Good Grades

'Hawks aren't without flaws, but first half was outstanding

By ED HARBOUR
Valley Press Staff Writer

But at the halfway mark, Kuzmic became the team's starting first baseman after Peanut Williams went down after he had surgery to remove bone chips from his left elbow.

"I don't know where we'd be without Kuz," Parent said. "When Peanut went down, he stepped right up."

Kuzmic has looked especially impressive at the plate, batting .325, 10th in the league. He's hit 10 home runs, second on the team only to Juan Silvestre's 16.

After Williams hit 23 home runs in the second half of 1999, losing his bat, the protection it brought Silvestre in the lineup and the terror he wrought on opposing pitching could have been devastating.

But Silvestre and Kuzmic both stepped up. Silvestre is now in a position to contend for a Cal League Triple Crown.

His 16 homers lead the league, as do his 67 RBI. He is also in fifth in the batting race at .336.

"I feel like everything I wanted to do, I've done," Silvestre said in his native Spanish. "I want to get to the big leagues and think that I've been improving each season."

Last year with the Class-A Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, Silvestre hit 21 home runs in the pitcherfriendly Midwest League and is projected to hit 32 this year.

The biggest surprise for the team this season has to be fourth starter Josue Matos.

Matos finished last season at Wisconsin with an earned-run average above 4.00 and was not regarded as a top prospect for the Mariners. Heading into the season, even Parent knew very little about Matos.

He not only got to know Matos, he grew to love him, as did pitching coach Scott Budner.

"Matos is consistency," Budner said. "He goes out every time and throws a great game for us. His record might not show, but that's not what is important at this level. It's how you pitch."

After picking up the win over Lake Elsinore on Sunday, Matos evened his record at 3-3, but that doesn't tell the tale.

Matos has a 2.64 ERA, which is near the league low, and a leaguehigh 93 strikeouts in 88 innings. This comes while playing at one of the more hitter-friendly parks in a hitter-friendly league.

"I love it here," Matos said. "Here in Lancaster, I've learned to be consistent and more aggressive when I pitch. It's been real good for me."

Also a key to the JetHawks' pitching success has been the conversion of two-time Cal League All-Star Brandon Parker from starter to closer.

Parker's success this year is marked in the form of his leaguehigh 16 saves.

"I really do love closing out the games," Parker said. "Changing roles has been a lot easier than I thought it would be. In fact, I think I like closing more than starting. It lets me come out aggressive and finish the job."

But before the team can get to Parker, it usually goes to another converted starter, set-up man Allan Simpson.

Simpson closed the first half with a team-low 1.74 ERA in 25 appearances. Parent has used him in a set-up role for Parker and has been pleased with the results.

"If Parker got hurt or was promoted," Parent said earlier in the year, "I'd have no problem moving Simp into that role. He's more than proven to me he can do it."

As the team opens the second half tonight at Lake Elsinore, there may be one or two roster moves made in the system, but not enough to detract from the squad's desire to take the second half as well.

"Winning the first half lets us concentrate on some development things this half," coach Dana Williams said, "but I think the guys would love to go out and do it again."

Uploaded June 22, 2000