Bask in the glory that is tonight’s lineup, friends, because it’s either the greatest thing that ever happened or the worst. Either way, it’s fantastically interesting. Andre Ethier, center field! Scott Van Slyke, hitting third! Van Slyke and Jerry Sands, both starting together! A.J. Ellis, hitting fifth! Adam Kennedy, nowhere to be found! I’m not sure I can think of a game all year in which I’d hoped so badly that the offense busts out, because if some of these choices don’t work, you can bet that we’re never going to see them again. (Other than Ethier in center, of course, which I think we’d all be happy to never have to see. I’m glad this game isn’t on the road so we don’t have to listen to Steve Lyons talk about how Ethier’s Gold Glove award allowed him to slide over to the tougher position.)

This is all happening because the Diamondbacks are tossing out lefty Wade Miley, of course, but even still I’m surprised that Mattingly fully embraced the youth movement that seems to be unintentionally afoot here. It’ll be interesting to see how much he sticks with it tomorrow as the Dodgers head to San Diego to face Padres lefty Clayton Richard, the final southpaw they’ll see for the next few days. I’m guessing Bobby Abreu gets back in for that, though hopefully either Sands or Van Slyke will be replacing James Loney at first. Either way, really looking forward to tonight’s game, just because the lineup is fascinating.

Hey, have you voted A.J. Ellis for All-Star yet?