So yeah, I'm sitting at home sifting through OSU notes today when I get notice that the Indians 2008 schedule has been set.

I open the email like a fat guy attacking a cupcake only to see that the Indians' first home game of the season will arrive on March 31. March 31? MARCH 31?!!!!! Are you freakin' kidding me or did the brain trust at Major League Baseball not get a look at Opening Day 2007.

Ya know, take me out to the ball game…buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jack and, gee, by the way, my freakin' limbs are freezin' so gimme some hot chocolate.

I don't know who is responsible for this debacle, but this date does Tribe fans a disservice. Better they start praying for good weather beginning March 1 and hopefully the baseball gods will be listening. Of course, we know what happened with them last week now, don't we?

Last night was a wee bit surreal.

I'm in West Lafayette for the OSU-Purdue game, but managed to catch the last 4 innings of that marathon between the Tribe and Yankees. And all I could do is sit in the bar where I was having a cold beverage and laugh because the big bad Yankees freaked out over some midges.

Joba Chamberlain looked as if he wanted to squirm right out of his uniform and may as well have done just that given the two wild pitches he threw. You contrast that with the resolute attitude displayed by Fausto Carmona and you have the exact reason I believe the Indians will be going on to the ALCS against the Red Sox. It also doesn't hurt that Alex Rodriguez is currently in the midst of his annual post-season disappearing act.

To be such a young team they possess a seriousness, an earnestness that comes through on every player's face whenever a camera fixates on an individual player. It's refreshing to see a team that has fun but knows when to be serious.

Here it is, folks:

ALDS DATE TICKETS LOCATIONS TV TIME

Game 1 October 4 HOME GAME 1 JACOBS FIELD TBS 6:30PM

LHP C.C. Sabathia vs. RHP Chien-Ming Wang

Game 2 October 5 HOME GAME 2 JACOBS FIELD TBS 5:00PM

RHP Fausto Carmona vs. LHP Andy Pettitte

Game 3 October 7 YANKEE STADIUM TBS 6:30PM

RHP Jake Westbrook vs. TBD

*Game 4 October 8 YANKEE STADIUM TBS 6:00PM

RHP Paul Byrd vs. TBD

*Game 5 October 10 HOME GAME 3 JACOBS FIELD TBS 5:00PM

LHP C.C. Sabathia vs. TBD *if necessary

Well I'm finally wested and wewaxed and roaring to go.  Shocking that a week in Las Vegas can do that for you.

It's a good thing too with the baseball season officially underway and the Cavaliers heading to the playoffs, it could be a very exciting time in for the area - at least for a little bit.

Yes, there's a healthy bit of skepticism in that last statement.  Why?  Because I grew up in Northeast Ohio.  Skepticism is part of being a sports fan in this town.

While in Vegas I camped out at the ESPNZone for a couple of evenings to keep up on Cleveland area sporting events.  It was an excuse to eat things that I have no business eating and down a couple of frosty brews.  We could use an ESPNZone in this area, near the Gateway area as part Downtown Cleveland's revitalization right next to the House of Blues.  Not like I have a spot picked out or anything like that.  But that's another topic for another time.

I was able to see some of the Tribe's action in their "home opener" against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and part of the Cavs' thumping of the New Jersey Nets.  But let's deal with the Cavs first shall we?

Yes, they've looked fantastic during their last couple of outings - especially the other night against the Atlanta Hawks, yet I'm concerned.  Why?  Because unless the Cavs win out and da Bulls drop one of their last two, LeBron James and company will be the No. 5 seed.  What's the difference?  Let's see, who would you rather have in the opening rounds of the playoffs - New Jersey or the defending champion Miami Heat who now have Dwyane Wade back?  Yeah, I thought so.  During the times that I subbed for Cavs beat writer Brian Windhorst, the Cavs' lack of fire about losses frustrated.  In interview after interview local beat writers heard "it will work itself out."

Yes, it has.  Into a situation where the Cavs are fighting for a playoff position that they should have had locked up.  I was speaking with another media type guy today and we counted the number of games this team through away to sub-part teams such as the Charlotte Bobcats and New York Knicks.  If they end up in that fifth position they have no one but themselves to blame.

As for the Indians, right now you have to marvel at the fact that they sit atop the American League's Central Division standings. Given snowouts, home games in Milwaukee (where they outdrew the NBA's Milwaukee Bucks) they deserve mad props and so far, in a season where expectations are once again high, they look good.  Ace C.C. Sabathia is 3-0 after last night.  Grady Sizemore looks like an All-Star.  The best part of this?  It's April, the month the team is known for thinking they're still in spring training.  It could be a very fun summer.

Yes, many of you are sitting at home right now warm and comfy in your flannel jammies sitting in cushy recliners watching the Tribe on television.  No one in his or her right mind would be watching baseball in person right now.  You're the smart ones because, to be quite honest, if I didn't have to work I wouldn't be at Jacobs Field right now.  It was freakin' 31 degrees with a wind chill of 20 by the time Paul Byrd tossed the first official pitch of the home campaign.  Ummmm YEAH!!!

"Take me out the the ball game.  Take me out to the crowd.  Buy me some peanuts and hot chocolate…"  That just doesn't quite have the same ring as the normal lyrics, does it?  Nope.  What I would love to do is meet the mental midget that scheduled the Home Opener for the first week of April against a West Coast team that only travels here once.  Hello…is there anyone home McFly?

Had this been a A.L. Central Division foe, this game would have been postponed, primarily because even Eskimoes wouldn't have played baseball in the type of weather we've seen today.  Wouldn't things work just a wee bit better if MLB made sure teams in more meteoroligically challenged cities were on the road for the first week of the season?  Perhaps that makes much too much sense.