JuanP for 2B

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.

Thursday Wrap: Draining the TiVo

"You know...I'm starting to hate baseball."

GLENDALE, Calif. -- Good land-o-goshin!

I've got Mariners Report Daily, Royals Weekly and enough Red Sox Spring segments to make Roger Angell start longing for the NFL on Fox crew. But I press ahead...winning the benefit of tidbits like Riverdance-ing closer Jonathan Papelbon dressed in a see-thru shirt at a charity dance contest in Bumbledip, Fla.

On tap:

Dodgers v. Red Sox (ESPN-HD, Penny v. Wakefield)
White Sox v. Rangers (ComcastSportsChi. Haeger v.Padilla)
Yankees v. Twins (ESPN-HD, Kennedy v. Slowey)

Top 5:


1. Dodger Power/Seven-Run 9th: Game-winning Grand Slam from Dodger Jason Repko in garbage time against the Saux. This after a three-run shot from Lucas May in the same frame. Earlier, we saw an impressive Matt Kemp blast on an outside corner pitch from Mike Timlin.

2. At 41 and still in his prime? Tim Wakefield is proving that the knuckleball is truly the fountain of youth. He tied up more than a few big-league bats with that wicked googly. Kinda makes me wonder why we don't see more of this nasty pitch -- where has Steve Sparks gone? Want your kid in the NFL...teach 'em to long snap. Want 'em in MLB for 30 years? Have 'em pitch with no spin. (Although White Sox AAA knuckler Charlie Haeger got a bit touched up, watching three score on 5 hits in 3 innings of work today...but got a few "He gone"s for his efforts.)

3. The Cheetah! As we mentioned before, it's Spring for the umps, too. One thing that the 90 Percent baseball blog will offer you is top-flight umpire discussion. And I was lucky enough to have umpiring legend #4 Tim Tschida manning first to start the Dodgers game today. Not much more to say than he did swimmingly. Did you know...umps must rotate in Spring games, as Chester Cheetah was seen at 2nd base...executing that patented high-knee fist-pump to call the top end of a double-play.

4. Plus Free Use of the Clubhouse: Speaking of Papelbon, he's going to make $755K this year instead of the $450K range he made last year, thanks to the generosity of the Red Sox ownership. For the record, Mssr. Gagne signed a contract for $10 million with the Brewers in December, three days before the Mitchell Report was released. Sorry, Game Over. We'll always have 2004...

5. The New Hunter? Delmon Young, the Twins new hope in the outfield after Torii left for the Big A, c-r-u-s-h-e-d an Ian Kennedy hanger over the 408 foot center field fence against the Yanks in the top of the 2nd. They're crazy for him in St. Paul. (Local reference!) No bats where thrown at umps in his three ABs.


Honorable Mention: CWS big dude Jermaine Dye crashed into the right field wall of Tuscon Electric Park on a wind-driven fly ball. He appears to be fine, but took an awkward bump and fall. Left Fielder Brian Anderson made up for it by gunning down Babe-Ruth-of-the-Month Winner and former-Tiger Chris Shelton at home plate. "He gone" apparently also applies to such plays.