Bundy optimistic 51s will improve on poor first half

It has been said the true measure of a man is how he handles adversity. Lorenzo Bundy, manager of the struggling 51s, plans to use that measure with his players the rest of the season.

Las Vegas (39-51), tied for the fewest victories in the Pacific Coast League, will play the Salt Lake Bees, the Triple-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels, at 7:11 p.m. today at Cashman Field in its first game after the All-Star break.

"We'll see who gets after it when things aren't going so good," Bundy said. "When things are going good, it's easy to come to the ballpark. But when things aren't, you see who really wants to be there."

Bundy said the first half of the season was "very disappointing," though the 51s sent several prospects -- including James Loney, Matt Kemp and Tony Abreu -- to the parent Los Angeles Dodgers and two others -- Mitch Jones and Matt White -- to Japan's professional league.

Las Vegas has only a handful of players remaining from its Opening Day roster.

"We've had so many roster changes, it's tough," Bundy said. "We've had so many opportunities to win ballgames, and we let so many of those games get away, that's the frustrating part of it."

Pitching has been the primary problem for the 51s, who have the league's highest ERA (5.45) and have issued the most walks (366).

Surprisingly, Las Vegas is third in the league in strikeouts (663).

"That shows you we have the stuff to compete and get hitters out, but somewhere along the line there's a lack of concentration and focus," Bundy said. "For the most part, it's a fear of having contact made, and when you try to avoid contact you get yourself in trouble."

Bundy said there still is time to turn the season around, though the 51s trail first-place Sacramento by 12 1/2 games in the Pacific South Division with 54 games left.

"The big thing about this game is improvement, and the mistakes (the players) made in April, May and June, they shouldn't be making those mistakes in July and August," he said. "That's going to be the focus here the last six weeks of the season."

"A lot of their careers are on the line right now, and they need to step up and show people they can play and they can produce."

• NOTE -- Outfielder Delwyn Young was the only Las Vegas player picked to play in Wednesday's Triple-A All-Star Game in Albuquerque, N.M.

Young went 0-for-3 but made a leaping grab in left field to rob Buffalo's Luis Rivas of a home run in the sixth inning of the PCL's 7-5 loss to the International League.

Young leads the league in doubles (35) and is tied for first in runs (68). He also is second in hits (112), fourth in batting (.336) and sixth in RBIs (68).