The Seattle Mariners are just a few hours away from kicking off the MLB 2012 regular season in Japan. The M's will take on the Oakland Athletics and first pitch is set for 3 a.m. Seattle time. After a rough campaign in 2011, this is a clean start for manager Eric Wedge and his club. The American League West figures to be one of the tougher divisions in baseball this season, but there is always a team or two that emerges out of nowhere to claim a playoff spot.
Why not Seattle?
Mariners:
Chone Figgins 3B
Dustin Ackley 2B
Ichiro Suzuki RF
Justin Smoak 1B
Jesus Montero DH
Mike Carp LF
Miguel Olivo C
Michael Saunders CF
Brendan Ryan SS
Felix Hernandez will start the game for Seattle.
A's:
Jemile Weeks 2B
Cliff Pennington SS
Coco Crisp LF
Seth Smith DH
Kurt Suzuki C
Josh Reddick RF
Yoenis Cespedes CF
Brandon Allen 1B
Eric Sogard 3B
Brandon McCarthy will start the game for Oakland.
For more on the Mariners and Opening Day, be sure to visit Lookout Landing. A's fans should head on over to Athletics Nation.