9:20 A.M. UPDATE: A few more notes after a short talk with manager Don Wakamatsu:
—That lineup below? Change it. Eric Byrnes has the flu’s and has been sent home, so Michael Saunders will start in left field today. Last thing the Mariners need right now is the flu bug sweeping through the clubhouse.
—Not only will Felix Hernandez pitch a simulated game, Rob Johnson will catch him this morning. Johnson has made a nice recovery from the soreness he experienced in his hips last week and, unless there’s a setback after today, he could be catching exhibition games soon.
—Nick Hill also will pitch in the simulated game.
—Where’s shortstop Jack Wilson? Wakamatsu plans to start him Wednesday against the Rangers. Wilson said yesterday that his right hamstring, which tightened up in a game last week, is fine. Head trainer Rick Griffin said the same thing, that Wilson was cleared to play. The wet fields the past two days have been a factor — don’t want someone with an iffy hammy slipping in the wet grass.
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If the rain and wind hold off (30 percent chance by 10 a.m. with 20 mph gusts this afternoon), we’ll have something to write home about today.
Felix Hernandez will take another step in his going-slow spring training, throwing a two-inning simulated game at 11:30 this morning. Unlike his one-inning simulated game last week when the minor league hitters were ordered not to swing, they’ll be hacking away today. After this, Hernandez should be ready for prime time Cactus League action.
This afternoon when the Mariners face the Cleveland Indians in Peoria, 19-year-old Nick Franklin will start at second base for the M’s. He’ll officially become the youngest to play for the Mariners in a Cactus League game this year, having turned 19 on March 2. Catcher Steven Baron’s 19th birthday was Dec. 7.
Here is the Mariners’ lineup today:
Corey Patterson, left field
Eric Byrnes, right field
Jose Lopez, third base
Ken Griffey Jr., DH
Ryan Garko, first base
Franklin Gutierrez, center field
Matt Tuiasosopo, shortstop
Guillermo Quiroz, catcher
Nick Franklin, second base
Left-hander Jason Vargas, starting pitcher
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