Worldly feel to AquaSox's 2006 roster

EVERETT — The first job for first-year Everett AquaSox manager Dave Myers may have been to select an official team language.

Eight different countries are represented on the Everett roster, with six players hailing from the Dominican Republic, two from Taiwan and one each from Australia, Canada, Venezuela, Columbia and the Netherlands.

There are also 16 players from the United States, but none from the state of Washington.

Myers and the AquaSox, the Mariners' short-season Class A rookie-league team, begin their 76-game schedule through the Northwest League when they host the Tri-City Dust Devils at 7:05 p.m. tonight at Everett Memorial Stadium.

Myers said it helps that eight players are joining the AquaSox from extended spring training and that both pitching coach Juan Alvarez and hitting coach Mike Tosar speak at least two languages.

"Most of the guys speak at least some English," Myers said. "We also have a lot of players coming in from Peoria [Ariz.], and that helps because they know how we do things."

Myers has named Mike Schilling, 22, tonight's starting pitcher. The 6-foot-5 righthander from Fresno, Calif., admitted he'll be a bit nervous before he makes the first pitch of the season.

He was drafted by the Mariners in the 40th round in 2004, but took most of last year off for personal reasons.

"I haven't pitched in front of a crowd in about a year, so I'm sure there will be some nerves," said Schilling. "Everything is squared away now and I'm ready to go. Once I get out there and start throwing, it should all come back."

Schilling relies on control and command of three pitches, but can get it up to the plate at more than 90 mph.

"I've been throwing really well, and I couldn't ask for anything more than this opportunity," Schilling said.

The AquaSox won their only exhibition game, 15-3 over the Everett Merchants on Sunday, and Schilling said it shows how much talent is on Everett's international roster.

"With this team I think we have a good chance of winning it," he said. "We have a lot of guys who can really swing the bat, we have solid defense and a lot of veteran pitchers who know how to pitch."

The AquaSox are beginning their 13th season affiliated with the Mariners. They last won the NWL title in 1985, with players from the San Francisco Giants organization.

Schilling said winning is important throughout the Mariners organization.

"They have stressed to us that we're here to get better so we can get to the big leagues, but while we're here they want us to win," Schilling said. "And that starts with the opener."

Myers said everyone on his large roster will get a chance to play, but that opportunities will increase based on performance.

"We've got some priority guys who need to play more, but everyone is going to get an opportunity to play," he said. "They'll get even more of an opportunity if they play well. It's always more fun to win, and that's what we want to do."

Although a few more players are expected to be added after the College World Series, catcher Adam Moore is the highest drafted player on the roster. Moore was selected out of Texas-Arlington in the sixth round in this year's draft with the 171st pick.