Out with the young, in with the veterans

The youth movement is under way for the Los Angeles Dodgers, who have been sent a seemingly endless array of prospects from the 51s the past few seasons.

Former 51s standouts Russell Martin, Chad Billingsley, James Loney, Andre Ethier and Matt Kemp have earned starting spots with the Dodgers, with former Las Vegas players Delwyn Young and Chin-lung Hu in reserve roles and Tony Abreu and Andy LaRoche on the disabled list for Los Angeles.

Meanwhile, down on the farm, it's out with the new and in with the old this season as the 51s field a lineup loaded with veterans.

Las Vegas, which opens its 26th Pacific Coast League season at 7:05 p.m. today at Cashman Field against the Salt Lake Bees, features 16 players age 28 or older and 10 players 30 or older.

"You don't see as many prospects here now because they're all up there (in Los Angeles), and hopefully they'll stay up there," second-year 51s manager Lorenzo Bundy said. "Experience-wise, we've got a lot of guys with a lot of big league time. A lot of these guys are insurance policies for the major league club."

Chan Ho Park, 34, who has played in parts of 14 major league seasons, including his first eight with the Dodgers, is scheduled to start tonight's opener for Las Vegas.

He'll be followed in the rotation by fellow journeyman pitcher Jason Johnson, 34, who played in parts of 10 seasons in the majors before pitching in Japan last year.

Left-handed reliever Mike Myers, 38, who pitched for the New York Yankees and Chicago White Sox last season, his 13th in the majors, will serve as the elder statesman of the squad as he tries to earn a spot in Los Angeles.

"I planned on being with the Dodgers, but I still have a passion to play. I love this game," said Myers, who contemplated retirement before joining the 51s. "When I'm down here, I'll try to help some of the younger guys out and just have a good time."

Jason Repko, 27, who missed all of last season with Los Angeles with a torn hamstring, was the odd man out in a crowded Dodgers outfield this season and is intent on proving himself again in Las Vegas.

"Hopefully, I can put up some good numbers and get myself back to where I feel I can be," said Repko, who had a strong spring and has proclaimed himself "100 percent" healthy. "All I can do is wait for my chance."

Las Vegas returns several players from last year's 67-77 squad, including John Lindsey, 31, a designated hitter/first baseman who batted .333 with 88 RBIs in 77 games. He finished the season on a 22-game hitting streak.

Returnees Jonathan Meloan, Eric Stults and Miguel Pinango, who led Las Vegas with 10 victories last season, will round out the pitching rotation.

The 23-year-old Meloan, making the transition from reliever to starter this season, is one of the Dodgers' top pitching prospects, along with Stults, Greg Miller and reliever Justin Orenduff.

The team's top prospect among position players is Xavier Paul, 23, who hit .291 in 118 games at Double-A Jacksonville last season, with 11 homers, 50 RBIs and 17 steals. The 6-foot, 200-pounder will start in center field for the 51s.

"For a little man, he's got some power. He can run a little bit, and he has a very good throwing arm," said Bundy, who will be joined this season by new hitting coach John Moses and new pitching coach Jim Slaton.

Bundy hopes his experienced ballclub can help Las Vegas end its string of four straight losing seasons.

"We're looking at a much more experienced group of players, so we may not see those young mistakes we've made," Bundy said. "The games should be a lot cleaner because these guys know how to play. Whether that translates into Ws, we'll have to see."

* NOTE -- All 51s games will be broadcast on KBAD-AM (920), with Russ Langer providing the play-by-play.