51s winning despite turnover

With players shuffling in and out of Las Vegas at a rapid rate this season, the 51s have probably trotted out more lineups than the number in their nickname.

Despite dealing with 110 transactions, Las Vegas will enter the Triple-A All-Star break today with a winning record (46-44) for the first time in three seasons as the Toronto Blue Jays' top affiliate.

"We've made a lot of adjustments due to all the movement we've had, but it's real easy to lose continuity when you don't have the same guys all the time," 51s manager Marty Brown said. "It's kind of the name of the game in Triple A, but for here, we've had an abundance of moves.

"You just have to start over at times and regroup."

Brown said the steady presence of veteran utilityman Chris Woodward and pitcher Brad Mills -- who will start for the Pacific Coast League in Wednesday's Triple-A All-Star Game at Salt Lake City -- has been key to team chemistry.

"They've been very positive, with Woodward being here explaining to people how things are and Brad Mills being here for the whole year having such success," he said.

Mills and Woodward, who each had one stint with the Blue Jays early this season, are two of 11 Las Vegas players who have been promoted to Toronto.

The others are Mike McCoy, who has been called up five times; Eric Thames and Luis Perez, who each has been called up twice; and Scott Richmond, Casey Janssen, Jesse Litsch, Brett Cecil, Travis Snider and David Cooper.

"Our job is to get them ready or get them to the big leagues, and we feel very good about that," Brown said. "But, in some respects, it does take away from the team atmosphere."

Hitting has been the strength of the squad. The 51s are second in the PCL in batting (.307) and boast three of the league's top seven hitters in Cooper (.375), Brett Lawrie (.354) and Thames (.352).

Lawrie is on the disabled list with a broken left hand and Thames is with the Blue Jays.

Cooper also will represent the 51s in the All-Star Game. The first baseman leads the PCL in batting and doubles (35) and has eight home runs and a team-best 62 RBIs in 68 games in his first Triple-A season.

"He's a professional hitter. That's what he is," Brown said. "He's proven he can drive in runs."

Snider hit .333 in 49 games for Las Vegas before getting recalled by Toronto, and Adam Loewen is batting .311 with 13 homers and 61 RBIs.

"We've done a lot of good things offensively. That's our brightest spot," Brown said. "Our low spot, early on, was our bullpen not pitching in the zone as much and trying to do too much."

The 51s have blown 10 of 26 save opportunities and are near the bottom of the PCL in ERA (5.69).

They began their bipolar season with a 9-4 record, but ended April on a 10-game losing streak.

Las Vegas went 22-8 in May, winning eight straight games and 11 of 12 at one point to improve to 31-19. But it lost nine of its next 11 to dip to 33-28 and has continued to run hot and cold.

"What it all boils down to the rest of the second half of the season is starting pitching," Brown said. "If our starters go out and give us a chance to stay in the game, give us six or seven innings each outing, we've got a chance to play very well, finish the season strong and make a run at it."

Mills (7-7) has been the anchor of the staff. He's among the league leaders in ERA (3.97) and leads the 51s in strikeouts (99) and innings pitched (115 2/3).

"Brad Mills is just a competitor," Brown said. "He wants to be a big leaguer, he feels he deserves to be in the big leagues and he wants to show people. He's got a chip on his shoulder."

Sounds as if 51s media relations director Jim Gemma soon could be dealing with yet another transaction.

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