Losses mount, but 51s contending

Nick Christensen

Monday, June 20, 2005 | 9:14 a.m.

It says a lot about the Pacific Coast League that the Las Vegas 51s can be 30-39, just off one of the longest losing streaks in the 102-year history of the PCL, and still only be nine games behind the league's best teams.

Nobody's running away with their division just yet, and nobody is sinking into too deep of a hole. Even the 51s, who lost to Tacoma 8-6 Sunday at Cashman Field, are only seven games back in their division despite losing 17 of their past 20 games.

"There are a lot of teams just like us," 51s manager Jerry Royster said. "We saw when we went into Sacramento, they just happened to get more runs than us because they weren't in very good shape either. But they had someone at the end of the game. The guys we've been using at the end of the game, they're all gone."

Bullpen depletion has been one of a variety of personnel problems plaguing the 51s lately. The bullpen right now is limited to six players who have combined for five saves and a 3-9 record. In 120 2/3 innings, the six bullpen pitchers have a combined 7.91 ERA.

"That's not our bullpen. We wouldn't break camp like that," Royster said. "I'm not giving them an excuse because I expect them to step up. Their job is to get better and become major leaguers also. We're putting them in positions we would not have put them in before."

The 51s have been outscored 92-53 in the eight and ninth innings this season.

Meanwhile, Royster is still searching for a run-producer in a lineup that has been lacking in RBIs.

With Jason Repko, Mike Edwards and Mike Rose -- all players expected to spend a good deal of time in Las Vegas this season -- all subbing for injured Dodgers in the big leagues, the 51s are making due with players who don't usually excel in bringing home runners.

Norihiro Nakamura has been slumping. Chin-Feng Chen and Willy Aybar have been injured, and Dioner Navarro, who has been on a recent surge, will go on the disabled list today with a knee injury. Aybar will come off a six-day stint on the DL today but hasn't had a hit since June 7. Chen is still recovering from being hit in the wrist by a pitch in May.

So even with a 12-game losing streak just behind them and the slump continuing Sunday, Royster isn't too worried. These aren't ideal conditions for a team to be successful, and he thinks the individual effort is there.

"In the meantime we should still be contending to win games just like today," Royster said. "It's tough right now. We have a makeshift bullpen. We've got to figure out what we can do to give them the ball and give them a chance to go out there and do their thing. We haven't even talked about effort. That I know I'm going to get, but right now it's just tough on them."

Tonight, the 51s will have a little help. Dodgers left hander Odalis Perez will make his second rehabilitation appearance with the 51s in the series finale with Tacoma, temporarily turning the night's scheduled starter -- likely Heath Totten -- into a long reliever.

Royster said he knows there's a light at the end of the tunnel.

"You hope. You wait," he said. "A lot of teams are doing that. That's why we're only seven games out and we've won one of 14 games."