MLB Releases 2013 Schedule Draft

Draft might not be the correct word -- draft implies changes still to come -- but the master schedule is being called tentative at this point. I think it is always called tentative at first, but I don't know how often Major League Baseball actually makes a substantial change. Here's the report issued and here's a link to the Mariners' 2013 schedule in a not-as-handy monthly format. This calls for bullet points

• There's the whole World Baseball Classic thing again. Not Mariners-related per se, but just, you know, remember that? It'll be back.
• The Mariners open on April 1 at Oakland. Of course they do.
• They also end the season against the Athletics. Of course they do.
• The Mariners open at home against the Astros!!!
• The Mariners have just one off day during April and then get five in May including this weird procession.
  May 6: off day
  May 7: at Pirates
  May 8: at Pirates
  May 9: off day
• Speaking of that, the Mariners do almost that exact same thing in late June with off days on June 24 and 27 and games against the Pirates, at home, on the 25th and 26th. This one is made all the more bizarre by coming in the middle of a home stand. So the team will get two days off while at home to, I don't know, hunt?
• Baseball is still trying to highlight the rivalry stuff and next year is adding a new feature wherein the games are played back to back.
  May 27: vs Padres
  May 28: vs Padres
  May 29: at Padres
  May 30: at Padres
• The Mariners don't play the Royals until September, and then play them seven times that month.
• Overall, here's the breakdown of opponents, sorted by most to least played and ties broken by number of home games
  Angels: 19, 10 home, 9 away
  Rangers: 19, 10 home, 9 away
  Astros: 19, 9 home, 10 away
  Athletics: 19, 9 home, 10 away
  Red Sox: 7, 4 home, 3 away
  Twins: 7, 4 home, 3 away
  Yankees: 7, 4 home, 3 away
  Indians: 7, 3 home, 4 away
  Royals: 7, 3 home, 4 away
  Tigers: 7, 3 home, 4 away
  Blue Jays: 6, 3 home, 3 away
  Orioles: 6, 3 home, 3 away
  Rays: 6, 3 home, 3 away
  White Sox: 6, 3 home, 3 away
  Padres: 4, 2 home, 2 away
  Pirates: 4, 2 home, 2 away
  Brewers: 3, 3 home, 0 away
  Cubs: 3, 3 home, 0 away
  Cardinals: 3, 0 home, 3 away
  Reds: 3, 0 home, 3 away