Columnist Dean Juipe: Dodgers do disservice to the 51s

Dean Juipe

Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2002 | 9:56 a.m.

Dean Juipe's column appears Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. His boxing notebook appears Thursday. Reach him at juipe@lasvegassun.com or (702) 259-4084.

It was an opportunity for the Los Angeles Dodgers to not only show they cared but to strengthen their bond with the Las Vegas 51s. It was a chance to exhibit some goodwill.

Yes, we all know the first and foremost reason major league teams support their minor league counterparts: It's to groom talent and have that talent ready at the parent team's call. And no one begrudges it when a team such as the 51s loses a key player to the Dodgers during the course of a season.

But the Dodgers, even if they are in the midst of a battle for at least a wild card spot in the National League playoffs, didn't need to raid the 51s for four players as they did over the weekend, not with Las Vegas opening its Pacific Coast League playoff series with Edmonton tonight at Cashman Field.

What the Dodgers did wasn't heartless and maybe it wasn't stupid, but it was degrading. It demonstrated that they really don't give a damn about what's happening with their Triple-A team.

Major league teams are allowed to expand their rosters in September and the Dodgers didn't waste any time in summoning second baseman Joe Thurston, catcher David Ross, outfielder Wilkin Ruan and relief pitcher Jeff Williams from the 51s. The mass call-up is at least marginally devastating to the 51s, given that those stellar players are being replaced by very inexperienced ones.

The team that represented Las Vegas so splendidly during the regular season and went a franchise-best 85-59 will look fairly unfamiliar by the time it takes the field tonight. The shame of it is that it has been awhile since the 51s -- or the Stars, as they were known prior to Las Vegas attaching itself to the Dodgers last year -- have contended for the PCL crown.

Las Vegas had a winning record this season for the first time in five years, and for only the second time in nine years. Losing had become a way of life until the '02 club came along.

Now the Dodgers have done their best to disrupt if not ruin the 51s, exhibiting a tremendous lack of patience in the process. What, they couldn't wait another week or two to get Thurston, Ross, Ruan and Williams to the majors, especially in view of the fact those same guys will spend the majority of their time with the Dodgers clogged on the bench and cast in reserve roles?

Thurston (.334), Ruan (.327), Ross (.297) and Williams (28 saves) were productive and at the core of the 51s success. And while several good players remain and Las Vegas might yet win the PCL championship, there simply was no reason for the Dodgers not to do the 51s and their fans the common courtesy of a timely favor and let those players finish out the season here.

Thurston, in particular, will be missed. A spirited, left-handed hitting leadoff man, he was within four hits of being the first player in the league to have 200 in a single season in 32 years. Despite being the subject of trade rumors at the Triple-A all-star game -- he was mentioned in possible deals involving Texas' Frank Catalanotto and the New York Mets' Roberto Alomar -- he was steady and a delight to be around.

But now the MVP is gone, and pirated away at that. Thanks L.A.

Thanks for your concern.