This is a day for which playing hooky was created, so if you are one of those short-sleeved souls who decided that the only thing you were going to work on this afternoon was your tan, kudos.

For the rest of you, well, looks like you're stuck with me for the next three hours.

As for our green-and-gold-and-sometimes-black-clad Oakland Athletics, theirs is a lineup that will hardly send shivers up the spines of any opposing pitcher, but if you like your stories in small sizes, the A's appear to be result-minded over reputation; a resilient bunch indeed.  And it is because of their ne'er-say-die ‘tude that they are in a position to take the season-opening series from this year's sexy pick, the Seattle Mariners.

To keep them in first place for another day, they turn to 22-year old Brett Anderson who hopes to avoid the proverbial sophomoric jinx that has befallen many a one-hit wonder.  Taking the ball for the Mariners is their own second-year starter, Doug Fister.

A key to Anderson's success is how well he fares against Ichiro Suzuki, and while that might be stating the obvious, it should be pointed out that Ichiro has managed six hits off the young left-hander, in just nine at-bats.

Here, fine friends, are today's lineups: