Parent excited about lineup

"Take a look at that," Parent said pointing down at the card, "that is going to be some runs right there."

Parent was referring to the third, fourth and fifth batters in his lineup.

Third baseman Bo Robinson, first baseman Peanut Williams and outfielder Juan Silvestre combined for 272 runs batted in last year, or 41 percent of the JetHawks' total for all of 1999. The trio also combined for 62 home runs.

The middle part of Parent's lineup was solidified Wednesday when the Mariners cleaned house again with another round of cuts and reassignments.

That wave of moves brought Williams down from the New Haven group and gave Parent the consistent cleanup hitter his squad craved.

Silvestre and Robinson both had 100-RBI seasons in 1999 but both lack the overall pop and intimidation Williams brings to the plate.

In 1999, Williams hit a home run every 10.5 at-bats in 68 games with the JetHawks. That's 26 homers.

Silvestre smacked 21 homers of his own in Wisconsin last summer, but his 124 strikeouts are a concern.

At the top of the order, Parent has the double-play combo of shortstop Antonio Perez and Willie Bloomquist. Both players possessed on-base percentages over .400 in 1999 and look ready to duplicate that for Parent.

Cuts and changes

Falling prey to Wednesday's cuts was former JetHawk Mike Marchiano.

The outfielder struggled for most of the spring to find his swing and was given his release by the team.

Facing reassignment was another former JetHawk, Shawn McCorkle. The first baseman was demoted to the Wisconsin squad where he probably will start the season.

Pitcher Chris Mears also was rotated down, but from New Haven to Lancaster where it appears he will be the team's No. 2 starter behind Jeff Heaverlo.

Uploaded March 31, 2000