ALL EYES WILL BE ON FARNSWORTH ON OPENING NIGHT.Byline: Chris Cocoles Daily News Staff Writer When Jeff Farnsworth takes the mound for the JetHawks tonight - Opening Night - in Bakersfield, few will watch the right-hander with more focus than Greg Harris Greg Harris is a common name that can refer to different people:
Year Tournament Venue Result Extra 1998 IAAF World Cup Johannesburg, South Africa 3rd 400 metres IAAF World Cup Johannesburg, South Africa 3rd 4x400 m relay . The former is Farnsworth's new pitching coach, the latter is the JetHawks trainer, and the scrutiny is on Farnsworth's rather untested right arm. The last time Farnsworth pitched in a regular-season game was in a JetHawks uniform. On May 11, 1997 in Modesto, Farnsworth was forced to leave the game complaining of elbow soreness. The Seattle Mariners' 1996 second-round draft pick missed the remainder of 1997 and all of last season. Tommy John surgery Tommy John surgery, known by doctors as ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction (or UCL), is a surgical procedure in which a ligament in the medial elbow is replaced with a tendon from elsewhere in the body (often from the forearm, hamstring, knee, or foot of the repaired the tear and Farnsworth's solid spring effort earned the 23-year-old right-hander the Opening Night start. While McIntosh will be looking for Looking for In the context of general equities, this describing a buy interest in which a dealer is asked to offer stock, often involving a capital commitment. Antithesis of in touch with. any signs of pain or discomfort in Farnsworth's elbow, Harris, entering his first season as the JetHawks' pitching coach, will zero in on Farnsworth's mechanics. ``When he first came back, he wasn't very good with his (mechanics). But he started working on stuff and he looked good,'' Harris said of Farnsworth. ``He didn't have any stiffness.'' Farnsworth pitched effectively throughout the spring, save for a few shaky innings. He went five strong innings in his final outing of camp, an intrasquad game last Saturday. Farnsworth is one of three pitchers in the JetHawks opening rotation to suffer a major injury the past four years. Both fourth and fifth starters Russ Koehler and Derek Bieniasz missed all or most of two years. Their first starts of 1999 - Koehler and Bieniasz get the call in the first two games of the Visalia series - are an important benchmark to gauge their arms. Koehler, after sitting out all of 1996 and much of 1997, struggled at both Lancaster and Wisconsin last year. Bieniasz was shut down in 1996 and 1997 with wrist and elbow problems. He returned last season but pitched in just 10 games, throwing 24 innings. ``I've got three recovering from surgeries. They've all got a 100-percent bill of health now,'' Harris said. ``I'd like to see them getting back to their old form.'' Teen-age sensation: Alexander Fernandez, who won't turn 18 until May 15, isn't being treated like a little kid. New JetHawks manager Darrin Garner won't hesitate to write Fernandez onto his lineup card. ``I'm throwing him into the fire now,'' Garner said, smiling. While Fernandez impressed the Mariners' brass, all the way up to director of player development Benny Looper looper, name for caterpillars that move with a looping motion, including the inchworm and the cabbage looper. looper or cankerworm or inchworm and coordinator of instruction Mike Goff
But given the choice of adding an older player, Garner, Fernandez's manager last summer at Peoria, wanted the teen-ager. He's the probable starting right fielder right fielder n. Baseball The player who defends right field. Noun 1. right fielder - the person who plays right field outfielder - (baseball) a person who plays in the outfield tonight against the Blaze. ``Is he just 17?'' Garner asked rhetorically. ``He's my kind of player, that's really true.'' Garner's ``kind of player'' shows remarkable composure for a second-year pro born in 1981. Fernandez gave both Garner and last year's Peoria hitting coach, Dana Williams, the impression of a much more seasoned veteran. ``We wanted him to be on this club,'' said Williams, who joins Garner on the JetHawks' staff. ``He's a very mature kid for someone his age.'' Despite Fernandez easily being the youngest performer on the Opening Night roster, the coaching staff expects him to fit right with his teammates, all of whom are at least four years his senior. Garner said Fernandez was a catalyst, both on and off the field, for the Peoria team, though playing in the Cal League with older teammates is quite an upgrade. Hello again: At least Brian Sweeney Brian Edward Sweeney (born 13th June 1974 in Yonkers, New York) is a baseball pitcher for the Japanese Nippon Ham Fighters franchise. After making his debut with the Mariners in 2003, Sweeney moved to San Diego in 2004 and then signed with Japan's Hokkaido Nippon Ham and Joel Ramirez have kept their senses of humor. While pictures were being taken of the JetHawks during Tuesday's workout session, both Sweeney and Ramirez, assigned to the JetHawks for a third consecutive season, made cracks about having plenty of photos of themselves in purple caps and uniforms. Ramirez seemed like a good bet to stick at Double-A New Haven New Haven, city (1990 pop. 130,474), New Haven co., S Conn., a port of entry where the Quinnipiac and other small rivers enter Long Island Sound; inc. 1784. Firearms and ammunition, clocks and watches, tools, rubber and paper products, and textiles are among the many as a utility infielder A utility infielder is a baseball player, usually someone who does not have a regular starting role on the team, who is capable of playing more than one of the four defensive infield positions: second base, third base, shortstop, and less typically first base. . And Sweeney's 6-0 record in 1998 indicated the Yonkers, N.Y., native might get the opportunity to play in nearby Connecticut. ``I was the odd man out again,'' Sweeney said. PLAYER CAPSULES PITCHERS EMERSON BELLO Throws: R Age: 21 Height: 6-0 Weight: 180 Hometown: Maracaibo, Venezuela His story: Bello was a solid setup reliever at Wisconsin in 1998, going 6-3 with four saves, a 3.28 ERA and 73 hits allowed in 82-1/3 innings. BRIAN CARMODY Throws: L Age: 23 Height: 6-3 Weight: 195 Hometown: San Jose San Jose, city, United States San Jose (sănəzā`, săn hōzā`), city (1990 pop. 782,248), seat of Santa Clara co., W central Calif.; founded 1777, inc. 1850. His story: A Rule V selection from San Diego San Diego (săn dēā`gō), city (1990 pop. 1,110,549), seat of San Diego co., S Calif., on San Diego Bay; inc. 1850. San Diego includes the unincorporated communities of La Jolla and Spring Valley. Coronado is across the bay. , Carmody is a California League The California League is a minor league baseball league which operates throughout the state of California. Before 2002, it was classified as a "High-A" league, indicating its status as a Class A league with the highest level of competition within that classification, and the fifth veteran who spent 1998 with the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes The Rancho Cucamonga Quakes are a minor league baseball team in Rancho Cucamonga, California, USA. They are a "high-A" class team in the California League, and have been a farm team of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim since 2001. . The former Santa Clara Santa Clara, city, Cuba Santa Clara (sän`tä klä`rä), city (1994 est. pop. 217,000), capital of Villa Clara prov., central Cuba. University performer went 3-1 with a 2.20 ERA in eight starts. JEFF FARNSWORTH Throws: R Age: 23 Height: 6-2 Weight: 190 Hometown: Pensacola, Fla. His story: Hasn't thrown a pitch in a game since complaining of elbow pain in a JetHawks start in Modesto two years ago. A 1996 second-round pick, Farnsworth spent all of last year rehabbing but should be in the JetHawks' starting rotation. JUSTIN KAYE Throws: R Age: 22 Height: 6-4 Weight: 185 Hometown: Las Vegas Las Vegas (läs vā`gəs), city (1990 pop. 258,295), seat of Clark co., S Nev.; inc. 1911. It is the largest city in Nevada and the center of one of the fastest-growing urban areas in the United States. His story: A dazzling 1998 first half at Wisconsin (6-2, nine saves and a 1.71 ERA) earned Kaye a promotion to the JetHawks. He struggled in 16 appearances but should open this season as the closer. RUSS KOEHLER Throws: R Age: 24 Height: 6-2 Weight: 194 Hometown: Medford, Ore. His story: Koehler's career has been stalled by arm problems. Last season he struggled as a reliever with the JetHawks and a starter with Wisconsin. TIM TIM Timothy TIM Technical Interchange Meeting TIM Transient Intermodulation Distortion TIM Time Is Money TIM The Invisible Man (movie) TIM Telecom Italia Mobile (Italian cellular provider) MCCLASKEY Throws: R Age: 23 Height: 5-10 Weight: 170 Hometown: Wilton, Iowa Wilton is a city in Cedar and Muscatine Counties in the U.S. state of Iowa. The population was 2,829 at the 2000 census. Geography Wilton is located at (41.589350, -91.017487)GR1. His story: A Rule V selection from the Florida Marlins The Florida Marlins are a professional baseball team based in Miami Gardens, Florida. The Marlins are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. From to the present, the Marlins have played in Dolphin Stadium. , McClaskey was a reliever at Kane County of the Midwest League The Midwest League is a Class A minor league baseball league which operates in the Midwestern United States. History Six teams – the Belleville Stags, the Centralia Cubs, the Marion Indians, the Mattoon Indians, the Mount Vernon Braves, and the West Frankfort last season. BRANDON PARKER Throws: R Age: 23 Height: 6-1 Weight: 200 Hometown: Long Beach, Mississippi Long Beach is a city (incorporated August 10, 1905) located in Harrison County, Mississippi, USA. It is part of the Gulfport-Biloxi, Mississippi Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 17,320. His story: Parker, a 1997 second-round pick out of Southern Miss, went an ordinary 7-6 with a 5.22 ERA at Wisconsin. But his strikeout-to-innings-pitch ratio (152-127 -2/3) suggests a more successful effort. Will be in the rotation. JUAN RAMOS Throws: R Age: 23 Height: 6-0 Weight: 160 Hometown: Santo Domingo Santo Domingo, pueblo, United States Santo Domingo (sän'tə dəmĭng`gō), pueblo (1990 pop. 2,866), Sandoval co., N central N.Mex., on the Rio Grande; founded c.1700 after earlier pueblos were destroyed by floods. , D.R. His story: Another Rule V pickup, this one from the Montreal Expos The Montreal Expos (French: Les Expos de Montréal) were a Major League Baseball team located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada from 1969 until 2004. After the 2004 season, the franchise relocated to Washington, D.C. and became the Washington Nationals. organization, Ramos was 4-4 with a 2.39 ERA and six saves at Single-A Cape Fear Noun 1. Cape Fear - a cape in southeastern North Carolina extending into the Atlantic Ocean NC, North Carolina, Old North State, Tar Heel State - a state in southeastern United States; one of the original 13 colonies of the South Atlantic League The South Atlantic League, or "Sally League," is a minor league baseball league which operates mostly in the southeastern United States, although it now has teams in New Jersey and Ohio. . DEREK BIENIASZ Throws: R Age: 24 Height: 6-4 Weight: 175 Hometown: Toronto His story: The Canadian will be in the JetHawks rotation after battling back from various injuries. A right wrist fracture forced him to miss 1996 and elbow surgery shelved him in 1997. BRIAN FITZGERALD Brian Fitzgerald (born March 1 1947) is an Irish Independent politician. He was a Labour Party Teachta Dála for Meath from 1992 to 1997. Previously a trade union official with SIPTU, Fitzgerald was elected to Dáil Éireann for Meath during the swing to Labour in the 1992 Throws: L Age: 24 Height: 5-11 Weight: 175 Hometown: Woodbridge, Va. His story: The Virginia Tech product is being converted to a starter this season to collect more innings. He has made just one start in his three-year professional career. TIM MCCLASKEY Throws: R Age: 23 Height: 5-10 Weight: 170 Hometown: Wilton, Iowa His story: The Mariners selected McClaskey in the Rule V from the Florida Marlins. The reliever went 5-2 with a 4.26 ERA and two saves at Kane County of the Midwest League in 1998. ZACHARY STARK Throws: R Age: 24 Height: 6-6 Weight: 205 Hometown: Brentwood, Tenn. His story: Another ex-Marlins minor-leaguer, Stark pitched in the independent Heartland League The Heartland League was an independent baseball league that operated from 1996 to 1998 in the central United States. The Heartland League was founded with teams in Lafayette, Indiana; Anderson, Indiana; Will County, Illinois; and Dubois County, Indiana. in 1997 but was signed as a free agent last year. At Wisconsin, Stark was 6-4 with a 4.31 ERA. BRIAN SWEENEY Position: R Age: 24 Height: 6-2 Weight: 185 Hometown: Yonkers, N.Y. His story: Despite a combined 12-3 record and 124 hits allowed in 137-1/3 innings in two JetHawks seasons, Sweeney was sent back to the Single-A Cal League. He was the winning pitcher in the 1998 Cal League All-Star game An all-star game is an exhibition game played by the best players in their sports league. The players are often chosen by a popular vote of fans of the sport and the game often occurs at the halfway point of the regular season, although this is not the case for some all-star games . CATCHERS GREG CONNORS Age: 24 Bats: R Throws: R Height: 6-2 Weight: 185 Hometown: Smithtown, N.Y. His story: A valuable performer who can also play the outfield, first or third base, Connors was hitting .287 with six homers and 26 RBI RBI abbr. Baseball runs batted in Noun 1. rbi - a run that is the result of the batter's performance; "he had more than 100 rbi last season" run batted in at Lancaster when he was sent to Wisconsin in 1998. Connors continued his hot hitting with 12 homers and 57 RBI for the Timber Rattlers. CRAIG KUZMIC Age: 21 Bats: Switch Throws: R Height: 6-0 Weight: 185 Hometown: Fountain Valley Fountain Valley, city (1990 pop. 53,691), Orange co., S Calif.; inc. 1957. Chiefly residential, Fountain Valley also has diverse manufactures, including apparel, computer equipment, semiconductors, and medical equipment. A U.S. navy helicopter facility is there. His story: The Texas A&M product joined the JetHawks for their playoff series against High Desert and homered with three RBI in the series. RAFAEL LOPEZ Age: 22 Bats: R Throws: R Height: 6-0 Weight: 195 Hometown: Miami His story: The former Miami Hurricanes standout originally drafted by the New York Mets
INFIELDERS JERMAINE CLARK Position: 2B Age: 22 Bats: L Throws: R Height: 5-10 Weight: 175 Hometown: Vacaville His story: Clark provided good speed (40 steals) and some pop (.324, 24 doubles, 55 RBI) at Wisconsin last season. Was a career .361 hitter in college at San Francisco. LUIS FIGUEROA Position: 3B Age: 22 Bats: R Throws: R Height: 6-0 Weight: 175 Hometown: Carolina, P.R. His story: Figueroa had a brief 1996 stint in Lancaster and is ready for a permanent jump to the Cal League after two-plus years at Wisconsin. He played in the last two Midwest League All-Star games. SHAWN MCCORKLE Position: 1B Age: 21 Bats: L Throws: R Height: 6-5 Weight: 230 Hometown: Newton, N.J. His story: McCorkle is still relatively inexperienced, having played just one professional season at Everett. RAMON VALERA Position: SS Age: 23 Bats: Switch Throws: R Height: 5-11 Weight: 160 Hometown: Santo Domingo, D.R. His story: Another jackrabbit jackrabbit, popular name for several hares of W North America, characterized by very long legs and ears. Jackrabbits are powerful jumpers and fast runners. In normal progress leaps are alternated with running steps; when pursued the hare runs fast and close to the in what should be one of the Cal League's fastest infields, Valera stole 52 bases last season at Wisconsin and batted .298 with four homers and 40 RBI. JOEL RAMIREZ Position: SS/2B Age: 25 Bats: R Throws: R Height: 5-10 Weight: 155 Hometown: Santo Domingo, D.R. His story: Ramirez will start at Lancaster for the third straight year. A valuable utility infielder, Ramirez didn't quite match his 1997 JetHawks season that saw him hit .280 with 32 extra-base hits. Ramirez dipped to .255 with four homers in 1998 but did make a brief appearance at Double-A Orlando. RICK SOUTHALL Position: SS/2B Age: 22 Bats: Left Throws: R Height: 6-3 Weight: 225 Hometown: Beaverton, Ore. His story: Southall had a strong professional debut after the Mariners drafted him in the 19th round out of Portland State last June. At short-season Everett, he batted .290 with eight homers and 47 RBI. OUTFIELDERS HARVEY HARGROVE Age: 23 Bats: R Throws: R Height: 5-11 Weight: 175 Hometown: Upper Marlboro, Mary. His story: Keep an eye on the Sacramento State product. He could be one of the JetHawks' top power threats. Hargrove hit 15 homers to go along with 62 RBI and 21 steals at Wisconsin in 1998. MIKE MARCHIANO Age: 24 Bats: R Throws: R Height: 6-0 Weight: 190 Hometown: Oak Ridge, N.J. His story: Another outfielder with big home run potential. As a Fordham University senior, Marchiano hit .493 with 29 homers and 85 RBI. Last season at Wisconsin, he homered 14 times. GERALD EADY Age: 23 Bats: R Throws: R Height: 6-2 Weight: 200 Hometown: Jacksonville, Fla. His story: A 1995 69th-round pick, Eady was promoted despite a struggling 1998 effort at Wisconsin. He hit .170 in 235 at-bats. ALEXANDER FERNANDEZ Age: 17 Bats: Left Throws: Left Height: 6-1 Weight: 205 Hometown: Cotui, D.R. His story: The teen-ager's dazzling spring convinced the Mariners to give Fernandez a crack at advanced Single-A after hitting .331 with five homers and 31 RBI at Rookie-level Peoria a year ago. CAPTION(S): 2 Boxes BOX: (1) PLAYER CAPSULES (See text) (2) 1999 JETHAWKS SCHEDULE |
|
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion