Rumor has it the season has started

There’s a rumor going around that the Major League Baseball season has already begun, that the Red Sox and A’s split a pair of games in Japan earlier this week.

Way to go, baseball.

You end the season with World Series games that no one on the East Coast can watch because they end too late, and you open the season with games in Japan that no one on the East Coast can watch because they begin too early.

But, hey, how about all those new fans MLB now has in Japan?

Only baseball can alter the start of the season and disrupt spring training for a pair of teams so it can sell baseball to a baseball-crazy country.

Does Japan have its own thriving professional leagues?

Yes.

Have Japanese players proved they can hang with MLB studs?

Yes.

Do Japanese baseball fans follow MLB games?

Yes.

So, what’s the attraction?

Money.

No surprise there.

MLB also sent the Padres and Dodgers to Beijing two weeks ago to begin its marketing campaign in China. Reports from that venture have been mixed.

I don’t have a problem with MLB trying to reach as many markets as possible.

I do have a problem with MLB messing with Opening Day.

Playing games that begin at 5 a.m. our time is absurd.

But, well, you know, Bug Selig.

Now, football does it right.

The defending Super Bowl champs open the Thursday night before the first weekend.

This year it is the Redskins at Giants. At least that’s the early word. The official announcement will made in a few days.

They might also start the game at 7 p.m., which will allow fans to see the start and the end.

What a concept.