JETHAWKS NOTEBOOK: JETHAWKS LIKELY TO STAY IN AREA.

Byline: Gideon Rubin Staff Writer

STOCKTON - As long as the Ellis group remains in Lancaster, so will the JetHawks' parent Arizona Diamondbacks.

That's according to Diamondbacks farm director Tommy Jones, who told the Daily News on Sunday he expects the JetHawks' parent club to renew its Player Development Contract with Lancaster during the offseason.

The Diamondbacks' current four-year PDC with the JetHawks expires after next season.

``We will not enter next year with some lame-duck status,'' Jones said. ``We'll have some type of agreement reached this winter, and I expect it to be a two- or a four-year deal.''

Jones cited the excellent personal relationship the Diamondbacks have with the JetHawks' ownership group Clutch Play Inc. and its president, Mike Ellis. He also said the Diamondbacks are happy with the facility.

Jones said the length of the contract will depend on how long Ellis is committed to maintaining his role in the ownership group.

``As long as Mike Ellis is involved in Lancaster, we will be involved in Lancaster,'' Jones said. ``I think the facility is fantastic, I think the booster club is fantastic. There's nothing I don't like about Lancaster except the commuter bus rides.''

The JetHawks are among three teams owned by Clutch Play Inc. that involve the Diamondbacks. The short-season Yakima (Wash.) Bears, and rookie-level Missoula (Mont.) Osprey are run by the Ellis group as well.

The JetHawks signed a four-year deal with the Diamondbacks in September 2000, ending a turbulent relationship with the Seattle Mariners, with whom they were affiliated since the inception of the JetHawks' franchise in 1996.

--Cut to the chase: Scott Barber was expecting to start Sunday's game against Stockton, but he learned those plans had changed in a meeting with JetHawks manager Mike Aldrete before an eventual 11-7 loss to the Ports.

``Aldo called me in and said I wasn't starting today, and I was like, `Why not?,' '' Barber said. ``Then he was like, `Because you're going to be starting tomorrow in Triple-A.' ''

A fourth-year Cal Leaguer, Barber was promoted to Triple-A Tucson (Ariz.) and was scheduled to start for the Sidewinders in Monday night's game against the New Orleans Zephyrs.

``It's great, it's awesome,'' Barber said. ``I can't really keep a smile off my face, I'm just really excited.''

Originally slated to start the season at Double-A El Paso (Texas), Barber got sent to Lancaster because the Diamondbacks were log-jammed with right-handed pitchers.

Barber was viewed as a disappointment for most of the season, but since developing a cut fastball under the tutelage of pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre Jr. in early July, he's emerged as the team's ace. He was 3-1 with a 2.34 ERA in his past five starts.

--Vote of confidence: In his last visit with the team this year over the weekend in Stockton, Jones met with each player individually, assuring them that none were offseason release candidates.

``Believe me, this is not something I tell every club, but I have looked every single guy on this club in the eye said, `You will be in spring training next year,' '' Jones said.

Jones said he thought it was important to give players an idea of what the organization expects of them in terms of offseason preparation, and perhaps more importantly, to make sure they're viewing the last three weeks of the season as a springboard for next year.

``I don't want (them) to focus the last 20-some-odd games on (thinking like) I've just got to play well enough to go back to spring training next year,'' Jones said. ``Use the last 20-some-odd-games on starting your candidacy to prove you belong in Double-A or Triple-A (next year).''

Gideon Rubin [phone]

gideon.rubin(at)dailynews.com

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2 photos

Photo:

(1 -- ran in AV edition only) SCOTT BARBER

Pitcher promoted from Lancaster to Triple-A Tucson (Ariz.).

(2 -- ran in SAC edition only) Scott Barber was promoted to Triple-A Tucson (Ariz.) and was scheduled to start for the Sidewinders in Monday night's game against the New Orleans Zephyrs.