Former Oriole Kinkade helps bolster 51s’ offense

Spencer Patterson

Wednesday, June 12, 2002 | 9:16 a.m.

Night after night, Mike Kinkade had one of the best seats in the house for Cal Ripken Jr.'s farewell tour last season.

After six years in the minors, Kinkade found himself playing his first full season in the big leagues with the Baltimore Orioles in 2001, just in time to witness the game's Iron Man do his thing one last time.

"That was something you never forget," Kinkade said. "He's been an ambassador for baseball for 21 years. To get to see the way he played the game hard every night and treated the fans was something I'll never forget."

At season's end, however, it was only Kinkade who found himself a forgotten man in Baltimore. After batting .275 with 16 RBIs and 19 runs in 61 games for the Orioles, the free agent utility man was not offered a new contract.

"I was 100 percent sure I'd be back with Baltimore this year, but that's the way baseball goes," Kinkade said. "For some reason, they didn't want me over there, so I came over here."

Now in his first season with the 51s, the 28-year-old is making a strong case for a promotion back to the bigs. Kinkade leads Las Vegas with a .363 batting average, 15 doubles and five triples, and has six homers, 31 RBIs and 42 runs scored, despite missing more than two weeks recently with a bruised hand.

"He's a professional hitter. He has quality at-bats every time up. He's a tough out and a dangerous out," 51s manager Brad Mills said. "He hits for power and average, drives in runs and he gets on base via the walk."

His productive numbers at the plate notwithstanding, Kinkade could fit into the Dodgers' plans this season because of his defensive versatility, according to Mills. Throughout his career, Kinkade has routinely rotated between first and third base, left and right field and catcher.

"He's a good guy to have on your ballclub because he can play different positions," Mills said. "With his versatility and the way he swings the bat, teams have to find a spot for him. I'm thankful he's here. He's a quality player who should help our major league club at some point this year."

For his part, Kinkade isn't in any hurry to settle on one position, preferring to remain in the lineup on a daily basis.

"I've kind of done that my whole life. Even in Little League, high school and college I never really had a position," said Kinkade, who missed Tuesday night's game after bruising his ribs on Monday. "I play a lot of spots and I like to play a lot of spots."

Whatever it may be, he's hoping his next spot will be one that has him wearing Dodger blue.

Chin-Feng Chen hit his 11th homer of the season to give the hosts a brief 1-0 lead in the fourth inning, but Stingers' starter John Lackey and a pair of relievers held Las Vegas (38-28) in check the rest of the way. Lackey (7-2) finished with six strikeouts and one walk in six innings for Salt Lake (39-27).