As we head into the weekend, we reach our final weekend without baseball for the next eight months. Pitchers and catchers begin reporting in the coming week with the Oakland Athletics pitchers and catchers due to report on February 15. The full squad is slated to report on February 20, but pitchers and catchers reporting is what often gets folks initially excited about the upcoming baseball season. Although the first spring training game isn't slated to start until February 27
The A's had a bit of a bounce-back last season as they reached the .500 mark thanks in large part to some phenomenal pitching. They've brought back most of the pitching staff along with strong improvement in the bullpen. After another year of offensive struggles the A's added some quality bats in David DeJesus, Hideki Matsui and Josh Willingham. It remains to be seen how all the new parts will gel, but the A's will likely find themselves in the thick of the AL West pennant race.
We'll be here through the entire 2011 baseball season, starting with spring training.
Oakland Athletics Spring Training Schedule (all times PACIFIC):
Pitchers and Catchers: Feb. 15
First Workout: Feb. 16
Position Players: Feb. 20
First Full Workout: Feb. 21
2/27: @ Cubs, 12:05
2/28: @ Angels, 12:05
3/1: vs. Reds (SS), 12:05
3/2: at Indians, 12:05
3/3: @ Brewers, 12:05
3/4: vs. Rangers, 12:05
3/5: vs. Giants, 1:05
3/6: vs. Brewers (SS), 12:05; @ Padres, 12:05pm
3/7: vs. Mariners, 12:05
3/8: vs. Padres, 12:05
3/9: @ Rangers, 12:05
3/10: vs. Royals (SS), 12:05
3/11: vs. Dodgers (SS), 12:05; @ Brewers (SS), 12:05
3/12: @ Mariners, 12:05
3/13: vs. Rockies, 1:05 (TV: CSN California)
3/14: @ Indians, 1:05
3/15: vs. Cubs (SS), 1:05; @ Royals (SS), 1:05
3/17: vs. Cubs, 1:05
3/18: @ White Sox, 4:05
3/19: vs. White Sox, 1:05
3/20: vs. Diamondbacks (SS), 1:05; @ Giants (SS), 1:05
3/21: @ Dodgers (SS), 1:05
3/22: @ Reds, 1:05
3/23: @ Cubs, 1:05
3/24: @ Diamondbacks, 1:10
3/25: vs. Angels, 1:05
3/26: vs. Rockies, 7:05
3/27: @ Rockies (SS), 1:10
3/28: @ Giants, 7:15 (AT&T Park, TV: CSN Bay Area)
3/29: vs. Giants, 7:05 (Oakland Coliseum, TV: CSN California)
3/30: @ Giants, 12:45 (AT&T Park)
Opening Day
4/1: vs. Mariners, 7:05