Padres vs. Mariners 3/4/12 Game Preview

Game time – 12:05 PT

San Diego Padres

1. Cameron Maybin – CF (.667 – 2 for 3)
2. Will Venable – RF (n/a)
3. Jesus Guzman – LF .000 – 0 for 5)
4. Kyle Blanks – DH (n/a)
5. Yonder Alonso – 1B (n/a)
6. James Darnell – 3B (n/a)
7. John Baker* – C (n/a)
8. Everth Cabrera – SS (n/a)
9. Andy Parrino – 2B (n/a)

Anthony Bass – P

Batting average against the opposing starter is listed in parenthesis.

*Corey Brock of Padres.com just recently reported the John Baker left the park sick and will not play in today’s game.  At this time, his replacement in the starting lineup has not been announced.  

Seattle Mariners

1. Chone Figgins – CF (.000 – 0 for 2)
2. Munenori Kawasaki – SS (n/a)
3. Kyle Seager – 3B (n/a)
4. Mike Carp – 1B (n/a)
5. Jesus Montero – DH (n/a)
6. John Jaso – C (n/a)
7. Luis Rodriguez – 2B (n/a)
8. Trayvon Robinson – LF (n/a)
9. Chih-Hsien Chiang – RF (n/a)

Jason Vargas – P

Batting average against the opposing starter is listed in parenthesis.

Padres fans will get to see their newly-minted $25 million man leading off the game today.  Maybin hit lead-off in 39 games last season and stole 13 bases while batting in that spot.  He hit .242/.312/.376 from the lead-off spot in 2012.

Another interesting note is Jesus Guzman‘s start in left field.  The Padres clearly want him to play, and it looks like they are going to get a jump start at evaluating the positions at which he can perform at least decently.  Guzman played six games in left field last season, and he did so without too much damage.  According to Fangraphs, he was worth -1 DRS (Defensive Runs Saved).  The league average is 0.

Fans will get their first look at Yonder Alonso in game action.  He will be hitting behind the designated hitter of the day Kyle Blanks and playing first base.  Alonso will likely see time in many different spots in the order while Bud Black and company try to figure his place in the line-up.

On the Mariners side, you’ll see no Ichiro Suzuki in today’s lineup.  Instead, the Mariners are going with Chih-Hsien Chiang in right field.  In 120 games of Double-A ball split between Boston’s organization and the Mariners’ organization, Chiang hit .302/.361/.537.  However, after coming over to the Mariners’ Double-A affiliate, Chiang’s numbers dipped drastically to .208/.255/.262 in 32 games.

This will be the Padres first spring training game, but it will be the Mariners third game.  They played two games against the Athletics and are 1-1.