JETHAWKS NOTEBOOK: ON MOUND, KEEP 'EM GUESSING.Byline: Chris Cocoles Staff Writer LANCASTER - Before games, JetHawks pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre ``When they leave the bullpen, I make sure they ask themselves what their best pitch for the day is and to not try and get beat with their third-best pitch,'' Stottlemyre said. ``I've harped on these guys that they're fastball (guys), and understand that's the best, that's going to take them to the next level.'' But because he wants the pitchers to avoid throwing fastballs at the expense of utilizing a more effective curve or slider A block of material that holds the read/write head of a magnetic disk. See flying head. , Stottlemyre preaches pitching backward. ``You want to establish your fastball early in the game and work both sides of the plate with your fastball,'' JetHawks left-hander 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. said. ``But once you get that going and (hitters) are trying to look for that, in the second or third time up you want to start mixing up some changeups and offspeed stuff on the first pitch, just to get them off of that.'' Throwing breaking balls and sliders sliders a species of tortoise kept as pets. They have a black shell and a red stripe behind the eye. Called also Chrysemys scripta elegans, red-eared sliders. in fastball counts is an integral part in what Stottlemyre asks of his pitchers. The staff has responded, posting a respectable 4.27 team ERA while throwing half of their games at offensive-inclined Lancaster Municipal Stadium. The Hangar's blowing wind leaves little margin for error. And a shattered psyche makes one susceptible. ``For the younger guys especially, you have to have the confidence in your offspeed pitches to be successful,'' said JetHawks' left-hander Carlton Wells, one of the California League's premier relievers. Stottlemyre assesses matchups, the ballpark and the situations diligently. But he always prefers an aggressive stance early in the count. ``We're not going to be able to go out and throw a first-pitch fastball for a strike,'' Stottlemyre said. ``Teams are hacking. Sometimes with young pitchers, it makes them be a little more tentative with the fastball. I'd like them to ... throw an aggressive breaking pitch early in the count and still feel comfortable in doing it.'' --Pennant fever? JetHawks manager Mike Aldrete bush leaguer minor-league club, minor-league team - a team that plays in a minor league ballplayer, baseball player - an athlete who plays baseball . So while the focus at the Single-A level is player development, the JetHawks can't be blamed for getting caught up in the hoopla hoop·la n. Informal 1. a. Boisterous, jovial commotion or excitement. b. Extravagant publicity: The new sedan was introduced to the public with much hoopla. 2. of jockeying for the South Division first-half title. The winner probably won't be decided until the half ends Sunday. ``I would say the one thing that maybe we as a coaching staff can take credit for,'' Aldrete said, ``is that we've made a conscious effort to not change a thing with respect to the way we go about our business. We've haven't been overly excited or harped on the playoff run. I think we're not making it seem like there's any added pressure. ``I would imagine the day we opened up (the season) we wanted to win the game. And we still feel like that. I think sometimes you can act like you want to win the game, but today we want to win more. And I don't want to do that. We want to win every day.'' And when the games have meant most - at least with a first-round postseason bye at stake - the JetHawks have played with a sense of superiority. Don't tell Aldrete, but there's even some Rancho Cucamonga Rancho Cucamonga (răn`chō k  'kəmäng`gə), city (1990 pop. 101,409), San Bernardino co., S Calif. box-score watching.
``I think we've come together quite a bit,'' Slaten said. ``We know we're really pulling to get that first-place spot and get in the playoffs. When we come and look at how the (Quakes) have done. Just to see where we stand.'' --Odds and ends: Former JetHawk J.D. Closser was named Texas League Batter of the Week after the Double-A Tulsa (Okla.) catcher hit .500 (9 for 18) with a home run and eight 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 . ... Ex-JetHawk Adonis Harrison has been bouncing between the Angels' upper-level farm teams all season. He went back to Double-A Arkansas from Triple-A Salt Lake on Monday. ... The 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. signed their highest draft pick to date, second-rounder Jamie D'Antona. The third baseman third baseman n. Baseball The infielder stationed near third base. Noun 1. third baseman - (baseball) the person who plays third base third sacker from Wake Forest is expected to start at short-season Yakima (Wash.) but could get a crack at Lancaster if he performs well in the Northwest League. ... The JetHawks will miss local pitching products Chris Seddon and Jamie Shields this weekend when they host Bakersfield to end the first half. Seddon (Canyon High) started the Blaze's game against Lake Elsinore on Wednesday. Shields (Hart of Newhall) started on Tuesday, allowing three earned runs with four strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings but taking the loss against Lake Elsinore. Chris Cocoles, (818) 713-3607 chris.cocoles(at)dailynews.com |
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