JETHAWKS NOTEBOOK: 'HAWKS: WHEN TO SAY WHEN?

Byline: Chris Cocoles Staff Writer

LANCASTER - Patience or aggression. That was Steve Scarsone's managerial conundrum in the JetHawks' game against the Lake Elsinore Storm on Thursday night.

Lake Elsinore starter Mark Phillips' pitches were landing everywhere but the strike zone. He walked five batters just in the third inning, giving the JetHawks the opportunity for a big hit with runners on base.

Or, was it a chance for young minor-leaguers to show plate discipline and let Phillips prove he can throw strikes?

What to do?

``It's kind of a Catch-22 situation because, yeah, you want to be patient. If they're going to give you a walk, you want to take it,'' Scarsone said. ``But if he throws a good pitch to hit and we can get a base hit to break that inning open, you'd love to have that, too. You kind of get caught in between which way do you go.''

The JetHawks experienced both sides of the argument Thursday. Phillips pitched to three consecutive hitters after he loaded the bases. Center fielder Victor Hall took his hacks but struck out swinging.

``When he's so wild, it's kind of hard to gauge him and judge him whether he's going to throw a strike,'' Hall, from Monroe High in North Hills, said of Phillips. ``He was throwing balls in hitter's counts and strikes when he shouldn't throw strikes in. He kind of had everyone off balance. He had me off balance.''

Phillips threw a wild pitch that scored a run and promptly walked another to load the bases for Craig Ansman, the JetHawks' hottest hitter. He drew a walk to force in another run. The next batter, Jesus Cota, didn't hesitate on a pitch he liked from Phillips but grounded out to end the inning.

On a night when all the JetHawks' runs scored via walk, wild pitch, error (though ruled a sacrifice fly) and a groundout, four hits weren't enough in a 5-4 loss.

``You'd hate to take away their aggressiveness. You just hope that they understand that kind of situation, when a guy's all over the place,'' Scarsone said. ``You've really got to be selective about the pitches you're going to swing at. And you've got to be ready to put a good swing on it ...''

Big-league organizations have different philosophies regarding their minor-league hitters' habits at the plate. The Oakland A's in past years wanted their young prospects to take pitches early in counts. But when the Seattle Mariners were affiliated in Lancaster, batters were encouraged to swing away at that first pitch.

Every manager has his own ideas, however.

``I want these guys to establish what kind of hitter they want to be,'' Scarsone said. ``I don't put a lot of restrictions on them. I don't have them taking a lot. I let them swing at a 3-0 count if the situation calls for it. For the most part, you've got to watch them and get an idea what kind of hitter they are. If I see that they're going after bad pitches when the guys a little wild, we've got to tell them to concentrate on waiting to get a good pitch.''

--Another tough night: The JetHawks were shut out by Lake Elsinore on Wednesday and improved only slightly with their four-run, four-hit effort Thursday. The JetHawks had their chances, stranding six runners in scoring position.

In the eighth and ninth innings, three runners were left on. Ansman, who had five home runs and 12 hits in 25 at-bats to earn California League hitter-of-the-week honors, struck out to end the game.

``It's been tough. We're working hard,'' said Hall, who went a combined 1 for 8 on Wednesday and Thursday. ``We can't get a break, I guess.''

--Whither the weather: An announced crowd of 1,490 at Lancaster Municipal Stadium bundled up in another chilly but tolerable night in Lancaster. Traditionally, the Antelope Valley's frigid conditions affects April and May attendance. The JetHawks are averaging 1,937 fans.

But warmer temperatures and numerous weekend promotions should have crowds on the upswing.

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Photo:

VICTOR HALL

The Monroe High of North Hills product typified the JetHawks' cool bats, going 1 for 8 in a recent two-game stretch.