Trying to Avoid Windburn : JetHawk Pitchers Hope to Keep ERAs From Elevating in the Breeze

If any of the nine California League rookies on the Lancaster JetHawks’ 12-man pitching staff have questions about the daunting task they face pitching in such a hitter-friendly environment, they need only consult returning pitcher John Thompson for advice.

The right-handed reliever’s career was clipping along nicely until last season in the Class-A Cal League, where the warm weather, wind and small ballparks conspire against pitchers and one bad pitch--or even a good one--can easily turn into a three-run home run.

Thompson, who swallowed a 6.13 earned-run average and a heaping gulp of humility, said of the new pitchers: “They can’t get the ball up. They’ll learn. Or they’ll get hammered.”

JetHawk right-hander Aaron Scheffer, who was 8-1 with a 3.72 ERA last season at Class-A Wisconsin, considered the blustery wind blowing over the Hangar fence and said: “It’ll be different. The scout that signed me said, ‘If you get out of here with a 5 1/2 ERA, you’ve had a good year.’ ”

Scheffer, a nondrafted free agent who pitched so well last year that the Seattle Mariners have made him a starter, is one of the touted pitchers who will lead the JetHawks into Thursday night’s season opener against the High Desert Mavericks at 7:15 at the Hangar.

The question for this season: Can the pitchers’ strong reputations withstand Lancaster’s strong winds?

“The pitching staff will have its ups and downs in this park, with the wind, but overall I think they will be very competitive and you will see some good outings from these guys,” said first-year Manager Rick Burleson, a former shortstop with the Angels, Boston Red Sox and and Baltimore Orioles.

The best starter is left-hander Damaso Marte, who impressed the Mariners enough that they put him on the major league 40-man roster in the off-season. Marte was 8-6 with a 4.49 ERA last season at Wisconsin, though he was brilliant for stretches.

Right-hander Jeff Farnsworth, the Mariners’ second-round pick in last year’s draft, might be the staff ace, but he came up with a sore arm at the end of spring training and will miss at least one start with the JetHawks.

Kevin Gryboski, a right-hander who was 10-5 with a 4.74 ERA at Wisconsin, will be the opening night starter because the spring training rotation made Thursday his turn.

Gryboski will be followed in the rotation by Marte, Scheffer, right-hander Eric Morgan and right-hander Rob Luce. Morgan, a reliever until this season, had a 4.26 ERA in 10 games in Lancaster last season. Luce, a ninth-round pick last summer, is filling in until Farnsworth’s return.

The JetHawks’ bullpen may end up being stronger than the starting rotation, though, which would be a welcome sight for Lancaster fans who suffered through dozens of blown leads last season.

Thompson, whose fastball reaches the mid-90s, said he has learned from last season, and he pitched well enough in spring training that he nearly made the double-A roster.

He will be one-third of the JetHawks’ closer by committee. The other two are left-hander Denny Bonilla, who was 6-1 with a 2.19 ERA at Wisconsin, and right-hander Jason Bond, who had a 1.87 ERA and 52 strikeouts in 43 innings at Class-A Everett, Wash.

Right-hander Rafael Rivera, who struck out 61 in 49 innings at Everett, will work in a set-up role.

“I like our bullpen a lot,” Burleson said. “Those four guys have thrown real well all spring.”

While the pitching staff will look unfamiliar to JetHawk fans, the batting order will not. Four of the regulars played all of last season in Lancaster, and two others spent at least six weeks with the JetHawks.

The changes will be in the outfield. Joe Mathis and Luis Tinoco each made the Midwest League all-star game last season at Wisconsin. Mathis, a speedy left-handed hitter, will lead off and play center field. Tinoco, a right fielder with one of the best arms in the organization, will bat third but will be limited to the designated hitter spot for at least 10 days because of tendinitis in his shoulder.

Tarrik Brock, whom the Mariners claimed from the Detroit Tigers in the off-season, will play right while Tinoco is out, then move to left.

Brock has speed and a good arm, but hasn’t hit much in his first six pro seasons. If his solid spring training is any indication, this may be his year to put up offensive numbers.

Yuni Kim, a 25-year-old from Japan who signed with the Mariners this spring, will also get a shot in the outfield. Until Tinoco is able to throw, first baseman Shawn Buhner will also find himself in left field.

The JetHawks’ infield returns intact--third baseman Carlos Villalobos, shortstop Luis Molina, second baseman Chris Dean and the first base platoon of James Clifford, who hit 20 homers last season, and Buhner.

Villalobos is most intriguing. Because he made 43 errors last season, leading all Cal League third basemen, the Mariners planned to move him to the outfield in instructional league. But Villalobos played so well at third in the off-season that he’s getting another shot.

“His throwing has not been what I thought it was going to be, it’s better,” said Burleson, formerly a roving minor league infield instructor.

“I had heard he was throwing the ball all over the field, and he hasn’t done that. Except for a few times.”

Dusty Wathan, who split time behind the plate last season in Lancaster, returns to be the regular catcher.

Wathan will be backed up by Mike Martin, who will also play some third base, and David Skeels, a graduate of Thousand Oaks High.

Burleson said Skeels had a good spring, but he may get squeezed out of at-bats and wind up doing most of his work in the bullpen.

Whether all this adds up to a winning team is anyone’s guess. Minor league baseball is impossible to predict because the players are so inconsistent--that’s why they’re in the minors--and midseason roster moves can drastically change a team’s complexion.

All that’s guaranteed is the wind will howl, and the pitchers will wince.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

JETHAWKS’ SOPHOMORE CLASS

NO.: 4

NAME: Chris Dean

POS.: 2B

AGE: 23

COMMENT: Third season in Cal League; hit .276 in second half for JetHawks last year

*

NO.: 8

NAME: Joel Ramirez

POS.: IF

AGE: 23

*

COMMENT: Made Midwest League all-star game in ‘96, but finished with .239 average

NO.: 11

NAME: Mike Martin

POS.: C

AGE: 24

COMMENT: Son of Florida State coach of same name; two seasons in Padre system

*

NO.: 15

NAME: David Skeels

POS.: C

AGE: 23

COMMENT: Thousand Oaks HS grad signed in ’96 after playing in independent league

*

NO.: 20

NAME: Joe Mathis

POS.: OF

AGE: 22

COMMENT: Moves up after two seasons at Wisconsin; .285, 19 steals last season

*

NO.: 21

NAME: John Thompson

POS.: RHP

AGE: 24

COMMENT: Reliever has 90 mph fastball, but was 3-8 with 6.13 ERA last season

*

NO.: 22

NAME: Luis Molina

POS.: SS

AGE: 23

COMMENT: Hit .254 with JetHawks before knee injury ended ’96 season in late May

*

NO.: 23

NAME: Carlos Villalobos

POS.: 3B

AGE: 21

COMMENT: Lots of potential but made 43 errors in ‘96; said to be improved

*

NO.: 24

NAME: Tarrik Brock

POS.: OF

AGE: 23

COMMENT: Former Tiger farmhand in his seventh pro season; 16 stolen bases in ’96

*

NO.: 26

NAME: Jason Bond

POS.: LHP

AGE: 22

COMMENT: Reliever held hitters to .158 average at Everett; Was 2-0, 1.87 ERA

*

NO.: 27

NAME: Rob Luce

POS.: RHP

AGE: 22

COMMENT: Mariners’ ninth-round pick from UNLV in ‘96; had seven saves at Everett

*

NO.: 28

NAME: Luis Tinoco

POS.: OF

AGE: 22

COMMENT: Excellent throwing arm; MVP for Wisconsin in ‘96; .313, 12 HRs, 71 RBIs

*

NO.: 31

NAME: Rafael Rivera

POS.: RHP

AGE: 22

COMMENT: Was 4-1, 2.19 ERA in ’96 at Everett; had 61 Ks, 10 BBs in 49 1/3 innings

*

NO.: 32

NAME: Eric Morgan

POS.: RHP

AGE: 24

COMMENT: Pitched only 69 1/3 innings in three injury-riddled seasons; now a starter

*

NO.: 33

NAME: Dusty Wathan

POS.: C

AGE: 23

COMMENT: Starting catcher hit .260 in part-time duty at Lancaster in last season

*

NO.: 34

NAME: Brian Sweeney

POS.: RHP

AGE: 22

COMMENT: In independent league last year; replaces injured Jeff Farnsworth

*

NO.: 37

NAME: Shawn Buhner

POS.: 1B

AGE: 24

COMMENT: Hit .209 in injury-plagued ’96 with JetHawks; Brother of Jay Buhner

*

NO.: 39

NAME: Kevin Gryboski

POS.: RHP

AGE: 23

COMMENT: Started and relieved at Wisconsin; 10-5, 4.74 ERA

*

NO.: 40

NAME: Chris Beck

POS.: RHP

AGE: 24

COMMENT: Had 3.53 ERA as a starter and reliever with JetHawks in ’96

*

NO.: 42

NAME: Allan Westfall

POS.: RHP

AGE: 21

COMMENT: Mariners’ 18th-round pick from Miami, did not play last season

*

NO.: 44

NAME: Aaron Scheffer

POS.: RHP

AGE: 21

COMMENT: Converted starter had 14 saves in ‘96; 89 Ks in 67 2/3 innings

*

NO.: 45

NAME: James Clifford

POS.: 1B

AGE: 27

COMMENT: Oldest JetHawk tied for team lead with 20 HRs last year in Lancaster

*

NO.: 47

NAME: Yuni Kim

POS.: OF

AGE: 25

COMMENT: Signed by Mariners after playing at top level of Japanese amateur baseball

*

NO.: 48

NAME: Damaso Marte

POS.: LHP

AGE: 22

COMMENT: Best arm in starting rotation; 8-6, 4.49 ERA at Wisconsin in ’96

*

NO.: 49

NAME: Denny Bonilla

POS.: LHP

AGE: 23

COMMENT: Reliever was 6-1, 2.19 ERA at Wisconsin last year; great fastball

MANAGER: 7 Rick Burleson. PITCHING COACH: 41 Jim Slaton. HITTING COACH: 25 Dana Williams. TRAINER: Troy McIntosh.