JETHAWKS NOTEBOOOK: FUTURES HINGE ON OFF-FIELD DECISIONS.

Byline: Gideon Rubin Staff Writer

TUCSON, Ariz. - Some of the most compelling action in spring training doesn't occur on the field. It takes place in conference rooms, where player-development directors, managers and coaches make decisions that can make or break careers.

Arizona Diamondbacks director of player development Tommy Jones said he and his staff meet daily, evaluating each player's performance, especially those who are on the bubble.

On Tuesday afternoon, the JetHawks' parent club met to make its final spring training cuts, releasing about a dozen players and setting ``tentative'' rosters for the organization's seven teams.

Jones said the meeting was all business.

``There's no joking around at these meetings,'' he said. ``You're talking about people's lives, people's futures. I think all of our coaches are very sensitive to what's at stake.''

In the JetHawks workout group's exhibition game against the Chicago White Sox advanced Single-A workout group Wednesday, the team fielded the roster that Jones said was final, ``unless something goofy happens.''

Jones pointed out that injuries or trades involving players at the organization's higher levels can have a trickle-down effect, forcing last-minute changes.

Outfielder Kevan Burns made the Lancaster team but isn't taking anything for granted.

``You never know until the last day,'' he said. ``It's nerve-wracking at spring training. At any moment you could be gone.''

Infielder Matt Kata said: ``It's business, there are a lot of factors involved.''

Kata, who also made the JetHawks' last cut, is relieved now that he knows where he's going.

``Obviously you like to see yourself secure, and on a team,'' he said. ``(Now) you can kind of relax knowing that you're going somewhere. It's a good feeling. I've still got a uniform on my back, you kind of have to be glad for that.''

Pitcher Mike McCutcheon had been playing with the Diamondbacks' Double-A El Paso group this spring, and didn't learn until Wednesday morning that he was headed to Lancaster.

McCutcheon went from low Single-A South Bend to Double-A El Paso last season, bypassing High Desert, the Diamondbacks' former California League high Single-A affiliate. He was 4-1 with a 3.91 ERA at El Paso and had hoped to return to Double-A. Still, he said he's looking forward to pitching in Lancaster, where he'll be the team's situational left-handed reliever.

``It's a place to pitch,'' he said. ``You don't want to be the last guy in the bullpen in Double-A when you can be the go-to guy at another level. As long as I get to pitch and have a uniform on my back I have a chance to get to the big leagues.

None of the players in the JetHawks group were released Wednesday. Pitcher Jose Valverde, who had been working with the JetHawks group for most of spring training, was promoted to El Paso.

--Tentative roster: Staring pitchers: Andrew Good, Mike Schultz, Doug Slaten, Greg Valera, Danile Castillo.

Relievers: Mike McCutcheon, Rob Shabansky, Scott Barber, Tanner Ericksen, Brian Matzenbacher, Jody Fuller, Brandon Webb.

Catchers: Josh Glassey, J.D. Closser, John Melton (on disabled list).

Infielders: Matt Kata, Billy Martin, Steve Neal, Tim Olson, Jason Williams, Luis Santos.

Outfielders: Carlos Urquiola, Cedrick Harris, Brian Gordon, Kevan Burns, Scott Sollmann.

--Tickets: Tickets for Monday afternoon's 3 p.m. exhibition game at the Hangar against the Arizona Diamondbacks are available. The ticket office at Lancaster Municipal Stadium is open weekdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Saturday. For information, call the ticket office at [phone].

--Front office moves: Former JetHawks' group-sales director Jennifer Ryder has been promoted to director of ticketing. Ryder replaces Kevin Bolinger, who gave up the front-office position to become the weekend news anchor/news director for a Fox television affiliate in Boise, Idaho.