The Boston Red Sox and Tampa Bay Rays were to reprise their 2008 American League Championship Series on Monday, but bad weather in Boston forced a postponement, so they joined the White Sox and the Kansas City Royals as spectators for baseball’s official Opening Day.
Of course, had the game been scheduled for Florida, weather would not have been a concern, as the Rays play under a dome at Tropicana Field.
The Reds and Mets slogged through rain and mid-30s temperatures in Cincinnati and the Pirates and Cardinals endured Chicago-like conditions in St. Louis, while Seattle entertained Minnesota, a fellow dome team, and four warm-weather California teams played each other in sunny Southern California.
Is it any wonder that fans gripe about Major League Baseball’s early-season schedule making no sense? Commissioner Bud Selig hears the complaint every year. And every year he explains that there’s not much that can be done.
“We have to have balance in the schedules,” Selig said. “You can’t load up the dome teams and the warm-weather teams in April and May because then they won’t have as many dates in June and July. Everybody wants to be home in June, July and August because the kids are out of school and people are on vacation and everybody draws better.
“Teams aren’t as crazy about being home in April and May, but everybody understands that it’s got to be equitable and they have to share the burden.”
The White Sox have 12 home dates in April and 11 in May. The Cubs have 10 home dates in April and 18 in May, but just nine in June.
But it’s baseball. Even if it’s cold and rainy, what’s not to like?
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