Slightly Early for March to World Series

Sunday smorgasbord: Once upon a time, not too long ago, the baseball season did not begin in March. It began in April. And ended in October. And life was good.

For some of us, it’s still basketball season. Credit: Playboy.com

Nowadays Major League Baseball begins in March and can stretch into November. If you expect me to say baseball was better in the good, old days of my youth or your youth, I don’t want to disappoint anyone, so that exactly is my sentiment.

And do I think the season should start on a Monday in Cincinnati with other teams starting on the day after? Sure. But a big-dollar deal with ESPN guarantees a Sunday night game to start the season (well, in the United States — not to be confused with a season-opening, two-game series in Australia last week).

Once upon a time, long ago (or maybe it merely seems that way), baseball’s season started in mid-April. Weather concerns seemed to be the primary reason for that. Plus once upon a time, there was a 154-game schedule rather than a 162-game one. But now with more games and far fewer (if any) doubleheaders scheduled, the great minds running the game think by starting the season earlier somehow the weather will be better. Yes, it makes no sense. And it doesn’t make the ballpark temperatures any more tolerable — unless the game is in a domed stadium.

Maybe the Chicago White Sox will get lucky with the weather for their season opener Monday against Minnesota at U.S. Cellular Field. And maybe the Chicago Cubs won’t freeze when they open the season Monday in Pittsburgh. But would it hurt to wait a week to start the season? And schedule a day-night doubleheader once a month so the season would end at its regularly scheduled time.

I will not hold my breath in anticipation of such a change any more than I would hold my breath in anticipation of the Cubs and White Sox meeting in the 2014 World Series. But I will take a couple of deep breaths, clear my mind (whatever there might be to clear in a seemingly empty cranium) and prepare to watch the season unfold.

Even if the weather forecast might not say so in some areas, it is springtime. A rebirth of hope, no matter how unrealistic. A time of looking ahead rather than looking back. A time to enjoy. Play ball!

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