JETHAWKS NOTEBOOK: IT'S NOT AS BAD AS IT LOOKS `HAWKS NOT SO FAR OUT OF IT.Byline: Gideon Rubin Staff Writer LANCASTER - With more than 100 regular-season games left, it is too early for teams to think about jockeying for playoff position. But with none of their Southern Division opponents off to a strong start, the JetHawks' early-season struggles have been easier to take. Despite having the California League's worst record, Lancaster (8-17) is just 5 1/2 games behind In sports, the phrase games behind, often abbreviated as GB in tables, is a common way to reflect the gap between a leading team and another team in a sports league, conference, or division. first-place High Desert (14-12). ``At least we know that if we can go on a seven- or eight-game winning streak Noun 1. winning streak - a streak of wins streak, run - an unbroken series of events; "had a streak of bad luck"; "Nicklaus had a run of birdies" and the first-place team starts losing, we could be right there,'' JetHawks catcher Craig Ansman said. Ansman said that at this point in the season the JetHawks aren't dwelling on the standings, concentrating instead on playing more consistently and cohesively. ``So many things can change and there's two halves to the season,'' he said. ``Right now, we're searching to try and get together and start playing like a team, and I think we are.'' JetHawks manager Steve Scarsone Steve Scarsone (born April 11, 1966 in Anaheim, California), is one of the producers of The Weekenders' Golf Tour, a golf-reality show. He is also a retired professional baseball player who played second base in the Major Leagues from 1992-1999. said developing players - not winning championships - is the priority at the Single-A level, but a possible reward for turning a season around doesn't hurt. ``It's reassuring in a sense that nobody is running away with it,'' Scarsone said. ``Everybody is having their good days and bad days, some clubs are doing much better obviously, but a flip-flopped two weeks and we could be looking at being a few games from .500, and I think that would be a big achievement at this point. We aren't necessarily worrying about the standings right now as much as trying to fight our way back to .500 and making that our first goal.'' --Gonzalez's speedy recovery: JetHawks pitcher Enrique Gonzalez, who was placed on the disabled list April 25 with an ankle sprain ankle sprain Orthopedics A stretching of the ankle ligaments and/or muscles with swelling , has been cleared to make his first start in 11 days Friday, when Lancaster opens a three-game series at home against Stockton. The JetHawks are hoping the time off and extra work with strength and conditioning coach Pat Panico will help Gonzalez (1-3, 9.00 ERA) rebound from a slow start. Gonzalez had one strong start: April 18, when he allowed one earned run earned run n. Baseball A run scored without the aid of an error, used in computing earned run averages. Noun 1. earned run - a run that was not scored as the result of an error by the other team in six innings of three-hit ball and was credited with the win in a 14-1 victory over Rancho Cucamonga Rancho Cucamonga (răn`chō k  'kəmäng`gə), city (1990 pop. 101,409), San Bernardino co., S Calif. .
But JetHawks pitching coach Royal Clayton said Gonzalez needs to begin showing better command and more consistency. ``We expect a lot from him,'' Clayton said. ``He's shown glimpses of turning the corner, but he hasn't been able to do it for two or three games, and that's what we're really 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. .'' Gonzalez replaced pitcher Blake Mayo, who was sent to Triple-A Tucson (Ariz.) today after two rehab starts in Lancaster. --Bumped: With Gonzalez starting Friday night, Doug Slaten Douglas Slaten (born February 4 1980 in Venice, California), is a baseball pitcher for the Arizona Diamondbacks franchise. He made his MLB debut on September 4, 2006 against the Florida Marlins and is currently a lefty specialist. He attended Venice High School. and Brandon Medders Brandon Edward Medders is a baseball pitcher for the Arizona Diamondbacks franchise. He was born on January 26, 1980 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Medders debuted for the Diamondbacks in 2005, going 4-1 with a 1.78 ERA and 31 strikeouts. were bumped one day, and will pitch on six days' rest when they start Saturday and Sunday, respectively, against the Ports. --Strange stat: JetHawks utilityman Erick Macha is a pure contact hitter In baseball, the term contact hitter is used to describe a hitter who does not strike out often. Thus, they are usually able to use their bats to make contact with the ball (hence the name contact hitter) and put it in play. - almost too pure. Through his first 68 at-bats, he's struck out just four times but has yet to draw a walk, and his .250 batting average is higher than his .246 on-base percentage. Macha has two sacrifices, which are counted against plate appearances to determine on-base percentage but not batting average. CAPTION(S): 2 photos Photo: (1 -- ran in AV edition only) GONZALEZ (2 -- ran in AV edition only) SCARSONE |
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