo opponents. Curry writes, "The polite fans never boo, so they turn from incredibly raucous to incredibly silent when the opponents are batting, as if transferring from a Metallica concert to a library in seconds." The Yankees face Hanshin today in another exhibition game. more ›

Matsui and the Yankees are already drawing large crowds during their practices at the Tokyo Dome, with more than 30,000 people turning out. The Japanese fans just love Matsui, with some people comparing his status to The Beatles or to Elvis. more ›

The Yankees departed for Japan yesterday, and it seems like they might be the most pampered players in the game. As if getting instructed on every detail for the flight wasn't enough, the players will also get rubdowns from three massage therapists. Players will also have many things with them for entertainment, from dominos, to gospel music, to books. While there, players will get a $25,000-$30,000 stipend. Jim Caple's got it right when he says, "it's just a little jetlag!" Perhaps they should contact Bobby Valentine who seems to be having fun in Japan. more ›