Allen having deep thoughts

Victoria Sun

Tuesday, May 21, 2002 | 9:53 a.m.

Las Vegas 51s right fielder Luke Allen was hitting .303 before Monday night's game against the Omaha Royals.

No problem there.

But the 23-year-old from Covington, Ga., has only one homer almost two months into the season and that has him a bit puzzled.

"It's going all right," he said candidly. "I need more home runs. I don't know what's going on there.

"I'm a 230-pound Punch and Judy (hitter) is what I am. I usually blossom late, so hopefully they'll start coming. I'm hitting for average, but I think they're more interested in me for hitting for power."

Allen went 1-for-4 with a run scored in the 51s' 9-6 win over the Omaha Royals at Cashman Field.

In 42 games he has only 14 extra base hits including 11 doubles and two triples.

But as much as Allen wants to hit for power, he has to continually remind himself not to force the issue.

"If I go up there to the plate and think I've got to hit this ball out of the park, I'm going to start struggling," Allen said. "I know that if I go up there and I don't think about it, it's usually when it happens."

At double-A Jacksonville last season, he hit .290 with 16 homers, 32 doubles and six triples.

He was promoted to Las Vegas for four days, but didn't get any playing time.

Toward the end of the season in August, he woke up during a road trip in Chattanooga, Tn. and couldn't bend his right arm, the one that Southern League managers voted best in the outfield for 2001.

He played through the pain, then had elbow surgery in November to clean up the damaged area and repair a bone spur.

Allen spent the months after surgery rehabbing at home and didn't begin throwing again until two weeks prior to spring training.

"I'm trying to take care of it to keep it healthy," he said. "It's not as strong as it used to be, but hopefully it's going to continue to get better and better every day.

"I love playing the outfield. I feel that's where my natural position is, not third base where I played in the past."

There are times when Allen's arm still hurts when he extends it to hit. But it hasn't hurt him defensively.

"I think he's really improved as far as jumps on balls and his routes," 51s manager Brad Mills said. "I think he's gained a lot of confidence out there.

"Throwing the ball, he's got a very good arm. He's demonstrated it time and time again. He's throwing guys out and he's continuing to improve."

Defense is the aspect of the game Allen enjoys the most.

"I take pride in defense," Allen said. "God blessed me with a good arm. For me, throwing somebody out is like hitting a home run. It's just as good a feeling."

From what Mills has observed, Allen will one day be feeling good on offense as well.

"He's got the tools," Mills said. "He's got good bat speed. He's got strength. He runs very well and he's aggressive.

"It's just going to take him time to develop. The biggest thing is experience. Knowing how to adjust to how teams are pitching to him. How to adjust to pitches. Knowing what he needs to do at different at-bats."