Tuesday, July 2, 2002 | 9:27 a.m.
Since pounding Calgary by 11 runs on opening day at Cashman Field in April, the Las Vegas 51s have had a stronghold on the Pacific Coast League's South Division.
With Monday night's 6-4 victory over the New Orleans Zephyrs, the 51s (50-36) still have the second-best record in the PCL behind the Salt Lake Stingers (53-33).
But though the team gained its 50th win 23 days faster than last season, there have been plenty of empty seats at Cashman Field.
If the fans don't seem to care, then do the players, whose main goal is to get to the major leagues?
"It's very important to win," 51s third baseman Rick Bell said. "I think a lot of times, winning speeds up your development.
"If you know how to win or are around a bunch of guys who know how to win and have won before, you become a better player."
As much as Bell wants to win, he also knows he and his teammates are at the triple-A level to develop the skills to get an opportunity play for the parent Los Angeles Dodgers.
Manager Brad Mills emphasizes the importance of improving players while teaching them how to use those tools to win. Along with hitting coach Ron Jackson and pitching coach Shawn Barton, Mills works with the players for hours before each game.
"I'm here to develop (the Dodgers') players," Mills said. "I think I develop them more outside of the game right now. Talking to them about the game, getting them to think about game-time situations.
"During the game, we try to incorporate those things into winning. Once the game starts. the focus is more on winning -- what it takes to win."
Second baseman Joe Thurston agrees that improving and winning are related.
"Whatever I can do to help the team win, that's the only thing I can control," he said. "It seems if you're winning, big-league (teams) want winners.
"If the big club sees that, whether it's triple-A, double-A or single-A ... you must be doing something they want you to do. Whether it's a sacrifice bunt, hit-and-run or whatever, you might be hitting .230, but if you got all your sacrifice bunts down, that's what they want."
Most players enjoy playing in front of larger crowds, but a lack of fan support won't affect their performance.
51s director of marketing and communications Aaron Artman said the team sold an average of 4,621 seats per game last year and is averaging 4,390 this season.
Despite the drop, sales have increased by an average of 1,200 on Saturdays and the club already has three more sellouts than last year.
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