Raben sits and waits
Everett outfielder Dennis Raben was at least able to appreciate the team’s exploits, delighting in the Sox’s recent three-game winning streak.
But from an individual standpoint it’s been a frustrating stretch for Raben, who’s been unable to take part because of a nagging finger injury.
“Obviously I’d like to be out there playing,” Raben said. “I was trying. I was playing through it pretty much the whole time I’ve been out here.”
Raben, a Seattle Mariners second-round draft who is arguably the best major-league prospect on Everett’s roster, missed the past four games because of soreness in the ring finger of his left (throwing) hand. It’s the second time this season he’s missed time because of the injury — he also sat out a handful of games in mid-July.
Previous examinations of the finger, which first began experiencing pain shortly after his arrival on July 3, haven’t found any damage. But this time Raben will be held out until he’s checked out by a hand specialist in Seattle this weekend.
“When I first got out here it was bothering me,” said Raben, who couldn’t point to a specific origin for the injury. “Just over the course of 25 games, not really getting a chance to rest it, it’s just been getting progressively worse. We tried giving me some time off a couple weeks ago to calm it down and that really didn’t help. Lately the last week it’s really been feeling not that good, so I think it’s about time to shut it down until we find out what’s wrong with it.”
The intensifying of the pain happens to coincide with the end of his hot streak to start his Sox career, when he reached base in 15 of his first 17 plate appearances.
“(The injury limits) the amount of swings I can take before the game,” Raben explained. “Personally, I have a big routine I go through before games. I like taking a lot of swings so I can feel as good as possible. When I can’t take as many swings and be in my routine, in turn I don’t feel as good with my swing. And every time I throw the ball I feel it, so it pretty much affects everything.”
Raben is batting .291 with five homers and 19 walks in 23 games.
Hensley undergoes MRI: Raben isn’t the only Everett player playing the waiting game with regards to an injury. Pitcher Steven Hensley, who’s been dealing with soreness in his elbow, underwent an MRI Thursday to assess the damage. The Sox are still awaiting the results of the MRI.
Hensley hasn’t pitched since July 27 because of the injury. The right-hander, Seattle’s fourth-round pick in this year’s draft who had been a member of Everett’s starting rotation, is 2-1 with a 5.22 ERA.
Bullpen relief: Everett’s beleaguered bullpen received a little boost with the arrival of Chris Kirkland.
Kirkland, a 22-year-old right-hander, was Seattle’s 36th-round selection in this year’s draft out of the University of Memphis. A 6-foot-4, 220-pound native of Rockford, Tenn., Kirkland made six relief appearances for Peoria of the rookie Arizona League, giving up one run in seven innings and striking out seven.
Kirkland was a catcher for the majority of his college career. He began the transition to pitching this spring, when he threw 111/3 innings for the Tigers. He appeared in 44 games as a catcher.
Nick Patterson, Herald Writer
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