LAS VEGAS: The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) and the Las Vegas 51s professional baseball team of the Pacific Coast League (PCL), Triple-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays, announced today the schedule for the 2011 Big League Weekend at Cashman Field.
The Chicago Cubs will make their seventh straight appearance to Las Vegas for two games against the Cincinnati Reds on Saturday, March 12 and the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday, March 13 at Cashman Field. The two-day event will feature Noon starts and game times are subject to change due to television. Big League Weekend ticket packages are available NOW by calling the 51s office at (702) 798-7825.
The Cubs have recorded 12 straight sellouts over the past six seasons (2005-10) for their annual Big League Weekend visits to Cashman Field.
"We are excited to continue our tradition of hosting Major League Baseball with the return of Big League Weekend this spring," said Rossi Ralenkotter, President/CEO of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. "Once again, we will have the ever-popular Chicago Cubs and their tremendous fan base, as well as the storied franchises of the Cincinnati Reds and the Los Angeles Dodgers. It makes for a great weekend of baseball."
The Cubs, under managers Lou Piniella and Mike Quade, compiled a 75-87 record (.463) in 2010 and finished in fifth place in the National League Central Division, 16 games behind the first-place Cincinnati Reds. Quade, former manager of the Triple-A Iowa Cubs, was named the Cubs' skipper for the 2011 season on Oct. 19, 2010. He guided the Cubs to a 24-13 record over the final six weeks of the season.
The nucleus of the Cubs offense will return in 2011. All-Star outfielder Marlon Byrd appeared in a team-high 152 games and batted .293 (170-for-580) with 39 doubles, 12 home runs and 66 RBI. Third baseman Aramis Ramirez appeared in 124 games and batted .241 (112-for-465) and led the team in home runs (25) and RBI (83). Outfielder Alfonso Soriano appeared in 147 games and batted .258 (128-for-496) with a team-high 40 doubles and 24 home runs and 79 RBI. Catcher Geovanny Soto, the 2007 PCL MVP, appeared in 105 games and batted .280 (90-for-322) with 19 doubles, 17 home runs and 53 RBI. Second baseman Blake DeWitt, member of the 51s in 2008, appeared in a combined total of 135 games with the Dodgers/Cubs and batted .261 (115-for-44) with 24 doubles and 52 RBI.
Right-hander Ryan Dempster led the Cubs with a 15-12 record and a 3.85 ERA. He was the team leader in starts (34), innings pitched (215.1) and strikeouts (208). Right-hander Carlos Zambrano appeared in 36 games and compiled an 11-6 record with a 3.33 ERA in 129.2 innings pitched. Right-hander Carlos Marmol appeared in 77 games and led the team with 38 saves and struck out 138 batters, allowed 40 hits in 77.2 innings pitched.
"We are excited to announce that the Cubs will return to Las Vegas for the seventh straight season," 51s General Manager Don Logan said. "The Chicago fans, both locally and the tourists that visit during this event, provide a great atmosphere in the ballpark. The Reds also have a great baseball tradition and enjoyed an outstanding season under manager Dusty Baker in 2010. Joey Votto is one of the premier players in baseball and he was well deserving of the N.L. MVP award.
"The Dodgers have a tremendous following in Southern Nevada and the nucleus of their team played for the 51s before excelling on the Major League level."
The Cincinnati Reds, under manager Dusty Baker, compiled a 91-71 record (.562) in 2010 and captured the National League Central Division. The Reds returned to the playoffs for the first time since the 1995 season. The Reds lost to Philadelphia 3-games-to-0 in the N.L.D.S.
Labels: baseball, cubs, dodgers, Las Vegas 51's Baseball Cashman Field 51's big, league weekend, reds
