Protecting the arms
Don’t expect to see many more lengthy outings out of Everett starting pitchers the rest of the year.
The AquaSox have instituted new restrictions for their starting pitchers. From here on out the starters will be limited to either five innings or 75 pitches, whichever comes first.
This wasn’t the original plan when the season began. However, the Seattle Mariners organization decided to institute the new guidelines for all their low-level minor-league teams in an effort to prevent injuries to developing arms.
“It’s kind of evolved,” Everett pitching coach Jack Uhey explained. “We always know that a lot of the college guys that come to us, as a rule they’ve been the horse at their college program and been worked hard. We’ve had quite a few guys who were right around the 100-inning mark when they got here, then we have them on a five-day rotation instead of a seven. So we know we have to protect their arms.”
The new restrictions could put more burden on a bullpen that had its issues this season. Among Everett’s nine regular relievers, only two (Matt Renfree and Brad Reid) have an ERA under 4.32. However, if the starters can consistently get their five innings in, it won’t significantly affect the bullpen’s innings load.
“The starters even before this deal were giving us five, sometimes six innings, so it’s not going to tax us all that much,” Uhey said. “But it does give those (relievers) an opportunity to pitch. We owe it to the scouts and we owe it to the kids to make sure they get their innings pitched. That’s the only way we’re going to be able to evaluate them.”
Rotation juggling: Speaking of injured arms, Steven Hensley is the latest rotation casualty for Everett.
The right-hander, who’s been a steady presence in Everett’s rotation, developed tenderness in his elbow, something which also flared up during his college season in the spring at Elon University.
Uhey said Hensley, who’s 2-1 with a 5.22 ERA and 32 strikeouts in 29 1.3 innings, will miss at least two starts.
Fortunately for Everett, the recent addition of Nolan Gallagher gives the Sox a spare starter. Gallagher will start today, while Bobby LaFromboise — working his way back from a dead arm — will slide back three games into Hensley’s spot.
Nunez update: Everett second baseman Luis Nunez will miss the remainder of the current home series against Spokane and the beginning of the upcoming road series at Eugene because of a hamstring injury, Sox trainer Spyder Webb said.
Nunez, who going into Monday’s game was second on the team in batting at .328, tweaked his left hamstring while beating out an infield single Sunday. He was immediately removed for a pinch runner.
Webb said that if all goes well, Nunez should be ready to return Friday.
Nick Patterson, Herald Writer
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