Russell Branyan isn’t yet at the ball park, but pitcher David Pauley is – as the newest member of the Seattle bullpen.

That bullpen was short without David Aardsma and Shawn Kelley, so the Mariners reached into the Tacoma rotation and brought the 27-year-old right-hander to Milwaukee.

Pauley will be the long reliever today, but looking ahead will share that role with Brian Sweeney and be available for anything from middle relief to spot starting.

To make room for Pauley on the 25-man roster, the Mariners put 1B/DH Mike Sweeney on the disabled list with back spasms – two games …

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As Dusty said in his blog last  night – and thanks, dude, for posting! – Ryan and I were out of pocket when the news broke that Russell Branyan was returning to the Seattle Mariners.

Branyan is flying into Milwaukee today, landing about game time. Don’t expect him in the starting lineup, but he could pinch-hit at some point, stay in the game.

As for Ryan, not sure where he was or what he was doing, but me? When my cell phone starting ringing with the news here, I was neck deep in a summer concert here – ZZ Top, …

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The Mariners just announced they’ve traded for Russell Branyan.  Ryan and Lash are out of reach at the moment, but for now, here’s the press release the team sent out:

MILWAUKEE, Wis. – Seattle Mariners Executive Vice President & General Manager of Baseball Operations Jack Zduriencik announced tonight that the Mariners have acquired power-hitting first baseman Russell Branyan from the Cleveland Indians in exchange for minor league infielder Juan Diaz and minor league outfielder Ezequiel Carrera …

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Just when Don Wakamatsu thought he had a hot bat in the heart of Seattle’s offense, Mike Sweeney went down – again – with a bad back and was a late lineup scratch.

Replacing Sweeney at first base: Josh-not-Jack Wilson.

The Mariners may start taking applications. Wanted: Someone who can drive in a run. Any run. Any time. Salary negotiable.

Jose Lopez is on a nine-game hitting streak but, behind him, Milton Bradley is 0-for-21.  Scoring runs is going to remain a major issue, and against the Brewers,  it’s had to expect one or wo runs to be enough.

Doug …

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Starting pitcher Doug Fister is on a 75-80 pitch limit today, and on a good day that might get him through six innings.

The issue for the Seattle Mariners is, should they have a lead, who do they ask to hold it? With David Aardsma gone and Chad Cordero having thrown 26 pitches last night, the options are limited.

Brandon League will close, and since he may have to do so for a few more games, he’ll likely work only the ninth inning. That leaves Garrett Olson, Sean White and Brian Sweeney for the middle innings.

Sweeney is the designated …

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Closer David Aardsma will fly home Saturday morning to join his wife, Andrea, for the birth of their first child.

The Seattle Mariners knew she was expecting some time on this trip, and apparently the couple will induce birth once Aardsma is home and take part.

“We expect him to be gone three days,” manager Don Wakamatsu said.

It’s a nice gesture, and one big-league teams all make, but it leaves Seattle in a tenuous spot.  They started the season with three relievers with late-inning experiene on their roster – Aardsma, Mark Lowe, Brandon League and Shawn Kelley.

Today, only …

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It’s possible, of course, that either of these teams could win tonight, 1-0, but the odds are astronomical for a couple of reasons.

First, the starting pitchers are a combined 3-11. Second, the  Brewers can hit, and the long ball is one of their favorite weapons. Their starting lineup tonight has 72 home runs – Seattle’s has 26.

Still, Ryan Rowland-Smith is coming off his best start of the year and the Mariners have won seven of their last 10 games. The lower the score tonight, the better their chances.

If a home run decides it, the likelihood is a …

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For those who have forgotten what it’s like to have a bopper in the lineup – and that would include the Seattle Mariners – take a peek at the first five guys in the Milwaukee Brewers batting order.

Rickie Weeks, Corey Hart,  Prince Fielder, Ryan Braun and Casey McGehee all have at least 10 home runs – and everyone but Fielder has at least 43 RBI.

The Mariners, on the other hand, don’t hace a guy in their lineup with as many as seven home runs or 32 RBI.  Hart, with 18 home runs and 55 RBI, is batting second …

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