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Manager, Former JetHawks Honored by Baseball America
Backman Joins Four JetHawks Players on Publication's Best Tools List
(LANCASTER, CA) - Lancaster JetHawks manager Wally Backman, along with four
former JetHawks, were selected to the 2004 Baseball America High Class A Best
Tools list for the California League, released today by the baseball
publication.
Backman was selected as the Best Managerial Prospect in the California League.
He led the prospect- laden JetHawks to a first-half championship in the South
division. The Jethawks have maintained that supremacy in the second half, even
after losing many of its top prospects, who were promoted to Double-A. Backman
has led the JetHawks to a 67-42 overall record, the fifth-best record in all of
Minor League Baseball. The JetHawks manager was also selected as the best
managerial prospect in the Double A Southern League in 2002, when he was with
the Birmingham Barons in the Chicago White Sox organization.
Former JetHawks' left fielder Conor Jackson was named the California League's
Best Batting Prospect. In 67 games with the JetHawks, Jackson hit .345 with 11
home runs and 54 RBI. When promoted, Jackson had hit in 19 straight games, the
second best streak in the California League this year. The 2003 first round
pick reached base safely in all 33 games he played at The Hangar in Lancaster,
compiling an overall on-base percentage of .438. The 2003 MVP of the Northwest
League was named to the Major League Baseball Futures game in Houston during
Major League Baseball's All Star Weekend.
The JetHawks other 2003 first round pick, Carlos Quentin, was selected as the
Best Power Prospect after the former Stanford star hit .310 with 15 home runs
with 51 RBI in 65 games with the JetHawks before being promoted to Double A.
After missing the 2003 season due to injury, Quentin got off to a slow start in
2004, hitting only .253 in April before turning it around to hit .308 and .390
in May and June respectively. His .562 slugging percentage is still good for
third-highest in the California League this season.
Baseball America selected former JetHawks starting pitcher Clint Goocher as
having the Best Control in the California League. The left-hander struck out 92
batters while issuing only 12 walks. His nine wins remain the third most in the
league this season, even though he has been in Double A for more than a month.
When he was promoted he had won eight straight decisions.
Jason Bulger, the JetHawks' closer while he was in Lancaster, was named the Best
Reliever in the California League. In his 21 appearances he only twice allowed
a runner to score. He compiled 11 saves with 31 strikeouts in 23.2 innings
pitched and held opponents to a .171 batting average.
The JetHawks finish a three-game series at Stockton tonight before returning to
The Hangar tomorrow for a series against High Desert. Great promotions are
planned for the weekend and tickets are still available by calling (661)
726-5400 or visiting the club's official website at www.jethawks.com.
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Backman Joins Four JetHawks Players on Publication's Best Tools List
(LANCASTER, CA) - Lancaster JetHawks manager Wally Backman, along with four
former JetHawks, were selected to the 2004 Baseball America High Class A Best
Tools list for the California League, released today by the baseball
publication.
Backman was selected as the Best Managerial Prospect in the California League.
He led the prospect- laden JetHawks to a first-half championship in the South
division. The Jethawks have maintained that supremacy in the second half, even
after losing many of its top prospects, who were promoted to Double-A. Backman
has led the JetHawks to a 67-42 overall record, the fifth-best record in all of
Minor League Baseball. The JetHawks manager was also selected as the best
managerial prospect in the Double A Southern League in 2002, when he was with
the Birmingham Barons in the Chicago White Sox organization.
Former JetHawks' left fielder Conor Jackson was named the California League's
Best Batting Prospect. In 67 games with the JetHawks, Jackson hit .345 with 11
home runs and 54 RBI. When promoted, Jackson had hit in 19 straight games, the
second best streak in the California League this year. The 2003 first round
pick reached base safely in all 33 games he played at The Hangar in Lancaster,
compiling an overall on-base percentage of .438. The 2003 MVP of the Northwest
League was named to the Major League Baseball Futures game in Houston during
Major League Baseball's All Star Weekend.
The JetHawks other 2003 first round pick, Carlos Quentin, was selected as the
Best Power Prospect after the former Stanford star hit .310 with 15 home runs
with 51 RBI in 65 games with the JetHawks before being promoted to Double A.
After missing the 2003 season due to injury, Quentin got off to a slow start in
2004, hitting only .253 in April before turning it around to hit .308 and .390
in May and June respectively. His .562 slugging percentage is still good for
third-highest in the California League this season.
Baseball America selected former JetHawks starting pitcher Clint Goocher as
having the Best Control in the California League. The left-hander struck out 92
batters while issuing only 12 walks. His nine wins remain the third most in the
league this season, even though he has been in Double A for more than a month.
When he was promoted he had won eight straight decisions.
Jason Bulger, the JetHawks' closer while he was in Lancaster, was named the Best
Reliever in the California League. In his 21 appearances he only twice allowed
a runner to score. He compiled 11 saves with 31 strikeouts in 23.2 innings
pitched and held opponents to a .171 batting average.
The JetHawks finish a three-game series at Stockton tonight before returning to
The Hangar tomorrow for a series against High Desert. Great promotions are
planned for the weekend and tickets are still available by calling (661)
726-5400 or visiting the club's official website at www.jethawks.com.
----------------------------------------------------------------
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_______________________________________________
Jethawks-blast mailing list
[email protected]
http://LIST.QNET.COM/mailman/listinfo/jethawks-blast
This message was sent to: [email protected]
