Yoshida traveling a different path

There are 12 teams in Nippon Professional Baseball, all in the same time zone, who play a 143-game schedule. Monday is almost always a day off and there are no doubleheaders.

Five of the teams play either in or close to Tokyo. More road trips are made via high-speed train than by flying.

For Masataka Yoshida, travel has been a far bigger adjustment since he joined the Red Sox than the quality of the baseball.

“I’m still working on adjusting to the time differences,” Yoshida said via translator Kei Wakabayashi. “That’s been a big deal, the time changing and the distance we travel. But it’s good that we travel on the same day after the game.”

That was something Japanese teams didn’t always do. Or when they did, it was a quick trip.

Yoshida has changed his pregame and postgame routines to keep his body ready to play.

“I think a lot about what time I need to go to sleep and how long I should sleep,” he said. “I’m always looking at the schedule.”

The Sox coaches and medical staff had two-plus months to prepare a program for Yoshida after he signed in December.

“We knew from the get-go that traveling was something we were going to have to work with him on,” manager Alex Cora said. “That’s something we talk about on a daily basis. We know what’s going on. He’s been very honest. We take everything into consideration, especially these last few weeks.”

It’s reflected in how Yoshida has been used. He has been in the lineup 40 times as the designated hitter, had 14 games off, and come off the bench in three others.

Cora also has subbed Yoshida out of games 13 times — in part to improve the outfield defense but also to give him an extra inning off his feet.

But it still has been wearing. Yoshida went into the weekend with a .720 OPS and two home runs in 23 games since the All-Star break.

“People just take it for granted, just come here and play good in the big leagues,” Cora said. “But [Boston] is one of the toughest places to travel. There aren’t that many close flights. He’s getting more used to it.”

Yoshida is typically one of the first players to arrive at the ballpark and one of the last to leave because of the work he does in the trainer’s room and gym.

“Physically, it’s different from what I was used to,” Yoshida said. “But I’m happy with what I’ve been able to do so far.”

Said Cora: “He does everything possible to be ready for the next day. He’s very disciplined. He’s outstanding with that.”

The personal side has gotten better, too. Yoshida was alone in Boston early in the season before his wife and two daughters joined him. He has ventured more in Boston in recent weeks, going shopping and taking his family to Boston Common and other outdoor spaces.

OTHER OBSERVATIONS ON SOX:

It’s never safe to presume what direction the Sox will take in the offseason. But adding to the rotation beyond acquiring low-cost veterans would seem to be a priority.

Yoshida’s former teammate, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, profiles as a good fit. The righthander, who turns 25 this week, has a 1.90 ERA over seven seasons with Orix. The Sox are already familiar with him from scouting Yoshida.

Of course so are other teams, the Mets prominent among them.

Orix is expected to post Yamamoto, who said during the World Baseball Classic that he was eager to pitch in the majors.

Yamamoto is a shorter version of Mike Mussina in the sense that he’s not physically imposing but understands how to pitch and the value of changing speeds and tempo.

“Oh, yes,” said Yoshida with a smile when asked if Yamamoto could succeed in the United States.

The Phillies were interested in Adam Duvall at the trade deadline, intending to use him in left field.

Understandably, they did not want to give up a major prospect considering how poorly Duvall has hit since returning from the injured list (.207 with a .682 OPS at the time of the deadline).

No deal was made and Duvall will play out the season before returning to free agency.

Justin Turner has a player option for 2024 but could want to test the free agent market again after what has been a strong season. He has an .871 OPS as a designated hitter. Only Shohei Ohtani and J.D. Martinez are higher.

Turner also has played 325 innings in the field, which has helped Cora with lineup construction.

Turner wanted to remain with the Dodgers but quickly embraced Boston, taking day trips around the area with his wife, Kourtney, trying out local restaurants, and participating in charitable endeavors.

To that end, the Turner Trot will be Aug. 26. The 5K race along the Charles River will conclude with a party at the Hatch Shell and all proceeds will benefit Turner’s foundation and its programs for aiding homeless veterans, inneed children, and youth baseball.

Go to TurnerTrot.com for information.

James Paxton played for the Yankees and Aaron Boone from 2019-20. Like everybody else, he gets a chuckle out of Boone’s animated arguments with umpires.

“As a player, you know he’s on your side,” Paxton said. “But sometimes when you’re watching from the dugout you can’t help but laugh. He really gets into it.”

Cora is more judicious about coming out of the dugout. He doesn’t buy into the idea that a manager can fire up his players by getting ejected.

“That’s eyewash,” he said. “I don’t believe in the whole, ‘Rah-rah, I’m going to get thrown out and they’ll get excited about it.’ ”

(Eyewash, by the way, is a baseball term for false hustle.)