If it snows on Opening Day, get over it

We that live in the American Midwest know that weather can change in an instant. For many baseball fans in great blue-collar cities like Cleveland and Detroit, dealing with snow is part of life and that includes Opening Day.

Last year the Indians had their opening series with the Seattle Mariners snowed out. Sure this was a disadvantage to the Indians, they had to play "home" games in Milwaukee and lost several of their days off during the season, but life goes on.

The grounds crew at Progressive (Jacobs) Field is already experiencing problems getting the field ready and it could snow again for the opener in Cleveland. Fans can even help "save the Indians home opener" by playing Snowball, a video game available exclusively on the Plain Dealer website. Clevelanders know how to deal with snow, I'm confident they'll figure something out.

There's no reason to do anything drastic. Some "experts" like to propose that all major league teams open in the South or West Coast or in a dome. That's certainly not fair to the hearty baseball fans in Cleveland, Detroit, Pittsburgh, Kansas City, etc. that would be more than willing to sit in the cold and/or snow to watch their team. Midwesterners are tough, we don't care, just play ball. It's the west coast, grass-eating pansies, and the suits in Connecticut that care. Again, Midwestern weather is just too unpredictable. Last year opening day in Kansas City was clear, sunny, and warm, but a few days later there were windchills of -20 and the fountains and Kauffman Stadium were frozen.

I will be at Opening Day in Cincinnati and of course I've been watching the weather forecasts. It should be nice, in the low-mid 60s, but there is a slight chance of rain. As long as the game doesn't get canceled by a freak downpour and animals from the Cincinnati Zoo don't start lining up two-by-two onto riverboats, I'll be happy.