Devey takes ride on the fast track
Second promotion of season lands left-hander in Las Vegas
July 16, 2001
By Victoria Sun
<victoria@lasvegassun.com>
LAS VEGAS SUN
 |
| ETHAN MILLER
/ LAS VEGAS SUN |
| 51s STARTER Phil
Devey posted impressive numbers at double-A Jacksonville
before being promoted to Las Vegas.
| |
Being
promoted to a higher level just once during the minor league
baseball season is progress.
Being called up twice is phenomenal -- which makes Phil Devey's
rapid climb to triple-A a rarity.
In his first triple-A start, Devey surrendered two runs, walked
four and struck out one batter during the 51s' 7-3 loss to
Sacramento on Sunday night at Cashman Field.
"My two-seamer was working well tonight, but there are still a
lot of things I need to improve on for the next start," Devey said
of his 5 1/3 innings of work. "I was pitching behind in the count a
lot of times and that wasn't my game plan coming here."
Devey left the game with the River Cats holding a 2-1 lead and
ended up taking the loss.
Devey, a 24-year-old lefty, played three years at Southwestern
Louisiana (now called Louisiana-Lafayette) and was taken by the
Dodgers in the fifth round of the 1999 first-year player draft.
Devey started this season in Class A, then got sent up to the
Dodgers' double-A team in Jacksonville before arriving in Las Vegas
on Saturday in time to watch the 51s' victory over the River Cats.
At Jacksonville he posted a 6-0 record with a 2.53 ERA in 11 starts.
|
Sacramento 7, 51s 3
The 51s' bullpen struggled in a 7-3 loss to Sacramento
Sunday night before an announced crowd of 2,747 at Cashman
Field. Pedro Feliciano relieved Phil Devey in the sixth inning
with runners on second and third. He allowed none of Devey's
runners to score, but gave up three runs on no hits in the
seventh inning. Chad Ricketts surrendered two runs in the
ninth inning despite striking out six batters.
|
"I thought Devey did an outstanding job," 51s manager Rick
Sofield said. "I was impressed. He is a tough kid. He's a very smart
kid.
Devey grew up in Canada, where hockey is the No. 1 sport.
Naturally, he and his friends started playing hockey at an early
age, giving little thought to baseball or anything else. Devey
deviated from his hockey-only diet when he was about 12.
"None of my friends played baseball," he remembered. "From
watching movies and television and stuff, there was something about
it I enjoyed.
"One of the videos I used to watch was an instructional video by
(former major leaguer) Rick Honeycutt. My dad used to make me watch
that all the time. I hated watching it because it was so boring, I
wanted to go play.
"But now, Rick Honeycutt is one of our pitching coaches. When I
met him, I couldn't believe it. Now I get to work with him in
person."
He hopes one day it will pay big dividends in the form of a big
league promotion.
"From start to start, it's just a learning experience," Devey
said. "I'm just learning as I go. I'm happy to be where I'm at, but
I know there is still a ways to go.
"Playing with these guys helps me become more mature and
professional and learn more about the game. I'm going to try to get
as much knowledge as I can out of every pitcher on the staff."
BROWN'S DOWN: The right elbow injury incurred by Dodgers
ace Kevin Brown during the team's 4-2 victory over Pittsburgh at PNC
Park Sunday may affect the 51s.
"That's what we're here for, to support them," Sofield said. "We
could easily lose a guy. I don't know who they'll put in the
rotation.
"We could very well be trying to make a trade. I'm assuming
somebody is going to be put in that rotation out of the bullpen
which could take somebody out of our team."
INJURY UPDATE: Pitchers Matt Whisenant and Kris Foster
have started a throwing program. Sofield expects the pair to be off
of the disabled list in about 10 days. Catcher Angel Pena, also on
the disabled list for a sprained left ankle, is day-to-day, but
Sofield anticipates his return in a week.
MOVIN' ON UP: 51s right-handed pitcher Eric Gagne was
recalled by the Los Angeles Dodgers. Gagne was 1-4 with a 5.42 ERA
for the Dodgers before being sent to the 51s on June 14. He was 3-0
with a 1.52 ERA in four starts for the 51s. Gagne was expected to
start the Dodgers' 4:05 p.m. game against Pittsburgh today against
left-hander Joe Biemel (4-4, 4.65). With his departure the 51s are
down to 10 active pitchers.
NEXT UP: The 51s will begin their four-game series
against Oklahoma at Cashman Field tonight at 7:05. Las Vegas
right-hander Ben Simon (2-1, 4.74) is scheduled to oppose
right-hander Joaquin Benoit (5-4, 4.05).
