Paul Sullivan: MLB can't change the weather, but starting the season earlier than ever makes no sense at all

Excluding the two-game series between the A's and Mariners in Japan last week, baseball season starts in earnest on Thursday with 15 games, including the White Sox at the Royals and the Cubs at the Rangers.

The March 28 opening date is the earliest ever to kick off a baseball season in North America, one day earlier than last year's slate of openers.

So what's the rush?

In its infinite wisdom, Major League Baseball decided in the last collective bargaining agreement to add an additional