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Clayton Mortensen, Vicente Padilla Rely on Light Workouts to Adjust to Time Zone Changes

The Red Sox left on a nine-game West Coast trip Monday.

East Coast teams dread heading west. With a three-hour difference
between time zones, jetlag and other adjustments can take a physical and
mental toll on players.

"The first day, it's just strange because you're trying
to adjust, but the second day is the worst because the time change and the time
of the game throws you off," reliever Vicente Padilla said. "But I think the worst is
when you go from there to here."

The Red Sox were fortunate to play at 1:35 p.m. Monday before flying
cross-country, which gave the team time to make a seamless transition.

Reliever Clayton
Mortensen has a personal routine that helps him adjust.

"It's key, I feel, the next day to get up and move around, try not
to stay in too late or anything like that, just get up, be active and just keep
your body moving," Mortensen said. "Wake up and get a light workout
in, just get something in to get your body active. And then usually after a day
or two, your body adjusts to the time zone change."

The West Coast trip starts Tuesday, when the Angels host the Red Sox
for a three-game series. The team will then head to Oakland to play the
Athletics then Seattle to face the Mariners before heading back east.

It's the team's second West Coast trip of the year, following a
seven-game trip against the Mariners and Athletics from June 28 to
July 4. Mortensen says it's a big help to have the games bunched together.

"If it was four days there and then back, it would be a lot more
difficult, but since we're over there [the west coast] for a few days, we'll
adjust to it," Mortensen said. "There's really no key secret or
anything, just getting your sleep, getting food, getting workouts, that's the best
thing for you."

The Red Sox won't be shy about adjusting to time zone changes so they can keep their timing on the field.

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