C: Kurt Suzuki--Kurt is from Hawaii and Hawaiians are hella friendly. Grade A

1B: Daric Barton--friendly but could be friendlier with the right person. Grade B+

2B: Mark Ellis--would be friendlier but unicorn duties often supercede friendship. Grade B

SS: Bobby Crosby--not playing well + still a relative newlywed = not very friendly. Grade D

3B: Eric Chavez--used to be really friendly but injuries and surgery have hampered him; could bounce back in 2009. Grade B

LF: Matt Holliday--married with two sons, "Big Daddy"  figures on prodigious friendliness in his new Oakland digs. Grade A

CF: Ryan Sweeney--see Daric Barton. Grade B+

RF: Travis Buck--wants to be friendlier but needs to get his confidence back. Grade C+

DH: Jack Cust-- friendly enough but a little too selective at times. Grade B

SP: Justin Duchscherer--as with Ellis, Duke would be friendlier if he wasn't so focused on the task at hand; knows how and when to turn it on/off. Grade B+

RP: Brad Ziegler--AN brother has answered all our questions and been awesome on and off the mound. A baseball blogger's best friend. Grade A+

But (should we reacquire him) the odds-on choice for Friendliest Athletic of 2009 will turn out to be ...

OF/1B: Nick Swisher--with Swish's track record it isn't even a contest. Nuff said. Grade A++