51s SEASON REVIEW: Pitching improves, keys breakthrough

We've all heard the baseball adage "A walk is as good as a hit."

That's not entirely true, with a walk not being as valuable as a double, triple or home run - but you get the point.

Handing out free passes to first base is a pet peeve of 51s pitching coach Bob Stanley, whose staff led the Pacific Coast League in fewest walks allowed this season with 437 - Las Vegas' lowest total since 2003 and third-lowest in its 30-year franchise history.

Despite making their home at hitter-friendly Cashman Field, the 51s also tied for fifth in the league in ERA at 4.59 - their lowest in 10 years and second-lowest in 20.

"We had some quality guys who did a good job for us. They didn't let the ballpark bother them. They pitched their game, and it worked out pretty good," Stanley, 57, said. "It comes down to walks, and we did a good job of that."

The 51s did a good job of just about everything this season, tying with Albuquerque for the PCL lead in batting (.298 average), playing solid defense and promoting 20 players to the parent Toronto Blue Jays en route to a 79-64 record - their best since 2002 and fourth-best in franchise history.

About the only thing they didn't do was make the playoffs. The Sacramento River Cats (PCL-leading 86-58), Triple-A affiliate of the Oakland Athletics, won the Pacific South Division title for a record sixth straight season and 11th time in 13 years.

"The affiliation with Sacramento is very important to (Oakland general manager) Billy Beane and the A's," 51s manager Marty Brown said. "They go out and spend top dollar on free agents, and their scouting department has done a good job getting them starting pitching. It's been kind of a priority."

The River Cats will host Pacific North Division champion Reno (81-63) today in the opener of their best-of-5 first-round series. American North champ Omaha (83-61) will host American South champ Albuquerque (80-64) in the other series.

Las Vegas, which went 73-49 following a 6-15 start, was a half-game back of Sacramento on July 24 before losing nine of 14 and the bulk of its batting order.

Outfielders Travis Snider and Eric Thames were dealt by Toronto to the Pirates and Mariners, respectively, at the July 31 trade deadline.

First baseman David Cooper was recalled by the Blue Jays on July 30, outfielder Moises Sierra was summoned July 31, and slick-fielding shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria went up Aug. 4.

They joined speedy center fielder Anthony Gose - Toronto's No. 2 prospect who was promoted July 17 - and utility man Yan Gomes, who went up July 20.

Las Vegas also lost catcher Travis d'Arnaud, the Blue Jays' top prospect, to a season-ending knee injury June 25, when he tore his posterior cruciate ligament in the midst of a Most Valuable Player-caliber season.

"If we could've kept that core group of players together for a full season - it's unfortunate the way Triple A works sometimes - I don't believe we would be in second place," Brown said. "We had a time with our team where we were offensively, by far, the best team in the league."

Gose, Hechavarria and Sierra were the only three players to appear in at least 100 games for the 51s. Gose led the team in runs (87) and stolen bases (34), Hechavarria hit .312 and tied for the team lead in RBIs (63) with Sierra, who led the way in home runs with 17.

Closer Chad Beck - who, along with Gose, was recalled Tuesday by Toronto - stood out in a solid bullpen, leading Las Vegas in ERA (1.31) and saves (18). Starters Sean O'Sullivan (9-3, 2.72) and Shawn Hill (9-2, 4.52) stabilized the pitching staff down the stretch.

"Bob did a great job with the pitching staff," Brown said. "He got the most out of what we had, and that's all you can look at at the end of the season."

At the gate, the 51s surpassed 300,000 in home attendance for the 30th straight season, averaging 4,388 fans per game for a total of 311,516.

Contact reporter Todd Dewey at tdewey@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0354.