Game in jeopardy

As of 11:45 a.m. this morning, the status of today's game between the Red Sox and Jays was still in doubt. The Sox players are threatening to cancel the game and boycott the trip to Japan unless the coaches and manager and probably the trainers, receive the same compensation of $40,000 for the trip that begins tonight.

The only written agreement between baseball and the players association covered the players for their eight day trip to Japan to play two exhibitions against Japanese teams and the first two regular-season games against the A's. The coaches, according to Curt Schilling, were covered in an oral agreement that is being breached by MLB. This would never happen with the NFL.

JAYS: David Eckstein ss, Dhannon Stewart dh, Alex Rios rf, Vernon Wells cf, Scott Rolen 3b, Lyle Overbay 1b, Aaron Hill 2b, Gregg Zaun c, Reed Johnsoon lf. Brian Tallet p

SOX: Dustin Pedroia 2b, Kevin Youkilis 1b, David Ortiz dh, Manny Ramirez rf, Mike Lowell 3b, J.D. Drew rf, Jason Varitek c, Coco Crisp cf, Julio Lugo ss. Daisuke Matsuzaka p

Apparently, as soon as the Jays arrived by bus this morning in Fort Myers, Kevin Youkilis met with Jays player rep Vernon Wells to discuss the issue. The A's in Arizona, the other touring squad, did not seem to care that the coaches were not being compensated and were ready to fly.