Mariners trying to get Branyan going again

As you can see, it's a beautiful day at Jacobs, er, Progressive Field. No sign of the rain that poured down yesterday afternoon. This has always been one of my favorite ballparks, although the atmosphere was a lot better when the Indians were selling out the place day after day, year after year. Much of the pre-game talk today with manager Don Wakamatsu focused on Russell Branyan, who clearly was still bothered yesterday by his sore back. Wakamatsu said he left the ballpark yesterday thinking that he was going to sit out Branyan the next two days, which combined with Monday's day off before the start of a three-game series in Detroit would have given Branyan three consecutive days off. Instead, when he got to the ballpark, Branyan told him his back had improved considerably and made a case to start tonight. Wakamatsu put him in the lineup, but Chris Shelton will start at first tomorrow. That will give Branyan two days off in a row. "He reassured me he wanted to be in t...