JETHAWKS NOTEBOOK: SIMON SAYS HE'S HAPPY ABOUT HAWKS REUNION.Byline: Gideon Rubin Staff Writer Brandon Simon's return to Lancaster is as much a homecoming as it is a reunion. A native Californian raised in Fresno who played for West Hills College of Coalinga, Simon is glad to be closer to home after finishing last season at short-season Yakima (Wash.) and starting this season at Single-A South Bend South Bend, city (1990 pop. 105,511), seat of St. Joseph co., N Ind., on the great south bend of the St. Joseph River, in a farming and mint-growing region; inc. as a city 1865. (Ind.). But Simon is even happier about being reunited with JetHawks manager Bill Plummer William Francis Plummer (born March 21, 1947 in Oakland, CA) was a catcher for the Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati Reds, and the Seattle Mariners. While never a regular player (he was Johnny Bench's backup catcher during the Big Red Machine years), he did play solid defense. , who managed him at Yakima each of the last two seasons. Simon has played some of his best for ball Plummer. Last season, after batting .182 (14 for 77) in 35 games at Lancaster, he batted a career-high .329 (50 for 152) at Yakima. He batted .279 (41 for 147) with 24 stolen bases in 39 games at Yakima in 2003. He believes his propensity for excelling at Plummer's old-school brand of baseball that emphasizes ``small ball'' and hustle is a good fit for him. ``I'm glad they sent me here to be with (Plummer),'' Simon said. ``I'm basically a hard-nosed scrappy take-what-they-give-me type of player, and I'm just really comfortable playing for him.'' Plummer said Simon's speed, defense and attitude should help the JetHawks in their quest for Verb 1. quest for - go in search of or hunt for; "pursue a hobby" quest after, go after, pursue look for, search, seek - try to locate or discover, or try to establish the existence of; "The police are searching for clues"; "They are searching for the a first-half title. ``We've lost a lot of guys to injuries, so we're happy to have him,'' Plummer said. Simon's assignment to Lancaster was precipitated by recent wrist injuries to outfielders Steve Garrabrants and Alex Frazier. Outfielder Lino Garcia is also out with a hamstring injury hamstring injury Sports medicine A muscle injury of biceps femoris, seen in sprinters and runners, when a contracted muscle meets a lengthening force, overpowering intrinsic muscle resiliency Management RICE, NSAIDs, gradual ↑ of pain-free activity–eg, . Simon joined the team on Wednesday after batting .268 (26 for 97) in South Bend. After a dreadful start (he batted .167 in 16 games in April), he emerged as one of the Midwest League's hottest hitters, batting .395 (17 for 43) in May. A minor adjustment in his batting stance - he's wrapping his bat around his shoulder instead of holding it up straight as he did last season - has helped Simon drive his bat through the strike zone quicker. ``I feel like I've improved every year and I've stepped up my game a little bit offensively this year,'' he said. --Defense: Simon's defense in center field figured prominently in Thursday's 11-7 victory over Rancho Cucamonga Rancho Cucamonga (răn`chō k  'kəmäng`gə), city (1990 pop. 101,409), San Bernardino co., S Calif. . With runners at second and third and two outs in the sixth inning of a 9-5 game, Simon saved two runs with a shoestring catch shoestring catch n. Sports A running catch made near the ground. Noun 1. shoestring catch - (baseball) a running catch made near the ground on Kendry Morales' line drive. Simon's play followed a diving stop by 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 Edgar Varela on a hard-hit Brandon Wood Richard Brandon Wood (born March 2, 1985 in Austin, Texas) is an Major League Baseball third baseman for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. He bats and throws right-handed. grounder to his right in a bases-loaded-one-out situation. Varela stepped on third to get a force and nearly threw out Wood for what would have been an inning-ending double-play. ``The two (defensive) plays in that inning with Simon and Varela turned the game around,'' Plummer said. ``It took away (the Quakes) momentum.'' --Odds and ends: The JetHawks hit a season-high five homers in Thursday's game. Jay Garthwaite, who'd hit just one homer before Thursday, hit two. Chris Carter Chris Carter may refer to:
-- Injury update: Garrabrants and Frazier were scheduled to visit a local doctor to have their wrist injuries evaluated. Frazier is eligible to come off the disabled list Monday. Second baseman second baseman n. Baseball The infielder who is positioned near and to the first-base side of second base. Noun 1. second baseman - (baseball) the person who plays second base second sacker Erik Schindewolf sat out Thursday's game with severe flu symptoms. He was doubtful for Friday's game, Plummer said. Gideon Rubin, (818)713-3607 gideon.rubin(at)dailynews.com |
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