Snow forces Angels-Indians series to move to Milwaukee

It's the first time weather has forced a series to be moved since the Florida Marlins played the Montreal Expos on Sept. 13-14, 2004, in Chicago's U.S. Cellular Field because of Hurricane Ivan.

Angels vice president Tim Mead said Milwaukee made sense for both clubs because Cleveland can return home Friday and the Angels will travel on to Boston.

"It's a compromise that does not allow an unfair advantage," Mead said.

Still undetermined is when and where the Indians and Mariners will make up their four-game series.

Wedge expected they would play a doubleheader on a mutual off day and could make up one of the games when they travel to Seattle the last week of the season.

"We're kind of off the charts now," Wedge said. "We're rolling with it and making the best of the situation."

The cold caused another problem for the Indians -- an injury to catcher Victor Martinez, who strained his left quadriceps while running to first base Friday. The Indians are bringing along minor league catcher Mike Rose from Triple-A Buffalo in case Martinez is put on the disabled list.

Wedge said Martinez was feeling a little better Monday, and the Indians may face the Angels a player short for a game or two while they wait to make a decision.

While Wedge spoke with optimism, some players expressed concern and frustration over the league's scheduling and how the makeup games will affect their season.

"It could be a big problem down the road," Hafner said. "Once the season gets going, you don't want to not get your off days -- on top of that playing doubleheaders. So it could be a big pain."

Dellucci, who is from Louisiana, and Sabathia, who lives near Oakland, Calif., both think the schedule makers need to put teams in better environments next April.

"We're sitting here snowed out four games when we could have been in Seattle with a retractable roof," Dellucci said. "There's plenty of teams down South. Tampa's got a dome. It needs to be taken into consideration in the near future."

Sabathia, who was scheduled to start Monday, will pitch Tuesday against Ervin Santana.

"It is weird waking up one day and saying, `We're going to play three games in Milwaukee," said Sabathia, who walked into the clubhouse in a brown winter coat. "It's going to be tough."

Milwaukee is billing the series between the Indians and the Angels as the return of American League baseball to the city.

The last game between two AL clubs in Milwaukee was Sept. 28, 1997, when Baltimore beat the Brewers. Milwaukee moved to the National League the following season.