All-stars don’t play like it at Cashman

Nick Christensen

Friday, June 27, 2003 | 10:58 a.m.

The Pacific Coast League named its 2003 all-star team Thursday, and for the 4,909 in attendance at Cashman Field, the selections may have looked like a fluke.

The five all-stars playing Thursday were a combined 1-for-14 in the Tucson Sidewinders' 3-1 win against the 51s. If it weren't for the superb pitching of 51s reliever Steve Colyer and a first-inning hit by Bubba Crosby, the selections would have been a total bust.

"Sometimes, you have those rough nights," said Crosby, who was 1-for-4 with three strikeouts. "Tonight was just one of them." Crosby and Colyer were elected to the team. Catcher Koyie Hill, as well as Tucson infielders Mike Bell and Chad Tracy were selected by PCL manager Rick Sweet.

"Any all-star team that you're named to is a tremendous honor," said 51s manager John Shoemaker. "For Crosby, Colyer and Hill to be named to the PCL all-star team is a big honor for them and for the organization."

Hill, who came up from Double-A May 5, is hitting .350 in Las Vegas after starting the season hitting .228 in his month in Jacksonville. He was a 2002 Southern League all-star in Double-A.

"It's an honor, but you kind of take in stride," Hill said. "It's a great opportunity to go represent the Dodgers and this team, but it's not what you play for. It's an honor, but it's an aside. It's not your agenda to start the season."

Colyer, who in 28 2/3 innings this season has a 0.65 ERA with 24 saves, thinks that while the all-star experience is nice, he'd much rather be at the major league level.

"The awards you get are great, but you get all the recognition from the big leagues. That's where you get your experience from -- learning from guys that have been doing this for 10 years, picking their brains."

Crosby, returning to Las Vegas for the first time since being sent down from the Dodgers last week, leads the PCL in batting with a .412 average. He agreed with Colyer, that learning in the big leagues is better than showcasing at the all-star game.

"It's an honor to be an all-star, but at the major league level, you should be learning. You should be sucking up as much information as you can," he said.

"But I'd rather be at the All-Star Game than be here for three days." The PCL All-Star will be in Memphis July 16 and will air on ESPN2.