Hermansen glad to still be around

Nick Christensen

Friday, Aug. 1, 2003 | 9:14 a.m.

The trade deadline came and went, and the only hit the Las Vegas 51s took was a pitcher who wasn't with the team, anyway.

Pitcher Scott Proctor and former 51s outfielder Bubba Crosby were traded to the New York Yankees, who sent the Dodgers third baseman Robin Ventura. Proctor hadn't been with the team for a few days, after leaving for personal reasons.

This came as good news for outfielder Chad Hermansen, a Green Valley High graduate who two weeks ago chose to stay in the minors after clearing waivers. Hermansen was 2-for-5 with two runs in the 51s' 9-5 win against Fresno Thursday night at Cashman Field.

"There were two reasons I came back," he said. "One, if you play in the minor leagues, why not play at home? And the other part, contract-wise, what I was making here at Triple-A was a little bit more than I'd be making at other clubs. So it was a pretty easy decision.'

Since his return to the 51s last week, Hermansen has 6-for-23, a far cry from the .397 he was hitting when he was called up to the Dodgers. He said the lack of at-bats with the Dodgers hurt his ability to make contact.

"Timing, as far as hitting is concerned, is so key," he said. "So getting more at bats is definitely a key."

Hermansen senses the Dodgers are reluctant to give younger players more of a chance.

"I have some friends that have been Dodger fans for a long time, and their comments seem to always be instead of getting younger, and letting younger guys get a chance, they seem to just get older, and they're not getting anywhere.

"As a player, I have to understand, it's a big-market team, and they traded for Robin Ventura. Everybody knows who he is. So (they) put them out there and see if it works. As players, we have to kind of say, 'Certain things happen, but I understand the situation the team is in as well.' "