On the eve of opening day, conditions in Cincinnati on Wednesday were better suited for snowballs than baseballs.
“I love it. I love the weather,” Reds second baseman Brandon Phillips deadpanned. “The weather is beautiful.”
The forecast for the six openers today wasn’t much better, either. Rain with temperatures in the 40s in Washington, New York and Kansas City, chilly in Cincinnati.
“If you’re playing golf and it’s 33 and windy, you take it into the clubhouse and play cards. Unfortunately, we have to keep playing,” said Yankees star Mark Teixeira, set to face Detroit in the Bronx’s first March game. “It’s not easy playing in the cold, but the good thing is both teams have to do it.”
Said Tigers catcher Alex Avila: “It’s going to be perfect weather, 40s and rain. A good day to pitch.”
At Nationals Park, Washington players came out to practice in red-hooded sweat shirts. Their workout ended in the rain when the grounds crew pulled out the tarp, and no telling if it will be any better for today’s game against the Braves.
Sure is a change from last year. There wasn’t a single rainout or snowout for more than 2 1/2 weeks, the longest any season had gone from the start without a weather postponement in 25 years. Either way, it’s quite a change from the sunny spring training fields in Arizona and Florida.
Leave it to California to provide the perfect setting. Two-time Cy Young Award winner Tim Lincecum, rookie of the year Buster Posey and the World Series champion Giants open at Dodger Stadium, where it’s supposed to be sunny and near 80 degrees.
Footnotes.
Giants closer Brian Wilson will begin the season on the disabled list because of a strained muscle on his left side. He is eligible to return Wednesday.
• Indians center fielder Grady Sizemore, recovering from offseason microfracture surgery on his left knee, was placed on the DL.
• The Brewers placed outfielder Corey Hart (left side) and catcher Jonathan Lucroy (right pinkie) on the DL.
• Mets left fielder Jason Bay had tests on his strained rib cage and the team planned to wait until he returned to camp to decide whether he will be placed on the DL.
• The Athletics placed right-handers Rich Harden (strained lat) and Andrew Bailey (forearm) on the DL.
• The Phillies released second baseman Luis Castillo, cutting him after a brief tryout. The Associated Press
