AquaSox Notebook
Published 11:29 am Thursday, June 21, 2007
Opponent: Yakima Bears.
When: 7:05 p.m.
Where: Everett Memorial Stadium.
Radio: KRKO (1380 AM).
Probable starters: Everett right-hander Rob Harmon (no record) vs. Yakima left-hander Omar Arif (no record).
Grifol’s back
Pedro Grifol is once again tramping around in his old stomping grounds.
The former Everett AquaSox manager is now the Seattle Mariners’ minor-league coordinator of instruction, and in that capacity he’s back in Everett for the start of the Northwest League season.
“I love it here,” said Grifol, who in 2003-05 compiled a 115-113 record as manager of the Sox. “The fans are great, the front office is tremendous, the ownership is great. All in all it’s a great place for these kids to start their professional career.”
As someone who has extensive knowledge of the players in the Mariners minor-league system, Grifol believes a strong cast has been assembled in Everett this season.
“I’m excited about it,” Grifol said. “We had a very young club in Wisconsin (in the full-season single-A Midwest League) and they didn’t have a very good first half. We sent about four or five guys down from Wisconsin to here and they’re all good-looking prospects. We took our lumps over there, but I think it was a better place for them to be as opposed to down in Arizona in extended spring training. The experience they got there should definitely help them here in Everett.”
Grifol listed outfielders Gregory Halman and Kalian Sams, two of the players who began the season in Wisconsin, among Everett’s top prospects. He also singled out outfielders Jermaine Brock and Joe Dunigan.
Among pitchers, Grifol mentioned left-hander Edward Paredes, who threw six shutout innings in Tuesday’s season-opening 5-1 victory over Yakima, and right-hander Juan Ramirez as “exciting young arms.”
Running wild: After stealing three bases Tuesday, Halman has his sights set high on how many bags he’ll swipe this season.
“My goal was 45,” Halman said. “But if we continue like this … well, I’m going for 45.
“I always have the green light,” added Halman, who stole 10 bases in 28 games for Everett last season. “I’ve just got to know the situation. Besides that, if it’s there I’m taking it.”
Halman should get his chance at a big number as Everett manager Mike Tosar said the Sox will continue their aggressive ways on the basepaths.
“We’re going to stay aggressive,” Tosar said. “Any time we get some guys running out there and we’re being successful, we’re going to keep running until they show they can stop the running game.”
Another pitcher: Everett’s pitching staff expanded by one more Wednesday with the arrival of Aaron Brown.
Brown was Seattle’s ninth-round pick in this year’s draft out of the University of Houston. The 6-foot-6, 200-pound right-hander from League City, Texas, just completed his junior season. In 20 games (15 starts) he was 6-6 with a 4.98 earned run average and two saves.
Brown’s addition brings Everett’s pitching staff up to 16 – 11 right-handers and five lefties.
It also continued Everett’s monopoly on the early selections from this year’s draft. With Brown in the fold the Sox now have 10 of the 12 players the Mariners drafted between the fourth and 15th rounds.
Nick Patterson, Herald writer
