Sure, it's warm outside -- but it's still Opening Day in Chicago

Can it really be opening day for the White Sox when the forecast says warm and sunny? Even Alexei Ramirez won't have an excuse for bad hitting if the higher temperatures hold.

Anyway, the nation's favorite summer pastime starts at 1:05 p.m. today when the Cleveland Indians come to U.S. Cellular Field. The Cubs start their season, too, but they are in Atlanta today. Their home opener is next Monday, April 12.

Here's a quick look at some key issues to help you prepare for the season ahead:

• The good news is apparently no one but delusionalcubsfan.com is putting pressure on for the Cubs to win the World Series this year. Sports Illustrated and most prognosticators are picking the St. Louis Cardinals as champions in the Central Division. The White Sox fare little better. SI says they'll finish third in their division, but Ken Rosenthal of Foxsports.com says Team Wacko (his words) could take it all.

• At U.S. Cellular, individual tickets start at $20, except for three Mondays when they are half price. Of course, there are also premium games when extra money is charged such as when the Cubs, Yankees or Red Sox come to play. Sellouts already include Opening Day and the Cubs games. Tickets at Wrigley Field start at $8, but prices scale up for popular games like the Cardinals and the hopefully good weather in June and July.

• The Cubs are known for selling out games, but they want to tell you lots of tickets are available for April and May. Both home openers are sold out, and if you want seats for the crosstown rivalry in either park, the clubs recommend you contact Stub Hub. Standing room is often available the day of sold-out games.

• If you don't take mass transportation, such as Metra or a Pace bus to Wrigley Field or to White Sox games, parking is going to cost you. It's $6 if you park at DeVry University and ride a free shuttle bus to Cubs games, but that is only available nights and weekends. It costs $23 at U.S. Cellular, and tailgating is allowed before games in several lots.

• Cubs fans are excited about the new owners, the Ricketts family. They also have a few new players, including Marlon Byrd in center field. The White Sox big coup last year was acquiring pitcher Jake Peavy, and fans are looking forward to seeing Sergio Santos pitching after he spent years trying to make it in the big leagues as an infielder.

• Baseball is more fun if your kids are fans, too, and for the first time in collective Cubs' memory, those age 15 and under can run the bases at Wrigley after Sunday games in April and May. The White Sox are continuing their Kids Days, and on Aug. 29 will honor Frank Thomas, including a giveaway of Big Hurt bobbleheads.

• If we didn't have off-field distractions, this wouldn't be Chicago. The Cubs' request that the city let them install a huge Toyota sign near left field has stirred up controversy. And the White Sox spent Spring Training all atwitter over Manager Ozzie Guillen's social networking. It was decided letting Guillen have a Web site wasn't a good idea, but we're still looking forward to the MLB TV reality show featuring White Sox management.