The Mariners’ lineups for this afternoon’s intrasquad game (1 p.m. Mountain time on Field 1 in Peoria) are taped to the clubhouse door, and on one side they’ve got Ichiro Suzuki, Chone Figgins and Milton Bradley batting 1-2-3.
No problem there. But after that? Adam Kennedy is in the cleanup spot … and playing first base. What? Are they trying to win?
Snarkiness aside, you’ve got to understand this is an intrasquad and lineups like this will happen when you’ve got 4 1/2 innings to try and get everyone into the game. There will be a lot of switching, probably every inning.
Also consider that if the Mariners couldn’t find a middle-of-the-order guy all last year, how tough is it to find two of them for an intrasquad?
But Adam Kennedy at first base, batting cleanup? Actually, he’s done it before. Kennedy has made six starts at first in his 1,491-game major league career, including four last year with the Nationals. And he also has experience in the cleanup spot, starting once in 2006 with the Angels.
One other note: Center fielder Franklin Gutierrez isn’t starting and isn’t listed as a reserve for either team. He spent yesterday in Seattle having tests on stomach problems.
Here are this afternoon’s lineups:
Ichiro Suzuki, right field
Chone Figgins, third base
Milton Bradley, DH
Adam Kennedy, first base
Miguel Olivo, catcher
Jody Gerut, center field
Ryan Langerhans, left field
Brendan Ryan, shortstop
Luis Rodriguez, second base
Right-hander Michael Pineda, starting pitcher
Reserve position players: Matt Mangini, Johermyn Chavez, Sean Kazmar, Adam Moore, Matt Tuiasosopo, Mike Wilson.
Reserve pitchers: Fabio Castro, Dan Cortes, Chaz Roe, Jose Flores.
Jack Wilson, shortstop
Dustin Ackley, second base
Justin Smoak, first base
Jack Cust, DH
Michael Saunders, left field
Gabe Gross, center field
Greg Halman, right field
Josh Bard, catcher
Josh Wilson, third base
Right-hander Blake Beavan, starting pitcher
Reserve position players: Mike Carp, Carlos Peguero, Steven Baron, Chris Gimenez, Alex Liddi.
Reserve pitchers: Edward Paredes, Josh Lueke, Yoervis Medina, Tom Wilhelmsen.
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