BOSTON — Call it baseball’s version of Around the World in 80 Days.

Japan is a faraway place and its people have a strong love for the game of baseball. While some Boston Red Sox and Oakland Athletics personnel have objections to traveling there to start the 2008 season, the fact is that Major League Baseball wants them there as ambassadors in the continual globalization of baseball.

Now that the offseason is just about over and done with — just like the Colorado Rockies in the World Series — the Red Sox have already turned their attention toward spring training and the trip to Japan. The Sox will leave spring training on March 20 and return to Boston on April 7 after traveling in a span of 19 days to three countries, including a three-game stint against the Blue Jays in Toronto April 4-6.

From the get-go, manager Terry Francona and some Red Sox players were not warm to the idea of sending two major-league teams to Tokyo to play a couple of exhibition games against Japanese teams before playing their respective season-openers. In fact, it took ownership and the league to finalize the trip, along with some requests by the Players’ Association.

Francona recently said the Red Sox will do what is in the best interest of baseball, have a smile on their faces and travel some 12,000 miles over a span of 19 days so the baseball world can get a glimpse of the world champions.

“The trip to Japan, we have a responsibility to not let that get in the way of us winning,” said Francona. “It is a big deal. It’s a lot of travel and things are going to be vastly different. Just the fact we’re leaving spring training 11 days early, we need to be prepared and we’re trying to be prepared for everything.

“I don’t think we’ll be able to because I know there will be some things to come our way that we’re not ready for, but if we’re prepared for almost everything, then we can take care of the other things so it won’t get in the way of us having success.”

Red Sox veteran third baseman and 2007 World Series MVP Mike Lowell was asked recently if he was excited about the upcoming trip.

“Not really,” he said. “It’s not a knock on Japan because I’m looking forward to the experience of being there. I’m just not looking forward to finishing spring training 10 days early in order to get on a flight for 20 hours. I’ve never experienced anything like this, and we’re going to be living three weeks out of a suitcase.”

Red Sox shortstop Julio Lugo has played in Japan. He was a member of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays when they played the New York Yankees overseas in March 2004, and Lugo told his new teammates the return trip was taxing on the body.

“It should be fun,” said Sox pitcher Jon Lester. “It’s going to be different. It’s a long flight and a lot of travel, but it should be a good time. It’s not something we get to do on a regular basis, so you just try to enjoy it and not worry about the travel.”

Before the Mitchell Report on steroids came out in December, MLB’s trip to Japan was being meticulously planned, but it has taken a back seat, according to team personnel. Now both teams are still in the planning stage. The Red Sox and A’s have adjusted their spring training schedules to accommodate the lengthy travel.

“Major League Baseball really takes the lion’s share of the responsibilities for organizing it,” said Red Sox president/CEO Larry Lucchino before the release of the Mitchell Report. “But we are actively involved with them, so if there are things we can do around the margins to make it easier on our players and coaching staff . . .”

In fact, Lucchino is in Japan for the official news conference that was held yesterday at the Hotel New Otani in Tokyo.

“It’s going to be a good experience for us,” said Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia. “It’s kind of tough because we’re coming off winning the World Series and we’re going to have a short offseason in the first place . . . I think the guys will be ready. I don’t think a week or 10 days will affect the way we play. We’re going to be ready for it.”

What about the travel?

“It’ll be pretty tough,” Pedroia said. “We’re going to be on the road for 19 days from the time we leave Fort Myers until we return to Boston. That’s obviously dealing with some adversity, but we got the right guys to do it. We’re not the type of guys to complain. We’re going to be well traveled, that’s for sure.”

Earlier in the offseason it was thought rookie outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury would be part of a deal for Twins pitcher Johan Santana, but nothing has happened. So Ellsbury said he’s been preparing for the upcoming season and he’s looking forward to the trip.

“I’m excited,” he said. “I’ve been working out and training a little bit earlier than I would have.

“I’ve never been outside of North America, so it’s definitely going to be a thrill to see a different culture and play in a different environment. I think it’s going to be fun and a great experience.”

No doubt the trip will have an adverse effect on the players, especially the pitching staff, so the Red Sox are taking extra precautions to ensure everyone is healthy and ready to go before the trek. Position players and pitchers began their workouts earlier than normal in anticipation of a difficult spring training, but the pitchers will have to get on schedule a little sooner.

Before going to Japan, each starter will have a minimum of four starts, and two starters will have worked five games. The plan before the club heads to Japan is to have each pitcher throw up to five innings and 80 pitches per outing.

“Ideally, we get guys to 100 pitches at least once before the season opens, but that’s not the case this year,” said pitching coach John Farrell. “The one thing we have to keep in mind is that we’re still preparing for 162 games rather than just two games against Oakland in Japan.”

There’s also a chance the Red Sox could leave a few starting pitchers in California, so when the team returns from Japan to the West Coast to play the Dodgers (exhibition) and A’s (regular season), those pitchers will be well rested.

MLB has allowed the Red Sox and A’s to expand their regular-season rosters by three players. For the four games overseas, Boston plans on taking five starting pitchers, with the fifth serving as the long relief man, if needed.

Fans haven’t been excluded from this history-making trip as the Red Sox are offering a travel package at a cost of about $5,000.

jmcdonal@projo.com