We got our first up-close glimpse of Alex Liddi in a couple of intrasquad games and, from a physical standpoint he’s impressive — 6-foot-4 and 220 pounds of 21-year-old Italian muscle.
Thursday, when the Mariners play the Colorado Rockies, the entire world will get to see Liddi in a major league game — at least that portion of the world watching live at Peoria Stadium and on the Fox Sports Net telecast.
Liddi, who will start at third base and bat ninth, won the California League MVP award and shared the batting title with a .345 average while playing for Class A High Desert. He’ll move up to Class AA West Tennesee and definitely is one of the prospects to watch this year.
Or, as shortstop Josh Wilson said tonight has he looked at his own name in the No. 8 spot in Thursday’s lineup, “Alex Liddi! Protection!”
This will be one of those “who wants to make the team?” games for the Mariners, based on the lineup. Being a day game after a night game — a spring training game, no less — you wouldn’t expect too many of the projected regular-season starters to be in this one. How about none of them?
Here’s what the Mariners will throw out there against the Rockies:
Corey Patterson, center field
Eric Byrnes, left field
Ryan Garko, first base
Mike Sweeney, DH
Matt Tuiasosopo, second base
Ryan Langerhans, right field
Adam Moore, catcher
Josh Wilson, shortstop
Alex Liddi, third base
Left-hander Ryan Rowland-Smith, starting pitcher
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