With a "stubborn winter that won’t go away," it is fair to wonder when it becomes "too nasty outside to play baseball," according to Michael Rand of the Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE. The forecast for the Twins' home opener against the Mariners on Thursday "calls for sun and a high in the mid-30s -- and that chilly day might be nicer than the next several days that follow it." Friday is a "scheduled off day, and temps are only projected to climb into the mid-20s in Minneapolis." Saturday "might not climb above freezing" and on Sunday and Monday it "might snow." The Twins' upcoming games against both the Mariners and Astros are the "only scheduled series for both teams at Target Field this season, so a postponement without an immediate makeup during the same series would mean trying to find a common off date to play later in the season." The Twins will "do everything within reason to play." Twins President David St. Peter said that a "gametime starting temperature in the 30s is rare but not unprecedented" in Minneapolis. It has "happened 10 times in the franchise’s history" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 4/3). In N.Y., Billy Witz notes the Yankees postponed their home opener against the Rays yesterday as there was "too much snow on the field -- and covering the stadium seats -- to push through as the Yankees did in their home opener" in '96. The snow also "prompted the Mets to postpone" their home game against the Phillies. It does "not figure to be quite that chilly" today, when temperatures are "expected to hover in the mid-40s at game time" (N.Y. TIMES, 4/3).
SUGGESTION BOX: In Pittsburgh, Rob Rossi wrote MLB next year should "keep clubs playing exhibition games in Florida and Arizona through the first full week of April" and have Opening Day on April 10. MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred "should get rid of games in March." The month is for "college basketball Madness, not baseball lunacy." The current way of "beginning baseball is a loser for fans of 15 teams" (TRIBLIVE.com, 3/30).
