These Three Say Strike Better Than Minors

The Dodgers’ most recent minor league call-ups are caught in the middle of baseball’s labor dispute.

Mike Kinkade, Jolbert Cabrera and Guillermo Mota face the prospect of being shut out by a major league players’ strike at the same time they could be earning a minor league salary while helping the Las Vegas 51s close out their record-breaking season and begin the Pacific Coast League playoffs.

But they’d rather be on strike than in Las Vegas.

“The whole goal of the minor leagues is to get to the big leagues,� said Kinkade, who batted .341 with 11 home runs and 50 runs batted in for Las Vegas in 74 games. “It just happens to be a negotiation year and that’s what happens. It was real good for us winning all those games in Vegas, and I’m glad they continued doing it, but the whole goal is to get to the big leagues.�

Las Vegas, which clinched the Southern Division title on Aug. 20, equaled a franchise record for wins in a season with its 83rd victory Wednesday night. The 51s begin the playoffs Tuesday against Edmonton.

“It would be fun to be there for the playoffs and everything, but this is the big leagues and I want this opportunity,� said Mota, who was 1-3 with a save and a 2.95 earned-run average in 20 appearances for the 51s.

Cabrera, who joined the Dodgers in a July 22 trade with Cleveland before being shipped to Las Vegas, hit .343 with two home runs and scored 22 runs in 27 games with the 51s. He never expected to be in the minor leagues and has no real allegiance to the Dodgers’ triple-A affiliate.

“I had a great time when I was in Vegas, but my mind was here,� he said.

Said Kinkade: “Everybody down there, even though they’re in the playoffs, wants to be here, even though we may go on strike. I’m just real glad I’m here and hopefully everything works out.�

ON DECK

Opponent--Houston Astros, three games.

Site--Minute Maid Park.

Tonight--5 PDT.

TV--Fox Sports Net 2 today, Channel 13 Saturday and Sunday.

Radio--KXTA (1150), KWKW (1330).

Records--Dodgers 77-56, Astros 71-62.

Record vs. Astros (2001)--4-2.

TONIGHT

DODGERS’

ANDY ASHBY

(9-9, 3.44 ERA)

vs.

ASTROS’

WADE MILLER

(11-3, 3.81 ERA)

Update--Ashby has faced Houston 20 times in his 11-year major league career, going 8-7 with one save and a 4.28 ERA. At the former Enron Field, though, his stock is shot with a record of 0-2 and an 8.59 ERA in three appearances.

Saturday, 5 p.m. PDT--Omar Daal (10-6, 3.62 ERA) vs. Kirk Saarloos (6-3, 5.72 ERA).

Sunday, 11:30 a.m. PDT--Hideo Nomo (12-6, 3.41 ERA) vs. Carlos Hernandez (6-4, 4.84 ERA).