The Mariners have posted the lineup for their first exhibition game, this afternoon against the Padres, and it’s filled more with hopefuls than regulars. Here it is:
Endy Chavez, left field
Ronny Cedeno, shortstop
Jeff Clement, catcher
Mike Morse, right field
Russell Branyan, DH
Franklin Gutierrez, center field
Bryan LaHair, first base
Matt Tuiasosopo, third base
Reegie Corona, second base
Ryan Rowland-Smith, pitching
Branyan and Gutierrez are the only projected opening-day starters in this lineup, mostly because the Mariners are missing regulars to the WBC or ailments.
Right fielder Ichiro Suzuki and catcher Kenji Johjima are with Japan’s WBC team, left fielder/DH Ken Griffey Jr. is getting his legs in shape after knee surgery, second baseman Jose Lopez has been dealing with back problems, shortstop Yuniesky Betancourt has a tender hamstring and third baseman Adrian Beltre is coming back from shoulder and thumb surgery.
Beltre has been a hot topic the past 24 hours as he decides whether to play for the Dominican Republic in the WBC. The Mariners have made it clear they don’t want him to play because of the shoulder and thumb, but Beltre has hedged to the WBC roster deadline and beyond without making a decision.
The Dominicans put him on the roster released Tuesday, but Beltre said this morning that he wants to play a few exhibitions with the Mariners before making a commitment.
This has turned into one of those where’s-your-commitment arguments. Shouldn’t he play for the team that’s shelling out $12 million this year? Or does national pride win out in this case?
I remember three years ago when Beltre was playing in the first WBC. The entire Mariners organization shuddered when he swung at a pitch in one of the early games and felt a twinge in his back. Beltre was OK, and he could have tweaked himself just as easily in Peoria, but it illustrated how jumpy an organization can be when one of its stars leaves to play in the WBC.
Beltre is an all-out, all-the-time kind of player and, coming off the injuries he had, the Mariners have reason to be nervous. If he goes to the WBC, he won’t change how he plays.
He’s doing the smart thing by playing a game or two in spring training. After that, the Mariners can only hope he makes a smart decision on the WBC, whatever that may be.
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