Bullpen thin for Brewers series?

[TellItToTheDA]

http://heraldnet.com/article/20100625/BLOG05/100629905

A well-rested bullpen could face big challenges this weekend

Posted at 9:55 am by By Kirby Arnold

Hard to imagine this, but the Mariners' barely used bullpen could become surprisingly thin for this weekend's series against the Brewers.

These are the guys who, with the exception of closer David Aardsma and setup guy Brandon League, didn't see the bright lights of a game between June 15 and yesterday. The nice run of deep starts has been responsible for all the seat time the relievers got. But today, as the Mariners prepare to begin an interleague series at Milwaukee (under National League rules without the DH), there's a chance the bullpen won't be at full strength.

Basically, Aardsma's wife has yet to give birth, and Kelley wasn't even in the bullpen for yesterday's game. So this weekend's games will come down to Chad Cordero, Sean White, Garret Olsen, and Brian Sweeney. Woo.

[Igoe4Mariners]

wow that sucks.

[JosephC]

Yeah then we can pray our starters can go 8... Otherwise this could be a problem. We still got League in a couple days. Besides that it's gonna become batting practice for the Brewers.

[TellItToTheDA]

And now we know why Kelley wasn't in the pen yesterday:

http://www.heraldnet.com/article/201...OG05/100629898

The MRI showed inflammation in the elbow and the Mariners today placed Kelley on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to June 16. He'll be eligible to be activated July 1.

Right-hander Doug Fister, who'll start Saturday at Milwaukee, was activated from the DL. He's been out because of shoulder fatigue.

While it's good news that Kelley's MRI showed only inflammation, this is still something to watch carefully. There's a reason for the inflammation and I can't count the number of pitchers over the years who've wound up with something more serious.

[Igoe4Mariners]

Great so now we have one somewhat reliable reliever left.

[TellItToTheDA]

And the DA is officially out for Saturday and Sunday:

http://blog.seattlepi.com/baseball/archives/212639.asp

Aardsma to miss two games as wife gives birth

An already short-handed Mariners bullpen will now be without its closer for the next two games as David Aardsma flew home to Seattle on Saturday morning to be with his wife Andrea for the impending arrival of their first child.

Aardsma will miss the Mariners' games in Milwaukee on Saturday and Sunday, then likely rejoin the club Tuesday for the start of their three-game series in New York against the Yankees.

The team is off Monday.

The departure leaves Seattle with just five relievers at the moment, since Shawn Kelley was placed on the disabled list Friday with a tender elbow.

[JosephC]

I think that makes Seattle have the worst bullpen in the major leagues in this series. Not cool at all. Look at last night.

[TellItToTheDA]

Brian Sweeney, wow. 4 scoreless innings. Maybe his numbers in Tacoma weren't a fluke. Lord knows we need it!

[Igoe4Mariners]

Where did Sweeney come from anyway? Any relation to Mike? I'm guessing no.

[TellItToTheDA]

Where did Sweeney come from anyway? Any relation to Mike? I'm guessing no.

No relation. Before coming back to Seattle he spent 3 seasons with the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters in Japan.