The time has come to find Juan Pierre a permanent spot in the Dodgers lineup while making sure that Andre Ethier AND Matt Kemp get their everyday at bats. Pierre, never known for his arm, won’t be missed in the Dodger outfield. Furthermore (and least importantly) the little speedster just looks like a second baseman.
Now the Dodgers currently have MLB veteran and clubhouse curmudgeon Jeff Kent manning the territory between first and second, but at what point do we move on from the 40-year old who is batting .188 on the season? Much of last year’s clubhouse tension seemed to begin with Kent who couldn’t get along with the young Dodgers. Well, with Russell Martin, Andre Ethier, James Loney and Matt Kemp the future of the Dodgers, why alienate them in any way for a guy that hasn’t gotten along with a single teammate since he went hunting in Houston?
Kent aside, Pierre’s ability to play everyday, steal bases and generally distract an opposing pitcher from his game plan is an invaluable asset to have in your lineup. Now these types of defensive switches are best made in Spring Training to work out the kinks before it counts, but it’s never too late to get a guy you gave $44 million to last Spring back into the everyday lineup. Especially a guy who scored 96 times last year, into an anemic offense.
So the question becomes, what to do with Kent? As I see it, there are three options:
1. Wait for inevitable DL stint and make the transaction
2. Trade him to a veteran team that needs a solid bat in the 7 or 8 hole (if Jeff Kent is your cleanup hitter, you have problems.
3. Move him to third until Andy LaRoche or Nomar can play, and keep him around as a solid bat off the bench.
The current situation with Pierre is disgraceful and reminiscent of a few years back when Dodgers GM Ned Coletti ruined Gold Glove Shortstop Cezar Izturis’ career by rendering him obsolete. Izturis deserved better (and I was happy to see him traded so that he could play every day again) and so does Pierre.
5 comments:
I bet you could get the Cubs to take Kent. They've been looking for a second-basemen who can hit since last August.
Brian Roberts was plan A, but I don't think that's going to to happen.
Ideally the 2B would also lead off, but I can't fix everything.
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Obvs you won't get much for Kent, but as you intimate this is pretty much an addition-by-subtraction scenario anyway.
I've wanted Kent off this team for some time, but Torre is strong enough to slow the original red-tush down a bit even if he has to stay.
can pierre play 2nd? why is he an outfielder anyway?
beware to anyteam that would want kent, however. his stats are OK, but he very well might hate baseball. can't tell.
Six teams in a 16-year career? What is the deal with this guy?
The Cleveland Indians are known to be one of the most tolerant and accomodating organizations (see Albert Belle, Manny Ramierez and Jose Mesa [accused but vindicated rapist]), and it couldn't abide Kent's shenanigans.
That, coupled with his disappearance during the '96 playoff run, sent him packing to San Fran faster than Mamma Cass in 1966.
was mama cass a clevelander? when i hear that name, all i think of is chris farley dressed as her in that one sketch.
satisfying.
Oh how we miss Farley.
Maybe if the Cubs don't take a swing at Kent in this scenario, we trade Kent to SNL for Darrel Hammond.
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