Opening Day 2011

Tonight the Athletics open up their 2011 season against the Seattle Mariners (click here for the teams full schedule). This year expectations are high for the Athletics who made some significant additions during the offseason to bolster and complement an already young and talented pitching staff. This year's new faces include: Hideki Matsui, David Dejesus, Josh Willingham, Rich Harden, Brian Fuentes and Grant Balfour .

Last year the Athletics finished in second place in the American League West with a respectable 81 - 81 record. With this years additions, a healthy team and a division wide open for any team to take, could this be the year the team makes the playoffs for the first time since 2006? According to Jane Lee from MLB.com, it seems it could be:

Equipped with a revamped lineup and a progressive rotation that is shaping up to be one of the Majors' best, the A's have positioned themselves for what could be their first playoff appearance since 2006.

If you are looking to listen to games on the radio, you will be happy to know that yesterday the team announced a four-year agreement with KBWF 95.7-FM to be their new flagship radio station.

If you aren't planning on attending tonights game and you want to avoid what might be rain on Saturday, consider Sunday's game. In continuing their efforts to support victims of the Japanese earthquake, the Athletics will donate $1 for every ticket purchase. For full details click here. To purchase tickets click here.

In Giants news, yesterday the team played their first game of the season against their arch-nemesis the Los Angeles Dodgers. Despite their best efforts they lost the game by a score of 2 -1. With this ominous start to the season, the defending world series champs are on pace to loose 162 games. We will watch intently to see if the Giants can turn their season around.

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