Tonight’s lineup: Griffey has something to do between at-bats (left field)

Published 6:54 pm Thursday, March 19, 2009

Put down your brackets and get out your scorebooks, here’s tonight’s Mariners lineup for the televised game (FSN) against the natural-rival Padres (along with, as an added bonus, an editorial comment on each starter):

Franklin Gutierrez, CF (This guy glides to the ball with the best of them)

Yuniesky Betancourt SS (Count the pitches, see if they add to 10)

Ken Griffey Jr. LF (Can he hit one to the gap? Can he get to one in the gap?)

Adrian Beltre 3B (Already in midseason form with the glove)

Russell Branyan 1B (Makes a stir when he connects, creates a breeze when he doesn’t)

Mike Sweeney DH (So far, so good on those creaky knees)

Jeff Clement C (Gotta hit, gotta catch to make this team)

Mike Wilson RF (Watch out beyond the batter’s eye!)

Chris Woodward 2B (Taking up space until Jose Lopez gets here)

Ryan Rowland-Smith LHP (Call him the fifth starter until Brandon Morrow is ready)

As an added treat, right-hander Phillippe Aumont, the Mariners’ first-round draft pick two years ago, is on the list of relievers expected to pitch tonight.

And, just to avoid any confusion, speedy outfielder Tyson Gillies (see previous post from this afternoon’s game) is wearing No. 96 tonight, not No. 24.

One other note: There’s a former Mariner starting for the Padres and, no, it’s not Chris Snelling in the outfield. Cha Seung Baek is on the mound.