Published: October 20, 2009 12:15 am      

MARK MAYNARD: Baseball fever hardly contagious

Unless we have a Freeway Series between the Dodgers and Angels in the World Series — and that’s looking less likely by the day — don’t expect baseball’s showcase event to have a warm and fuzzy feel to it.

You might as well get used to players wearing those Elmer Fudd caps like we saw in Saturday’s Angels-Yankees games from chilly Yankee Stadium.

Year after year, the complaints about baseball’s postseason ring out — it’s too cold and it starts too late. Nothing’s going to change because the TV networks are in charge. The owners aren’t going to bite the hand that feeds them and push for earlier start times.

The only way for the postseason to start sooner would be for the 162-game schedule to be reduced to 154. Tradition, among other things, is not going to allow that to happen either.

So enjoy watching your favorite players in those hooded caps underneath their jerseys.

Game 2 of the Angels-Yankees series had not only a chill to it, but some rain along with it. Imagine how much people paid to get a ticket to watch that 13-inning battle in the freezing cold. I was cold watching it from the comfort of my family room, with a little space heater sitting in front of me.

But the two teams that are probably going to win are the places where cold weather is typical in late October. Expect some cold scenes when the World Series starts next week.

How crazy was it that last week, a game ended at 2:14 a.m. (EST) in 25-degree temperature in Denver? That was when the Rockies were still around for the playoffs. What if they had beaten the Phillies and kept advancing in the postseason?

If there’s a Game 7 in the World Series, it’s scheduled to be played on Nov. 5 — and the Christmas season will be upon us.

Baseball could make some adjustments, like starting the season sooner by ending spring training sooner. The schedule could be altered so the first week’s games are in warm-weather cities. Also, why are there so many off days in the postseason? It didn’t used to be like this, even when the playoffs were expanded to include the wild-card winner.

For baseball’s sake, a World Series between the Yankees and Dodgers would seem to be the best scenario. Who wouldn’t want to watch Joe Torre managing against the Evil Empire. Or how about Manny Ramirez taking some swings against the Yankees again? I’m sure Fox would love to have that matchup.

But the Phillies may spoil the party for them. They’re not the defending world champions for nothing. And the Angels still have some California dreamin’ too if they’re going to escape from a 0-2 hole.

So get ready for a bone-chilling World Series, where temperatures are likely going to be hovering in the 40s in Philly and the Bronx. We might even see some snowflakes.

And get ready for the most important games of the year to be ending well past midnight when few are actually stilll watching.

Baseball fever? Who wants it?

MARK MAYNARD can be reached at mmaynard@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2648.