Yawn...just another Ethier HR.

Meanwhile, our "everyday" LF is hitting a cool .195 as we speak.

Update: Make that .190

Ethier with 3 hits today pushes him up to .308 (not bad for a 4th OF).

And Mr. Everyday is now at .186

ETHIER/JONES/KEMP

ETHIER/JONES/KEMP

ETHIER/JONES/KEMP

ETHIER/JONES/KEMP

ETHIER/JONES/KEMP

Tony- Colletti has said the best 3 outfielders will get to play. Setting your own opinion aside, if Pierre starts in LF Torre/Colletti must be asked how they feel he has outperformed Ethier. No more defending Pierre in a vaccuum. Please get them to explain why Ethier has not earned a starting job. Thanks!

I hate to add to this, but almost all the dodger articles on every newspaper have been focusing on how Pierre is a great left fielder and can do a lot of things with his speed. When you read the articles its about how good Pierre is , how Torre loves speed, how hard Pierre works. Im not taking nothing away from Pierre he seems like a great player and a hard worker.
But out of all the articles i have read nobody has asked Torre or Bowa or Coletti, how Ethieer has done. What he can bring into the team. He is having a great spring and nobody has written nothing. It has been about China, about Kershaw(thats understandable), and Dewitt.
I wouldn't say nothing if Pierre was blwoing Ethier outta the water but he isn't So sometime son could we read Andre's side of things? Can somebody ask a dodger coach if he has done anything to prove he shouldn't be a starting outfielder?
I understand that since he is being paid the money and Ethier isn't odds are against him. Plus Torre wants to have more of a speed game because we are a team with very little power. So how does it help to take out one of our few power sources.
Also if we do take out Pierre wouldn't we get enough speed from Martin & Kemp at the top of the lineup?

Thanks Tony for all your posts. It has made the spring go by quick.

tony, use your power for good instead of evil. Ethier!

This just in off the sports wire: Juan Pierre bites.

One. Trick. Pony.

I pray Colletti is a man of his word because the best three outfielders are Ethier, Jones and Kemp. I wouldn't even say that Pierre is better than Pinball (Repko) or Lombard at this point. Matter of fact, I can't any reason, other than his salary, that keeps Slappy on the roster.

If Torre does start Slappy on opening day, the honeymoon will be over and the resultant kvetching will make the Griddlefest seem tame. Simply said, Ethier has won the left field job. The fans know it, Colletti would seem to know it and even the tools at ESPN know it. Now, it is up to Torre to make it so.

Hey Tony:
I'm the guy that introduced himself to you and Ned outside the offices n Vero last week and commended you both on what you were doing. I continue to feel you're both doing a great job, and am confident that the starting lineup if tomorrow were opening day would see JP on the bench and Ethier in left. As far as I can see, he's managed to play himself out of a starting job this spring. The real question is: How can you hold back Lombard?

Before anyone gets excited about George Lombard look at the following:

http://www.baseball-reference.com/l/lombage01.shtml

Let's not forget Larry Bigbie and Wilson Valdez in ST last year.

I agree that Ethier should be the starting leftfielder, but not because of his superior ST stats compared to Pierre. I believe that his stronger arm, higher OBP, and superior power should make him the choice to start.

If Ethier is the superior player, then I believe that he will win the job in the long run. Will he be in the lineup on opening day? Maybe, maybe not. But in the long run, if Torre comes to the conclusion that Ethier is his best choice in leftfield, then that's who will play. With the Ynakees last year, Torre did not hesitate the bench the higher paid Johnny Damon in favor of Melky Cabrera.

What I hope not to see is a Kemp/Ethier platoon in rightfield. Last year Gonzo took playing time away from both Ethier and Kemp. I believe that given a chance to play everyday, we might see a breakout year from Kemp. I believe the same could occur for Ethier if he also plays everyday.

I also do not agree with the comment made above that the Dodgers are a team with very little power. Yes, this team has shown very little power in the past. However, I believe that with the addition of Andruw Jones, and the growing maturity and experience of Matt Kemp, James Loney, Russell Martin, and Andre Ethier (if he plays), and the return of a healthy Rafael Furcal, the Dodgers will exhibit considerably more power than last year. Nomar/LaRoche (assuming the latter recovers) could also provide some additional power at 3B compared to 2007.