Power Rankings

Power Rankings

Fri Apr 13

Athletics 7:10 PM

 Felix Hernandez (1-0, 4.40)

Bartolo Colon (1-1, 5.84)

Mariners Roster

ROTATION:

RHP Felix Hernandez

LHP Jason Vargas

RHP Blake Beavan

RHP Kevin Millwood

RHP Hector Noesi

BULLPEN:

RHP Brandon League (closer)

LHP George Sherrill

RHP Hisashi Iwakuma

RHP Tom Wilhelmsen

LHP Lucas Luetge

RHP Steve Delabar

RHP Erasmo Ramirez

CATCHERS:

Miguel Olivo

Jesus Montero

John Jaso

INFIELDERS:

1B Justin Smoak

2B Dustin Ackley

SS Brendan Ryan

3B Kyle Seager

INF Alex Liddi

INF Munenori Kawasaki

OUTFIELDERS:

LF Chone Figgins

CF Michael Saunders

RF Ichiro Suzuki

OF Casper Wells

Bobby Petrino

Ozzie Guillen

Video

By the time Oakland gets through its first eight games, the Athletics will already have faced Mariners ace Felix Hernandez three times.

It’s a crazy schedule that began with these two clubs facing off in their first two games last week in Japan, with each winning once – including ”King Felix’s” Game 1 victory at the Tokyo Dome.

Now, the AL West rivals resume their season-opening series stateside – albeit eight days later. It’s a nontraditional two-game series Friday and Saturday. Then, the A’s travel to Seattle next weekend for a three-game series at Safeco Field in the Mariners’ home opener.

Yes, the Mariners and A’s will know each other inside and out by mid-April.

”It’s a little weird playing so many games, then we’ve got their home opener, too,” Oakland catcher Kurt Suzuki said. ”We’ve got like nine games in the first two weeks. That’s part of scheduling, but they’re in our division so we’re going to see them a lot.”

Seattle manager Eric Wedge even swapped his starters for this weekend to move Hernandez to Saturday and Jason Vargas to Friday so Hernandez is lined up to also pitch the Mariners’ home opener April 13.

”He’s the ace,” Hernandez joked of Vargas.

This situation is also unique for these clubs given they opened the regular season last week only to return for more exhibition games before they reunite in the Bay Area.

These two clubs will certainly know each other well by mid-April.

Arizona Diamondbacks 28/1

Atlanta Braves 22/1

Baltimore Orioles 150/1

Boston Red Sox 10/1

Chicago Cubs 40/1

Chicago White Sox 65/1

Cincinnati Reds 22/1

Cleveland Indians 60/1

Colorado Rockies 35/1

Detroit Tigers 15/2

Houston Astros 200/1

Kansas City Royals 80/1

Los Angeles Angels 15/2

Los Angeles Dodgers 40/1

Miami Marlins 18/1

Milwaukee Brewers 28/1

Minnesota Twins 75/1

New York Mets 80/1

New York Yankees 7/1

Oakland Athletics 80/1

Philadelphia Phillies 11/2

Pittsburgh Pirates 100/1

San Diego Padres 100/1

San Francisco Giants 15/1

Seattle Mariners 100/1

St. Louis Cardinals 25/1

Tampa Bay Rays 20/1

Texas Rangers 10/1

Toronto Blue Jays 30/1

Washington Nationals 30/1

Article

Former New York Mets outfielder Lenny Dykstra was sentenced Monday to three years in state prison in a grand theft auto case…..Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Cynthia Ulfig sentenced Dykstra after refusing to allow him to withdraw a no-contest plea.

The judge said the theft scheme showed sophistication and extensive planning.

Dykstra was immediately remanded to custody and he walked into the court’s back room, hands in his pockets.

Dykstra, 49, initially pleaded not guilty to 25 counts after police arrested him and found cocaine, Ecstasy and synthetic human growth hormone at his Los Angeles home last April.

Prosecutors said Dykstra and two co-defendants tried to lease and then sell high-end cars from several car dealerships by claiming credit through a phony business. His accountant, Robert Hymers, pleaded no contest to one count of identity theft, while Christopher Gavanis pleaded no contest to one count of filing a false financial statement. They are both awaiting sentencing.

Dykstra changed his plea in October to no contest and in exchange prosecutors dropped 21 counts Dykstra has had a series of legal problems over the past year. He faces federal bankruptcy charges and is scheduled to stand trial this summer.

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick has been voted America’s most disliked athlete, edging out Tiger Woods for the dubious title in a poll released Wednesday by Forbes

Vick is still dealing with the backlash from a federal conviction on dog fighting charges, while Woods has dealt with poor performance on the golf course after a cheating scandal led to his divorce.

About 60 percent of fans polled disliked Vick, tying him with Woods, but more people expressed a strong dislike for Vick compared to Woods.

Jets receiver Plaxico Burress, who served jail time for accidentally shooting himself with an illegal handgun, was third with 56 percent. He was followed by Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh at 51 percent and Nets forward Kris Humphries at 50 percent.

Just five months ago, Suh topped a Forbes poll of the most liked players in the NFL. He was later suspended for two games for stomping on a Packers offensive lineman.

Humphries made the list following his short marriage to reality TV star Kim Kardashian.

The top 10 was rounded out by Heat star LeBron James (48 percent), Lakers star Kobe Bryant (45 percent), former NFL wide receiver Terrell Owens (45 percent), Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez (44 percent) and NASCAR driver Kurt Busch (42 percent).

The survey was conducted by Nielsen and E-Poll Market Research.