Resurgent Las Vegas tries on PCL first place for size

Steve Addy

Thursday, April 25, 2002 | 11:18 a.m.

51S TO DATE

En route to a 13-7 record and overall lead in the Pacific Coast League, the 51s are leading the league in several statistics:

Twenty games into the season, with a new manager, a reconstructed nucleus and the most potent offense in the Pacific Coast League, first place looks pretty good on the Las Vegas 51s.

Especially after their difficult first year, when the team made little impact on the field and in the community, the 51s have been as surprising as they have been impressive under manager Brad Mills.

Having won their last six games, their 13-7 record leads the 16-team league and they rank first or second in most offensive categories. They are 11-5 at home, where they've averaged 6.3 runs, and fans are trickling back to Cashman Field after a decade of dwindling interest.

"So far, so good. Everyone's fired up," president/GM Don Logan said. "This is the best start we've had in a long time. Things are good on the field, and it's fun for the fans. There's a lot of anticipation building."

Aside from a five-game skid at mid-month, things have gone so well for the 51s, they have easily overcome their biggest shortcoming -- woeful starting pitching. Their starters have only four wins and a 6.22 ERA, but the bullpen has usually pitched well enough to give Las Vegas' hitters a rallying chance. In most cases, the hitters have come through.

The 51s lead the PCL in batting (.301), runs (124) and hits (212), and are second in home runs (23). Individually, 28-year-old left fielder Mike Kinkade has been superb, leading the league in batting (.423), hits (33) and slugging (.744). Infielder Joe Thurston leads with 17 runs and catcher Todd Greene is second with six homers and third with 18 RBIs.

Here's the scariest part for opposing pitchers: the 51s' lineup still doesn't include reigning PCL most valuable player Phil Hiatt, who had 44 home runs, 99 RBIs and a .330 average last year. He's nursing a sprained ankle suffered in spring training and will return in May, presumably.

Without a doubt, an advantageous schedule has helped the 51s overcome Hiatt's absence and their poor starting pitching. They have played 16 of 20 games at home and they'll return next week for eight more after a four-game trip to New Orleans that begins tonight.

But it's also clear that if the 51s' roster remains relatively intact -- that is, if the Dodgers can stay healthy -- it could be an interesting summer at Cashman.

Keeping the team winning in spite of potential roster upheaval will be Mills' great challenge in the coming months.

It is almost certain that Greene will be gone by May 15 when his contract permits him free agency if he's not on the Dodgers' roster. Kinkade appears destined for L.A. at the earliest opportunity, and the Dodgers may have to grab a 51s starter if Kevin Brown's elbow injury is slow to heal. When he went on the disabled list last week, the Dodgers called up 51s reliever Guillermo Mota.

"We are going to lose people at some point," Mills said. "We just have to keep battling and keep playing the way we have. We have enough bats to pick it up, and our pitching is going to come around. The Dodgers have done a good job of putting this team together and right now everything is working in our direction."

So far Logan likes what he sees from Mills, who was hired to replace Rick Sofield, who guided the 51s to a 68-76 record last year.

"Brad is doing a heck of a job. He's a pro," Logan said. "He and his staff understand what they're here for -- to make players better, develop them for the major leagues, and to win.

"To be playing this well without the starting pitching kicking in has been terrific. At the end of the day, the manager should get the credit. You can make good (personnel) moves and provide a good mix of players, but if the manager isn't doing it, the rest doesn't matter."

Stability in the Dodgers' front office has also been pivotal, Logan said. Last year, GM Kevin Malone was ousted early in the season and Dave Wallace became the interim GM. It left the front office without a long-term plan.

In the off-season, Dan Evans was hired as GM, Wallace was switched to Senior VP of operations, Bill Bavasi became director of player development and Terry Collins took over as minor league coordinator.

"There's order in Los Angeles now," Logan said. "They have a GM who's empowered and doing a good job. Those guys are all on the same page. They have a plan. It's a good plan."

Logan said the 51s have also learned from last year's marketing mistakes, but he concedes that winning is the best promotion a team can offer. Walk-up sales at weekend games have climbed as high as 1,200, three times the usual weeknight total.

Though announced attendance is averaging 4,394, down from last year's 4,621, actual in-house crowds have been larger than last year, regular attendees say.

"The fans are responding. For the first time in a long time, we've got a good team," Logan said.