Baseball swings back to major league parks around the country on Monday, including the Bay Area. The Giants open on the road Monday afternoon against the Los Angeles Dodgers. The A's open at home in Oakland against the Seattle Mariners.
In observance of the A's home opener, the City of Oakland has declared April 1 through 7 to be "Oakland A's Spirit Week." City Hall and Oakland International Airport are displaying green and gold lights. A's banners are hanging from light posts throughout downtown.
City leaders are urging fans to wear A's gear, or at least green and gold, every day this week. AC Transit buses will display messages of support. And A's flags are flying at many hotels, Oakland City Hall, and from the iconic Oakland Tribune building.
The flag at the Tribune Tower was raised on Friday by Mayor Jean Quan and A's manager Bob Melvin. Quan told reporters that she'd been delighted by the team's American League West championship last year, and hoped that her city would host the World Series in 2013. Many experts don't even expect Oakland to get into the playoffs this year — but hardly any of them expected it last year either.
Monday night's game is sold out, but good seats remain for the rest of the Mariners series.
