Seattle Mariners vs Oakland Athletics mlb live streaming online broadcast of major league baseball feed hightlight result April 01, 2011 The presence of Felix Hernandez on the mound is one of few reasons to watch the Seattle Mariners in 2011. The Oakland Athletics hope a solid staff and a rebuilt offense will make many eyes shift toward them.
The reigning American League Cy Young Award winner takes the ball for the Mariners in Friday night's season opener against the Athletics, who could be a surprise from the AL West this year.
Seventeen AL pitchers had more wins than "King Felix" during his 13-12 season in 2010. However, his 2.27 ERA led the league, and 232 strikeouts left him one behind the Angels' Jered Weaver for tops in the AL.
10:05 PM ET, April 1, 2011
Oakland Coliseum, Oakland, California
Injury Report
Seattle
* Charlie Haeger SP - Mar 29: Day-to-Day
* Franklin Gutierrez CF - Mar 29: 15-Day DL
* Miguel Olivo C - Mar 28: Day-To-Day
* David Aardsma RP - Mar 28: Day-to-Day
Oakland
* Rich Harden SP - Mar 30: 15-Day DL
* Mark Ellis 2B - Mar 29: Day-To-Day
* Josh Willingham LF - Mar 29: Day-To-Day
WATCH Seattle Mariners vs Oakland Athletics NOW
The presence of Felix Hernandez on the mound is one of few reasons to watch the Seattle Mariners in 2011. The Oakland Athletics hope a solid staff and a rebuilt offense will make many eyes shift toward them.
The reigning American League Cy Young Award winner takes the ball for the Mariners in Friday night's season opener against the Athletics, who could be a surprise from the AL West this year.
Seventeen AL pitchers had more wins than "King Felix" during his 13-12 season in 2010. However, his 2.27 ERA led the league, and 232 strikeouts left him one behind the Angels' Jered Weaver for tops in the AL.
Remaining humble, Hernandez doesn't expect to change his approach to the game even after winning some hardware.
"For like two months, I was like really, Cy Young?" said the right-hander, who will make his fourth Opening Day start at only 24. "It means a lot to me. I worked hard for this. But it's not enough.
"This year I'm going to go out and do my best, I'm going to be the same guy, the same pitcher and I'm going to give a chance for my team to win the game."
Little question he did that in 2010. Hernandez accounted for more than 21 percent of the club's wins -- making him the only bright spot in a season that began with the Mariners as a popular pick to win the West, and ended with 101 losses for the second time in three years.
Manager Don Wakamatsu alienated longtime franchise icon Ken Griffey Jr., who retired in a huff in June. Wakamatsu also had run-ins with the volatile Milton Bradley, and the high-priced -- and largely disappointing -- Chone Figgins. There was also an in-game shoving incident between Figgins and Jose Lopez in the dugout at Safeco Field that was captured on national television.
Wakamatsu was fired in August, and general manager Jack Zduriencik said there's no reason to dwell on all those woes.
"Certainly, last year was a disappointing year," he said. "...We were excited about the possibilities. But that's behind us. That's over. There were issues, things that disappointed all of us. Certainly disappointed me. But that's behind us and we're moving forward."
They'll do so with Eric Wedge, as the former Cleveland manager becomes Seattle's seventh skipper since the club's last playoff appearance 2003. The Mariners also still have record-setting Ichiro Suzuki, looking for his 11th straight 200-hit season.
While they expect a bounceback season from Figgins at third base, and still aren't entirely sure of what Bradley is capable of producing, the Mariners likely are going to finish last the West again.
The A's may have a future Cy Young Award winner going for them in Trevor Cahill. The right-hander was Oakland's ace last year, posting an 18-8 record with a 2.97 ERA and an All-Star appearance.
"I liked what (Cahill) did last year. I liked his demeanor on the mound -- the mental side of the game that he takes out there each time makes him ideal to start any game of the year," A's manager Bob Geren told the team's official website. "If there's a little extra hoopla and flyovers and fireworks on Opening Night, he's the perfect guy to handle that,"
Cahill is part of a core that includes Gio Gonzalez and Dallas Braden, but, the A's will begin the year without their closer. Andrew Bailey, who converted 25 of 28 save chances in 2010, went on the 15-day disabled list Wednesday with a strained forearm, meaning former All-Star Brian Fuentes will be expected to finish games for now.
Fuentes had 24 saves with Minnesota and the Angels last season after posting a career-high 48 with Los Angeles in 2009.
Oakland finished second in the West with an 81-81 record a year ago, however that result may have been more a testament to its pitchers. The A's offense produced only 109 homers and scored 663 runs last season, the team's second fewest in the last 28 non-strike seasons.
To address that -- and challenge AL pennant-winning Texas -- Oakland acquired David DeJesus from Kansas City and Josh Willingham from Washington, and also hope Hideki Matsui has something left as a designated hitter. The 36-year-old former Yankees star and 2009 World Series MVP was third on the Angels with 21 homers in 2010.
"Everybody's excited about the new guys we have. Expectations are high," shortstop Cliff Pennington said. "(Matsui is) a big-time player and it will bring some attention to the team."
The A's have won five straight over the Mariners, and went 13-6 against them last year.
The reigning American League Cy Young Award winner takes the ball for the Mariners in Friday night's season opener against the Athletics, who could be a surprise from the AL West this year.
Seventeen AL pitchers had more wins than "King Felix" during his 13-12 season in 2010. However, his 2.27 ERA led the league, and 232 strikeouts left him one behind the Angels' Jered Weaver for tops in the AL.
Oakland Coliseum, Oakland, California
Injury Report
Seattle
* Charlie Haeger SP - Mar 29: Day-to-Day
* Franklin Gutierrez CF - Mar 29: 15-Day DL
* Miguel Olivo C - Mar 28: Day-To-Day
* David Aardsma RP - Mar 28: Day-to-Day
Oakland
* Rich Harden SP - Mar 30: 15-Day DL
* Mark Ellis 2B - Mar 29: Day-To-Day
* Josh Willingham LF - Mar 29: Day-To-Day
WATCH Seattle Mariners vs Oakland Athletics NOW
The presence of Felix Hernandez on the mound is one of few reasons to watch the Seattle Mariners in 2011. The Oakland Athletics hope a solid staff and a rebuilt offense will make many eyes shift toward them.
The reigning American League Cy Young Award winner takes the ball for the Mariners in Friday night's season opener against the Athletics, who could be a surprise from the AL West this year.
Seventeen AL pitchers had more wins than "King Felix" during his 13-12 season in 2010. However, his 2.27 ERA led the league, and 232 strikeouts left him one behind the Angels' Jered Weaver for tops in the AL.
Remaining humble, Hernandez doesn't expect to change his approach to the game even after winning some hardware.
"For like two months, I was like really, Cy Young?" said the right-hander, who will make his fourth Opening Day start at only 24. "It means a lot to me. I worked hard for this. But it's not enough.
"This year I'm going to go out and do my best, I'm going to be the same guy, the same pitcher and I'm going to give a chance for my team to win the game."
Little question he did that in 2010. Hernandez accounted for more than 21 percent of the club's wins -- making him the only bright spot in a season that began with the Mariners as a popular pick to win the West, and ended with 101 losses for the second time in three years.
Manager Don Wakamatsu alienated longtime franchise icon Ken Griffey Jr., who retired in a huff in June. Wakamatsu also had run-ins with the volatile Milton Bradley, and the high-priced -- and largely disappointing -- Chone Figgins. There was also an in-game shoving incident between Figgins and Jose Lopez in the dugout at Safeco Field that was captured on national television.
Wakamatsu was fired in August, and general manager Jack Zduriencik said there's no reason to dwell on all those woes.
"Certainly, last year was a disappointing year," he said. "...We were excited about the possibilities. But that's behind us. That's over. There were issues, things that disappointed all of us. Certainly disappointed me. But that's behind us and we're moving forward."
They'll do so with Eric Wedge, as the former Cleveland manager becomes Seattle's seventh skipper since the club's last playoff appearance 2003. The Mariners also still have record-setting Ichiro Suzuki, looking for his 11th straight 200-hit season.
While they expect a bounceback season from Figgins at third base, and still aren't entirely sure of what Bradley is capable of producing, the Mariners likely are going to finish last the West again.
The A's may have a future Cy Young Award winner going for them in Trevor Cahill. The right-hander was Oakland's ace last year, posting an 18-8 record with a 2.97 ERA and an All-Star appearance.
"I liked what (Cahill) did last year. I liked his demeanor on the mound -- the mental side of the game that he takes out there each time makes him ideal to start any game of the year," A's manager Bob Geren told the team's official website. "If there's a little extra hoopla and flyovers and fireworks on Opening Night, he's the perfect guy to handle that,"
Cahill is part of a core that includes Gio Gonzalez and Dallas Braden, but, the A's will begin the year without their closer. Andrew Bailey, who converted 25 of 28 save chances in 2010, went on the 15-day disabled list Wednesday with a strained forearm, meaning former All-Star Brian Fuentes will be expected to finish games for now.
Fuentes had 24 saves with Minnesota and the Angels last season after posting a career-high 48 with Los Angeles in 2009.
Oakland finished second in the West with an 81-81 record a year ago, however that result may have been more a testament to its pitchers. The A's offense produced only 109 homers and scored 663 runs last season, the team's second fewest in the last 28 non-strike seasons.
To address that -- and challenge AL pennant-winning Texas -- Oakland acquired David DeJesus from Kansas City and Josh Willingham from Washington, and also hope Hideki Matsui has something left as a designated hitter. The 36-year-old former Yankees star and 2009 World Series MVP was third on the Angels with 21 homers in 2010.
"Everybody's excited about the new guys we have. Expectations are high," shortstop Cliff Pennington said. "(Matsui is) a big-time player and it will bring some attention to the team."
The A's have won five straight over the Mariners, and went 13-6 against them last year.
