ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, April 11, 1996 TAG: 9604110039
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BEN WALKER ASSOCIATED PRESS
MORE SNOWBALLS TAN FAIR BALLS have fallen in bigl-league parks this season, prompting baseball officials to consider several changes in scheduling.
Ah, those sweet sights and sounds of the summer game.
A stadium organist playing ``Let It Snow.'' Hitters sticking their bats in portable heaters, pitchers wrapping their hands around hot water bottles. Umpires wearing ski masks, fans wearing whatever.
``When I saw Santa Claus in the first row, I knew this would be a strange day,'' Paul O'Neill said after the New York Yankees played their home opener in a snowstorm Tuesday.
A strange season, actually.
Bad weather has been the big winner so far, with a combination of snow, rain and cold causing 10 games to be postponed. And many of those that have been held, well, they haven't been too comfortable.
It was in the mid-30s last week at Wrigley Field when the Chicago Cubs began the year with a six-game homestand. It was 34 degrees in Detroit on Tuesday, the coldest Tigers' home opener since they began keeping records in 1934.
The Cincinnati Reds played host to the New York Mets in freezing temperatures Tuesday. The Boston Red Sox, after having their home opener snowed out Monday, found it just as chilly a day later at Fenway Park.
``Toward the seventh, eighth and ninth innings, it got real cold,'' Red Sox third baseman Tim Naehring said. ``That's when you're glad you're up, 7-8-9 to 1, and not tied at 3-3 hoping somebody won't hit a line drive at you.''
Injuries, though, have increased. Whether it's a minor cramp for an outfielder chasing a fly ball or Los Angeles pitcher Ramon Martinez hurting a hamstring running out a grounder in Chicago, there's been trouble.
Picking out why there have been so many problems is easy.
This season began on March 31, the earliest start in major-league history, to ensure the World Series didn't stretch way into November. But that gave winter one last chance to wreck things. Also, this week's weather took a freak, wicked turn, causing more trouble.
Pointing out what to do is more difficult. There are several possible solutions, such as:
Pushing back opening day and condensing the schedule by playing more doubleheaders. Only one doubleheader was scheduled in the majors this year.
Having teams on the West Coast, in the South and in domes play at home in the first two weeks of the season.
Going back to a 154-game schedule.
Owners, however, are hesitant to do anything that will cut down home dates. And many teams might resent being forced to play on the road at the start of every season.
``There are a number of things we can do differently, but we have to look at all the options,'' acting commissioner Bud Selig said. ``But there's no question that we need to examine those options because this has been very traumatic.''
``You worry about players' health, players like Ramon Martinez,'' he said. ``When I say it's traumatic, that's what I mean. This is something we really need to review.''
In the meantime, the games go on. Or, at least, they try to in both the majors and minors.
Baltimore's home game against Cleveland was called off Tuesday.
``It's just as well,'' Orioles manager Davey Johnson said. ``It's early in the season, you've got a wet track out there, and you don't want someone getting hurt. I know this field drains well, but ...''
Eight minor-league games were postponed Tuesday, including snowouts in Pawtucket, R.I., Reading, Pa., and Salem, Va.
The Yankees, already with three games wiped out by bad weather, were glad to play Tuesday - sort of - despite blinding snow that fell from the first pitch to the last.
``This time of year, everyone is losing games,'' O'Neill said. ``You've got to get them in.''
LENGTH: Medium: 79 linesby CNB