Cubs vs. Astros: Should the Series Be Moved?

As Hurricane Ike barrels down on the state of Texas, many people's lives are in flux. Should they leave or should they stay? Cities like Galveston are preparing for the devastation that a potential Category 4 storm can bring. While people are debating whether to flee for their lives or ride out the storm, baseball is dragging its feet on an issue not nearly as important, but one that still needs examining.

Where will the Cubs and Astros play their series?

Several players have called for the series to be played at a neutral site. Others, like Ryan Theriot, just don't want to be anywhere near Houston when the storm hits.

''I understand why the Astros want to play their games there. That makes perfect sense to me. But that storm is going to turn, and if it does turn, they evacuate the city. And then what do you do?", he told the Chicago Sun-Times Wednesday.

Derrek Lee proposed playing the games in St. Louis, but the Astros poo-pooed the idea, saying that it would give the Cubs an unfair advantage since they wouldn't have to travel anywhere.

Allow me to propose a site:

Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, MO.

It is one of those ballparks that few people ever get to see (other than the fountains in the outfield). It is a jewel, not like the monsterous domes of the 80's and 90's and not in the circus-style of the 2000's. Also, it would be out of the path of the remnants of the storm for the foreseeable future.

Major League Baseball should move the games to this stadium, and charge an admission price of say $15. The seating can be general admission, and all proceeds can go to relief efforts to help the victims of Ike and Gustav. Yes, this would take away "home field advantage" for the Astros, but anything is better than trying to play and having to evacuate the players at the last minute.

MLB is certainly not doing it deliberately, but every minute they spend debating where to move this series is causing un-needed distractions for the players involved, and is missing the key issue: people are more important than a baseball game. Period. It doesn't matter if the teams involved are in a pennant race or are merely positioning themselves for next year's amateur draft. Make a decision and live with it for crying out loud!

MLB has a greater responsibility than just ensuring "fairness" or "home field advantage". They would be keeping people from trying to voyage from their homes to go to a baseball game, and they would be raising money to help hurricane relief in the process. It's a win-win situation for America's Past-time. Provided they don't screw it up.