CLEVELAND -- It may be Opening Day, yet the talk before the game was not of baseball but of the weather.
Even though the sun shined brightly, the temperature at first pitch was 34 degrees with a wind-chill of 26. If that feels record-setting, it is: It's the coldest Opening Day in Cleveland since 1907.
"The biggest thing is to trying to stay warm,'' said Red Sox manager John Farrell. "We've got the ability to go down underneath (the dugout into the runway leading to the clubhouse) after a half-inning, where guys can go inside. But [starting pitcher] David Price is going to be the warmest guy on the field today. In cold weather, the pitcher has the upper hand. But more than anything, our guys are so excited to get back on the field, hopefully they're not feeling the cold.''
One bright note: There's no precipitation in the forecast.
"We knew today was going to be a much improved day of weather (over Monday, when the game was postponed because of rain, snow and cold), and it's proven to be so,'' said Farrell. "You have to push pause on the anticipation of that scheduled Opening Day, but here we are today. I think today is a much better day to play in than [Monday].''
Farrell said pitchers have an advantage in these conditions, but sometimes have to adapt to gripping a slick baseball. It seemed to affect Price in the second inning today, when he walked the first two batters, though he recovered to strike out the final two with a runner on third.
The forecast for Wednesday is slightly better, but there's the possibility of more snow on Thursday night.
Boston Red Sox
"The weather's going to be a challenge,'' said Farrell. "But we'll address that when it's time.''