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<< Previous   of   Next >>   ADVERTISEMENT   CONTACT THE HERALD Report scores and results to 425-339-3470 or 1-866-6-SCORES (Call after 4:30 p.m.) E-mail information including items for Tuesday's Communities Sports Roundup and Thursday's Outdoor Calendar, to sports@heraldnet.com Kevin Brown, Sports Editor kbrown@heraldnet.com   Published: Tuesday, July 24, 2007 AquaSox update Nick Patterson Herald Writer Infield musings If you believe Everett's infield defense is significantly stronger than last year, you're not the only one. Seattle Mariners minor-league infield coordinator Darrin Garner was in town last week to get a first-hand look at the Sox infielders, and he was impressed with what he saw. "I like what I've seen so far," said Garner, who had two stints as a coach in Everett. "These guys have really done well, it's been special to see." Last season infield defense was one of the downfalls of Everett's season. The Sox infielders committed 73 errors in 76 games, a rate of 0.96 per game, and that was a key contributor in Everett finishing in last place in the Northwest League's West Division. The Sox again find themselves in last this season, but it's not because of the infield defense. Going into Monday's game Everett's infielders had committed just 24 errors in 33 games, a rate of 0.73 per game. The biggest difference has been the play of shortstop Ogui Diaz. Last year Diaz made 24 miscues in 64 games. This year he had six errors in his first 29 games. "Like most young guys it's all about building confidence," Garner said about Diaz. "Last year he lacked confidence a little bit. He matured, obviously, and he's starting to understand the game a little more and slow the game down. To his credit he's slowing the game down and he's getting a lot better." Garner also singled out second baseman Edilio Colina and first baseman Kris Sanchez for praise. Aye aye, captain: Get ready for at least one rousing rendition of the theme to SpongeBob SquarePants. Today is Kids Day at Everett Memorial Stadium, Everett's annual morning game to accomodate the youngsters. And every year the kids go nuts when the SpongeBob theme is played over the sound system, shouting in unison during the appropriate moments. Kids Day also means the unusual start time of 11:05 a.m. The gates open at 10 a.m. Patience: The Oakland A's are notorious for their plate discipline, regularly being among the major-league leaders in walks drawn. So it's no surprise to find their minor-league affiliates doing the same. Going into Monday night's game, the Vancouver Canadians, Oakland's Northwest League affiliate, was second in the league with 157 walks, nearly five per game. "That's the M.O. of the Oakland A's," Vancouver manager Rick Magnante said. "We will take pitches, we try to get deep in the count. When we get ourselves in scoring situations we try to be a little bit more proactive, but we've walked a lot and we've struck out a lot. It's either feast or famine for us." That makes the matchup with the Canadians particularly troublesome for Everett. The Sox led the league in walks issued with 177. So it should have come as no surprise that the Canadians walked 10 times in Sunday's 6-2 victory that lasted three-and-a-half hours. Everett has 10 more games against Vancouver this season. Tribute: There was a moment of silence before Monday's game in the memory of Tulsa Drillers hitting coach Mike Coolbaugh, who died Sunday.

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