One year ago today, the Cleveland Indians were ahead 4-0 with two outs in the top of the fifth inning during their home opener against the Seattle Mariners when umpires decided to call the game. The Indians were just one strike from recording a win when umps decided they had had enough.
Enough shoveling and blowing that is. The grounds crew had been on the field more than the players as heavy snow fell through the game.
Postponing the opener was just the beginning of a week of headaches for baseball officials. As groundskeepers struggled to get the field ready at Jacobs field ready on Monday the 9th for the final game of the series, a foot of snow remained of the field at The Jake.
Surrendering to the weather, team officials decided to cancel it and move their upcoming three game series with the Los Angles Angels of Anaheim to Miller Park in Milwaukee, where a retractable roof guaranteed that the games would be played. All four of the weekend games between the Indians and Mariners were lost to a late season snowstorm.
Cleveland officials worried about losing $150,000 tax revenue from the move. Across baseball, weather took a tool on the opening month of the season. Twenty two games were postponed in the month.
Weather is going to play a role in this opening week of baseball too. Games today in Boston and Baltimore promise to be wet and could be postponed. Monday games in Cincinnati, Chicago and St. Louis will certainly be in jeopardy as extremely cold air, strong northwesterly winds and snow or rain will be in order. NOTE: The Chicago game has already been canceled.) I doubt President Obama have a first pitch to throw out at Comiskey with snow falling, a high in the 30s and a northwest wind at 40 mph!
