New 51s manager is eager to return to the diamond

Victoria Sun

Monday, Jan. 21, 2002 | 8:46 a.m.

Name: Brad Mills

Age: 44

Home: Visalia, Calif.

Family: Wife, Ronda; daughters, Taylor and Rochelle; son, Beau

College: University of Arizona

Major league playing career: Montreal Expos (1980-83)

One year as an advance scout with the Chicago Cubs was all it took for Brad Mills to realize that he belonged on the field, not in the stands.

He longed to be part of the competition again.

So at the end of last season, he told the folks in Chicago that he intended to look for another managerial post.

"What I missed most was winning or losing a game," Mills said. "The day-to-day games that come down to making decisions to try to win or lose ball games.

"Throwing BP (batting practice), the camaraderie with the guys, taking trips and so forth and going to battle with those same guys and seeing them improve were things I missed."

Mills knew the Los Angeles Dodgers were looking to hire a new skipper for the triple-A Las Vegas 51s, a job he desired.

After interviewing several other candidates, the Dodgers hired Mills in December. He replaces Rick Sofield, who was fired after the 51s finished 68-76 and failed to make the playoffs.

The Dodgers also retained Ron Jackson as 51s hitting coach and hired Brent Strom as pitching coach.

"I'm really looking forward to getting back out on the field," said Mills, who will have his official introduction to local media and 51s boosters on Tuesday at Cashman Field.

"Whether we have an old or young team, I want us to compete, to look like we're having fun, to play with enthusiasm and to win."

Millers said he wants the 51s to play the game "right."

"We want to be able to take the extra base and run the bases properly. We want to be able to get outs on bunt situations, throw the ball to second on a first-and-third situation," he said.

"I think that's what people like to see and that's what gets the players more excited about playing."

Prior to his stint with the Cubs, Mills spent the previous four seasons as the first base coach for the Philadelphia Phillies. There, he worked with players such as outfielders Bobby Abreu, Doug Glanville and Pat Burrell.

Mills already has proven to be a capable manager.

He spent a year as the Cubs' triple-A skipper in Iowa and also managed the Colorado Springs Sky Sox, the Colorado Rockies' triple-A affiliate, for four seasons.

He guided the Sky Sox to the Pacific Coast League playoffs in 1994 and 1995. Under Mills, the team won the PCL championship in 1995, earning him the Rockies' player development man of the year.

He is hopeful he can be just as successful with the 51s.

The Dodgers revamped their front office, hiring Dan Evans as general manager and Bill Bavasi as director of player development. Those two hirings give Mills plenty of hope for the future of the Dodgers and the 51s.

After scanning the 40-man roster, Mills said there is a good chance the 51s will be bolstered by several top prospects.

"The Dodgers are making great strides," Mills said. "I don't know what's going to happen until I get to spring training, but I can mention a few guys. We've all heard about left fielder Chin-Feng Chin.

"I was able to see him firsthand because I was an assistant coach of Team USA (which lost to Cuba in the gold medal game of the 34th Baseball World Cup held in Taipei in November). I think he's got a great chance of swinging the bat and so I think he's going to be a mainstay in the lineup. I can't see him going back to the double-A level."

The infield also looks promising.

Mills believes shortstops Cesar Izturis and Manuel Nunez and second baseman Joe Thurston also may end up here after spring training.

Chin and Thurston are on the 40-man and Izturis is on the Dodgers' 25-man roster while Nunez is listed on the double-A roster.

"I know they'd like to have Izturis make it to the major league level," Mills said. "I think he has a chance.

"Nunez and Thurston bring a lot of athletic ability. Those three or four guys get me excited because what they do is bring athleticism, talent, a knowledge of the game and an ability to win."

As a player, Mills was an infielder and drafted out of Arizona in 1979. He made his major league debut with the Montreal Expos in May 1980.

He was a utility infielder and sheepishly admits that in four years with the Expos, he will probably most be remembered for being the guy Nolan Ryan struck out in April of 1983 to surpass Walter Johnson's all-time strikeout record.

"I'm not real proud he struck me out, but that's one thing I remember of my playing days," Mills said.