AquaSox update

Today’s game

Opponent: Yakima Bears

When: 7:05 p.m.

Where: Everett Memorial Stadium

Radio KRKO (1380 AM)

Probable starters: Everett right-hander Jordan Pries (4-2, 3.26 ERA) vs. Yakima right-hander Alex Capaul (2-2, 3.45)

Bear trouble

The Yakim

a Bears have spelled trouble for the AquaSox this season. Going into Friday’s game, Yakima had taken five of its seven games against Everett this season.

The Bears had a .283 average against the AquaSox going into Friday, their second highest batting average against any team. On the other hand, the AquaSox .245 average against Yakima was their second worst against any team.

Manager Scott Steinmann says not to read too much into it.

“We haven’t played good when we have played against them and they have gotten some key hits and taken advantage of some of our mistakes,” Steinmann said. “They have played us tough. It’s just one of those baseball things.”

Too many mistakes

A possible area of concern for the AquaSox this season could be the number of defensive lapses. The AquaSox came into Thursday’s game with the most errors in the league, but thanks to a seven-error night by the Spokane Indians, they fell to second in a category (104 on the year) that no one wants to be first in.

Everett’s 103 errors is still high, but Steinmann says the approach doesn’t change.

“You go out and do your normal routine,” Steinmann said. “There has been some tough hops for us. There has been some routine plays that we have just lost focus on. These guys are all young. Most of these guys are in their first season outside of Arizona (Peoria rookie league), or first season in general, or second season. So they are going through all this for the first time.”

Has it gotten better?

“Them preparing themselves, yes, numbers wise, no,” Steinmann said. “I’m pleased with how they are preparing themselves — how they are going about their business. That’s what we care about. Those are the controllable factors.”

Longballs fly

The AquaSox lead the league in home runs with 53, but they also have given up the most in the league with 56.

Steinmann says has a lot to do with the AquaSox ballpark.

“Since we play at this ballpark and it is a small ballpark we have taken advantage of it quite a bit,” Steinmann said.

The AquaSox have been taken advantage of as well, but the pitching staff has worked to minimize the damage.

“One thing our pitchers have done is that we are not walking too many guys,” Steinmann said. “I think we are the best in the league in walks allowed, so we are not walking a guy and then giving up a home run. They have to earn that two-run, three-run home run by getting some hits.”

Aaron Lommers, Herald Writer