Ducks will get to enjoy home cooking until July 8

The Ducks will be road warriors no more, at least for now. They began a 10-game homestand on Friday and, by virtue of a three-game series on Staten Island June 28-30, do not leave New York until July 8, when they go to Kentucky.

“I think it’s good for us,” manager Wally Backman said. “We’ve had a lot of tough travels, and we still have more in front of us. But, to be able to be home, regroup a little bit, and rest a lot more, will be good for the team.”

Last week, the Ducks won two out of three games in High Point, North Carolina, traveled home overnight, and played on Friday night — defeating the Wild Health Genomes, 4-0, in the first of a three game set.

But North Carolina is hardly the worst trip the Ducks have had to make in the first half. After opening the season with a three-game series at home, they traveled to West Virginia, then went to Kentucky, then went to High Point — all by bus.

Yes, it’s the minor leagues but, as the Atlantic League expands from a primarily northeastern league to a more geographically diverse one, the bus rides get longer and the task of winning on the road gets a little harder.

“It’s been tough,” Backman said. “It’s even worse in the second half, because we have to go to Kentucky three times in one month in July. It’s a 13-hour trip, each way. So, that’s going to be tough to start the second half. But, I think we’re moving in the right direction right now.”

Entering Saturday, the Ducks were 15-10 in Central Islip and 10-14 everywhere else. The Ducks first-half championship hopes were put out of commission virtually from the get-go. A raging hot Southern Maryland barely lost in the first month of the season — they were 39-12, 13 games ahead of the Ducks, entering play Saturday — and left everyone in their wake.

But, Backman believes that the Ducks have fixed their starting pitching woes and are primed for a better second half, which begins in early July. 

“I think a couple more additions and we’re going to be right there,” Backman said. 

Marrero injury update

Ducks shortstop Deven Marrero does not have a broken hand, something Backman feared after he got hit by a pitch on Thursday night in High Point. Although Backman said he expected the former Red Sox, Diamondback, and Marlin to miss the weekend series with the Wild Health Genomes, it’s certainly not as bad as it could have been.

“It’s not broken, but it’s pretty swollen and sore,” Backman said Friday.

Marrero is slashing .239/.330/.297 with a home run, six doubles, and 21 RBIs in 48 games and is a defensive wiz.

“He’s the best shortstop in this league,” Backman said. “He’s the best shortstop that I’ve seen in this league since I’ve managed in this league. That’s saying quite a bit, I think ... The double play he made (Thursday) night would have been ESPN’s top play of the night if he had been in the big leagues. His value as a shortstop is second to nobody. That would have been devastating to lose him.”

Weissheier released

The Ducks released Valley Stream native Rob Weissheier and signed Carlos Hughes, who played for the Ducks in 2015-16, Saturday. Weissheier was signed on June 3 and went 1-for-7 with three strikeouts in two games. The log-jam at first base, primarily because of the presence of former Red Sox Sam Travis, made getting on the field difficult for the Kellenberg and Hofstra graduate.

Last season, Weissheier hit .264 with eight home runs, five triples, and 44 RBIs in 59 games with the Windy City ThunderBolts of the Frontier League. This season, he went 3-for-35 with an RBI in a 10-game stretch with the ThunderBolts before being released. That led to his short time with the Ducks. 

“He’s got a little bit of power,” Backman said. “He showed that he had power last year, you can see it in his swing.”

Hughes hit below .200 in short stints with the Ducks in both 2015 and ‘16.