BUTLER HINTS HE'S WILLING TO RETURN JETHAWKS SHINE AS MANAGER AIDS A.V. TEAM.Byline: GIDEON RUBIN Special to the Daily News LANCASTER -- JetHawks manager Brett Butler Brett Butler can refer to different people:
But he hinted that under the right circumstances, a return to Lancaster to manage the JetHawks again next season is a possibility. The JetHawks parent Arizona Diamondbacks This article is about the baseball team. For other uses, see Diamondback. The Arizona Diamondbacks (also referred to as the D-backs) are a Major League Baseball team based in Phoenix, Arizona. They play in the West Division of the National League. have yet to sign a new Player Development Contract with their advanced Class-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 affiliate in the Antelope Valley This article is about the Los Angeles County region. For the census-designated place in Wyoming, see Antelope Valley-Crestview, Wyoming. The Antelope Valley . But assuming the two parties reach a deal, Butler acknowledged that proximity to family -- his daughters Abbi and Stephanie both live in the Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. area -- make Lancaster a nice fit. Butler said he discussed his future with the organization with Diamondbacks farm director A.J. Hinch, who was in the Antelope Valley over the weekend. Although no deal was reached, Butler said Hinch gave him a vote of confidence. Minor league managers and coaches typically work on one-year contracts that are negotiated after each season. Butler has publicly stated his ambition to manage a major league team, and said he'll continue to pursue that endeavor. ``They know what my preference is, but I'm an organizational guy, and I'll do whatever they want me to do,'' Butler said. ``They'll determine where they want me to be.'' Butler has won points with the parent club, engineering an impressive turnaround. After a dreadful 7-17 start, the JetHawks are in a second-half pennant race. Second-place Lancaster (53-60, 21-22 second half) trails first-place Inland Empire (22-21) by just one game. Several prospects, including second baseman Emilio Bonifacio and right fielder Carlos Gonzalez, have progressed under Butler's tutelage TUTELAGE. State of guardianship; the condition of one who is subject to the control of a guardian. . Others, such as since-promoted utilityman Mark Reynolds, have seen their prospective star rise this year. Hinch said he's taken note of Butler's growth as a manager, and his ability to relate to players. ``We've enjoyed having him here and look forward to having him in the organization in the future as well,'' Hinch said. The prospect of a Butler return to Lancaster is an attractive notion, JetHawks general manager Brad Seymour said. Butler became one of the most inspirational sports figures of the past decade, returning to baseball after surviving a bout with throat cancer. He is especially popular in Southern California baseball circles after two stints with the Dodgers in the 1990s. Butler has become a fan favorite in Lancaster, signing autographs after games, even after some of the team's tough losses. ``It's more than just signing autographs,'' Seymour said. ``He's just been very personable PERSONABLE. Having the capacities of a person; for example, the defendant was judged personable to maintain this action. Old Nat. Brev. 142. This word is obsolete. with our fans, and that speaks to his character.'' PDC (1) (Primary Domain Controller) A Windows NT/2000 service that manages security for its local domain. Every domain has one PDC, which contains a database of usernames, passwords and permissions. watch: Neither Seymour nor Hinch would comment publicly on specific aspects of PDC talks they had over the weekend, other than confirming that such discussions had taken place. The JetHawks are in the second year of a two-year deal with Arizona, and have been Diamondbacks affiliates since 2001. Hinch said Arizona hasn't re-signed a PDC with any of its six minor league affiliates. He said the Diamondbacks are requesting unspecified minor changes. Major League teams and minor league affiliates are prohibited from talking to other clubs until Sept. 4, the last day of the regular season, when all unsigned minor league teams essentially become free agents. It is unusual for a PDC to be signed with an existing affiliate after the deadline, meaning that a contract with Arizona will probably be agreed to before then, if at all. ``We had a very good conversation, and we'll continue our discussions,'' Seymour said. Streak snapped: The JetHawks' 7-6 victory over the High Desert Mavericks The High Desert Mavericks are a minor league baseball team in Adelanto, California, USA. Their Major League parent club is the Seattle Mariners. They are a "high-A" class team in the California League, and had been a farm team of the Kansas City Royals since 2005 before the switch. on Tuesday was their first in nine games at Stater Bros. Stadium Stater Bros. Stadium is a stadium in Adelanto, California. It is primarily used for baseball, and is the home field of the High Desert Mavericks minor league baseball team. It was built in 1991, and before the 2006 baseball season it was called Mavericks Stadium. . The JetHawks bullpen combined for 6 1/3 shutout innings of three-hit ball. They scored the game-winning run in the top of the ninth on Cesar Nicolas' 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 grounder, scoring Bonifacio, who led the inning with a single. gideon.rubin(at)dailynews.com (818) 713-3607 CAPTION(S): photo Photo: JetHawks manager and former Dodger Brett Butler is willing to return, but no contract has been negotiated. Gene Blevins/Special to the Daily News |
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