EVERETT — The Seattle Mariners play 162 regular-season baseball games in 180 days from April to October.
That’s quite a grind, but it still allows the M’s an off day every few weeks.
The Everett AquaSox play in the Class A short-season Northwest League and their grind is just as difficult. The Frogs play their 76-game schedule in 81 days, and three of those off-days occur Aug. 1-3 for the Northwest League-Pioneer League All-Star game.
That leaves the AquaSox with just two other off days during the regular season, the first of which is today before Everett heads south for a five-game series against the Hillsboro Hops.
The 76-game schedule is in addition to the 40-plus games many Frogs played in the spring for their respective college teams.
Most got a break between the end of their college seasons and the Major League Baseball draft that precedes the start of the Northwest League season by a week. But since June 17, the Frogs have played 25 games in 25 days.
That’s a schedule that would cause even major-leaguers to wince.
“You can see some guys are getting beat up,” Sox infielder Nick Zammarelli said. “It’s definitely good to get the pitchers some time off, too. I think we’re going to come back strong from this day off.”
As for the players’ off-day plans? Well, there were still a lot of possibilities being tossed around following batting practice Monday afternoon.
“It will be awesome just to have a day to go do something by yourself and enjoy the sun — hopefully if we get some sun — and hopefully get out on the water or something,” outfielder Kyle Lewis said. “It’s a much-needed day off.”
Players and coaches seemed to agree that no one would be at the ballpark.
“I probably won’t pick up a bat (today), to be honest with you,” said Zammarelli, who is tied with Lewis for the team lead in games played at 23. “I think a day off would be good for me.”
Lewis had a chance to briefly experience Seattle the weekend after he was picked by the Mariners in the first round of this year’s draft. He flew in to be introduced by the organization and took batting practice at Safeco Field. That simply whet his appetite to further explore the city he hopes to eventually call home.
“I might try to go up to Seattle and do some things there. Maybe ride a boat or something,” Lewis said. “We still haven’t figured it out.”
Relief pitcher Thomas Burrows had a more practical answer: He is headed to Seattle to get his passport situation taken care of so he can travel with the AquaSox on their next trip to Canada in August.
“I’ll try to check out some sites, too,” said Burrows, a native of Alabama. “I might check out Pike Place and maybe the Space Needle.”
The coaching staff also had some plans for the off day. Manager Rob Mummau plans to go bowling with his sons, Jake and Sammy. The two younger Mummaus are here from Florida for the entire season and are fixtures shagging fly balls in the outfield alongside the Everett pitchers during batting practice.
Mummau doesn’t want his players anywhere near the stadium.
“It’s definitely good for them to get a break and get away from picking up a ball or a bat,” he said. “Just to clear up their mind, get a break and get back at it Wednesday.”
Hitting coach Brian Hunter also had some practical plans for the day.
“Just relax and do some laundry,” he said. “My laundry is crazy right now. It’s backed up, so I’m ready to do some laundry for sure.”
Everett’s next off day? That’s not until the aforementioned three-day All-Star break beginning Aug. 1.
For the latest Silvertips news follow Jesse Geleynse on Twitter @jessegeleynse.
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