51s’ Gilbert sent to Japan

Steve Guiremand

Thursday, June 7, 2001 | 11:11 a.m.

The suddenly-streaking Las Vegas 51s won another game on Wednesday night but also lost their most valuable player.

Just prior to the 51s' 7-4 victory over the Iowa Cubs at Cashman Field came the news that the parent club Los Angeles Dodgers had sold utilityman Shawn Gilbert's contract to the Osaka Kintetsu Buffaloes of the Japanese Pacific League.

The 33-year-old Gilbert had easily been Las Vegas' top player in 2001. The Fresno State alum was batting a team-high .330 and also led the squad with 74 hits, 14 doubles, 11 stolen bases and 36 RBIs. He also excelled defensively both at second base and shortstop as well as in center field.

But with his prospects slim for a callup by the Dodgers any time before September, Gilbert elected to head to Japan where he'll receive a hefty pay raise estimated to be in the half-million dollar range.

"It's considerably more than if I had stayed here," Gilbert, who flies to Japan on Saturday, said while packing up his belongings. "It's a lot more than I would have made if I had been called up to the big leagues."

"I think it's a nice thing for Shawn and his family," Las Vegas manager Rick Sofield. "He received a considerable amount of money in order for him to leave here and give up his chance to possibly play in the big leagues this year. But he had to do what he felt was best for his family."

Sofield said there was little doubt that the scrappy Gilbert was his team's MVP for the first two months of the season.

"No question," Sofield said. "He deserves that title. This thing will not only hurt our club on the field but also in the clubhouse. This is a guy who showed up every day ready to play and would do whatever it took for the team to win. Now we'll see who we have in the clubhouse who wants to step up and take his place."

Gilbert, who ranks second in the PCL in both hits and steals, said he enjoyed his brief stay in Las Vegas.

"It's just a situation that I couldn't pass up financially," he said.

"I was supposed to be here a lot more but unfortunately ... other stuff happened," Wallace said. "It's been so busy in the office. But this is what I enjoy. I enjoy getting out and watching our players play."

As for Wednesday's decision to ship Gilbert to Japan, Wallace was upbeat.

"It's a wonderful thing for Shawn," he said. "We're trying to establish a good relationship with the Kintetsu team over there. Shawn is a quality person and a good ballplayer who should represent us well over there. I think it's a deal that works out well for both parties."

Wallace was asked if Las Vegas fans might get a chance to see right-hander Andy Ashby on a rehab assignment soon.

"(Ashby) does need to make one," Wallace said. "When that will be, I don't know. I have to see how he is after he threw a little live batting practice (Tuesday night) in Arizona. If he comes out of that okay, he'll probably throw a simulated game this weekend in Los Angeles. And then if he's okay from there, we'll see."

Wallace said he was unsure who would be called up to replace Gilbert on the 51s roster.

"We haven't talked about it," he said. "I know (Andy) Stankiewicz is down (at extended spring training in Vero Beach) rehabbing his leg. If he's healthy he'd be the ideal guy. If we have to go out and get a player, then we will."

That is the longest scoreless streak in team history, surpassing a 20-inning stretch in 1986. That also was the only other time in team history that the squad had back-to-back shutouts thrown, both against the old Phoenix Firebirds. The winning pitchers in those contests were Ed Vosberg and Ed Wojna.

In case you were wondering, the 51s didn't even come close to the Pacific Coast League record for consecutive scoreless innings thrown. That mark is 88 innings set by Portland in 1910 and included eight consecutive shutouts.

Las Vegas trails Tucson, a 3-1 winner over Omaha, by just one game in the PCL's South Division standings.