Today is the first off day for the Northwest League after three full weeks of games. And the break comes none too soon for the AquaSox.
“I know I’m ready for it,” Everett outfielder Kalian Sams said before Monday’s game.
Off days are a rare occasion in the Northwest League. This year there’s just three during the 76-game schedule. So when they come around the Sox take full advantage of them.
“A day off is a day off,” Everett manager Mike Tosar said. “Nobody’s going to pick up a ball, bat, glove, they’re not even coming to the clubhouse.
“The Northwest League is 76 games in 80 days so it’s a lot of games in a short amount of time,” Tosar added. “Every time we get a day off these guys need to take advantage of it.”
It also gives the players an opportunity to take some time for themselves. Sams and fellow outfielder Gregory Halman plan to head to Seattle for some shopping. Meanwhile, Tosar has different ideas.
“I’m going to try and sleep in and take it easy with my family.”
Halman working back: Halman saw his hitting streak come to an end when he returned to the lineup Sunday. Halman hit safely in each of Everett’s first 15 games, but he injured his wrist while taking a swing and sat out four games.
The injury appears to have blunted Halman’s momentum, at least for the moment. He was 0-for-5 Sunday in Everett’s 3-2 loss to Salem-Keizer. He continues to play with his wrist wrapped, though he says it’s OK.
“It’s feeling good,” Halman said. “I just have (the wrap) on for protection.”
And the hitting streak?
“The last at-bat (Sunday) I felt bad about it, but I’ll get another one,” Halman said. “We’ve still got a lot of games and I know I can get a hitting streak longer than that one.”
Outfield shuffle continues: Everett’s outfield underwent more turnover Monday when Welington Dotel was brought in and Jairo Hernandez was released.
Dotel, a 21-year-old from the Dominican Republic, played a single game Sunday at High Desert of the full-season Class A California League, and before that appeared in seven games for Peoria of the Arizona Rookie League. The 6-foot-1, 180-pound Dotel, who bats and throws righty, batted .350 with one homer in those seven games. Last season Dotel hit .261 with seven homers in 52 games for Peoria.
Dotel is just getting back to playing. He was suspended for the first 50 games of the season after testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance.
Hernandez was used sparingly this season. The 22-year-old, also from the Dominican Republic, appeared in 10 games for Everett, batting .160. He was the second AquaSox outfielder released this season, following Marquise Liverpool.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
