Mariners

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I’ve got to think that having Paulino, Zunino and Andino back-to-back-to-back in today’s lineup against the Dodgers is an example of Eric Wedge’s sense of humor. Except the manager isn’t inclined to be frivilous with his batting order, even in spring, so I’ll call it a coincidencino.

Pitching coach Carl Willis has firmed up their plans with Felix Hernandez, who will throw another live session on Sunday. Willis called it a “batting practice slash simulated game” and said it will be “a little more intense than the other day, and the other day was really good.”

Willis added that “if all is well,” Hernandez will make his first spring start on Thursday, when the Mariners have split-squad games against Oakland and Kansas City. There’s no official word which game Hernandez will pitch in, but my money’s on the Royals in Surprise. I can’t  imagine Wedge would let the A’s get a glimpse of the pitcher they’ll face on Opening Day. Speaking of which, Willis doesn’t foresee any problem with Hernandez being ready for that start on April 1.

“Really, his timetable, everyone is under the impression he’s behind,” Willis said. “We started games on Feb. 22. There’s no point; he didn’t need to start that soon. He’ll be 95 to 100 pitches by the time we get out of camp. We still have the time to make that happen. He’s basically on the same schedule he’s been on, not necessarily last year because of the Japan trip, but the previous two springs.  It’s the same timetable.”

Here are the lineups and extra players:

Extra Pitchers:

31        Kameron Loe……………………….. RHP

32        Jeremy Bonderman……………….. RHP

40        D.J. Mitchell………………………… RHP

41        Charlie Furbush…………………….. LHP

44        Lucas Luetge………………………… LHP

46        Stephen Pryor………………………. RHP

57        Chance Ruffin………………………. RHP

59        Oliver Perez………………………….. LHP

94        Dominic Leone*…………………….. RHP

96        George Mieses*…………………….. RHP

Infielders:

16        Alex Liddi……………………………… INF

36        Vinnie Catricala………………………. INF

61        Nick Franklin (S)…………………….. INF

75        Stefen Romero………………………. INF

77        Brad Miller (L)………………………… INF

Outfielders:

4         Carlos Peguero (L)………………….. OF

10        Eric Thames (L)………………………. OF

66        Francisco Martinez………………….. OF

76        Julio Morban (L)……………………… OF

Catchers:

2         Jesus Sucre…………………………….. C

9         John Hicks………………………………. C

63        Jesus Montero…………………………. C

 And here is the Dodgers’ lineup: