How discouraging must it be for National League teams to witness what the Dodgers are doing without Manny Ramirez in the lineup? You see a guy with Hall of Fame credentials sit for nearly two months, replaced by a speedy singles hitter and think maybe — just maybe — you’ve got a chance to gain some ground.
Then Juan Pierre goes out and forgets he’s not very good. No, he isn’t hitting like Ramirez — few people do — but he’s producing at a level (.404/.469/.544) that nobody could have anticipated. Granted, it’s a small sample, but Pierre has already covered more than one-third of Manny’s Surprise Vacation.
Even if he reverts to career norms tomorrow, Pierre has done enough damage to help keep opponents at bay. He is hitting like a legitimate big-league left fielder. That isn’t supposed to happen for any extended period of time, and when it does, it creates problems. What should be a weakness for the Dodgers isn’t.
One day you look up and realize that they are dominating with Pierre in the lineup. Then you remember that he’s just a temporary fix and that eventually Ramirez will return.
That can’t be a comfortable thought. I’m just sayin’.
So, Ramirez comes back and...what to do with Pierre? Does he have trade value now? Sure, he's got a few years of data showing that he's a pedestrian outfielder, but when you've been playing someone like DeWayne Wise in the leadoff spot, Pierre really doesn't look so bad...
Or does Ned Colletti suddenly think that signing Pierre was a stroke of genius, and continue paying him for the duration of the deal?
I think you have to give the man credit for being ready when the opportunity presented itself. After playing every day for years and suddenly finding themselves playing once a week, I would imagine a lot of players wouldn't have themselves in proper game condition (mentally or physically). Pierre dialed it up to 11 from the first day of the suspension.
Manny's suspension could end up being the best thing that ever happened to the Dodgers: save a few million on Manny, get a rested Manny for the playoffs, maybe find a team willing to take Pierre after his hot streak, still win the division going away.
I would think that Pierre's contract is so bad that hitting well for a month won't be enough. I mean, teams aren't even biting on Peavy's contract and the Padres were basically giving him away to the White Sox.
Pierre's contract renders him untradeable. If you're a Dodger fan, you almost want him to start cooling off right before Manny comes back so he doesn't cut in to Ethier's or Kemp's playing time. In particular, Dodgers don't seem to appreciate Kemp for some odd reason (batting 7th? really?) and I could see him getting relegated to some sort of platoon with Pierre. That is your worst case scenario, Dodger fans.
Other readers have rated this comment below the viewing threshold. Click here to view anyway.
BP loves to bash Juan Pierre. The guy works hard, gets on base, steals bases, and scores runs. Is he better than Matt Kemp or Andre Ethier? Probably not, but he is going off right now and is a major contributor to his team's success, just like Orlando Hudson. Home/away split for Hudson aside, "O-dog" is a gamer as well. He gets on base, plays solid defense, and helps his team win games. When Pierre cools off, the bashing can commence. For now, step off.
BP doesn't bash Pierre. It bashes GMs and managers who lavish money and playing time on Pierre out of all proportion to his value.
BP also quite rightly bashes people who think Pierre "gets on base," believe scoring runs isn't a team-dependent stat, think it's OK to simply disregard half a player's stats when convenient, and can't figure out Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier are better player than Juan Pierre because of an 83 AB hot streak.
Pierre "gets on base"? His OBP the last four years: .326, .330, .331, .327. Getting singles-happy for 114 AB doesn't change the fact that he's not very good.
Yeah, I was thinking something similar to what some posters above pointed out. Pierre's fluke hot streak is actually a cloud dressed in a silver lining for the Dodgers because it will cause:
- the Dodgers to cut into the playing time of Kemp and Ethier when Ramirez is back and
- BobbleNed Colletti, excited that his boondoggle has been vindicated, to go out this offseason and scour the free agent sheets for an even emptier .300 bat than his previous "coups": Pierre, Garciaparra, Mueller and the like.
Arguable whether this temporary help in the standings will be worth that downside.
It's not like Pierre didn't have some value... Oh wait. But seriously, if he was a million a year not eleven he would hardly be criticized this much. It's not his fault for taking the money, what would've you done?
As I witnessed first hand out here in the Mile High City on Wednesday - after Juan bats leadoff for the first time of the game with no one on that's about the ONLY time he doesn't have runners on base when he steps up to hit singles. Blame the 6-7-8 hitters of the Dodgers for getting on-base in front of the guy. I once heard that Willie Mays called Pierre an "incredible player" - true story I heard from a radio guy with the Brewers back in the day - now look how Willie is being vindicated.
Pierre is certainly sizzling hot and playing over his head but as previously written, you have to guy the credit for being ready to step in. He's also walking at a much higher rate with 11 BB in about 90 ABs. Last year, he had 22 BB in 375 ABs and 2007 33 BB in 668 ABs. Sure his BABIP is at a level that cannot be maintained...I won't deny that but I think the guy deserves some credit.
I wouldn't automatically say Torre won't do the right thing when manny comes back. Sure it makes sense that Pierre gets a little more playing time but when he cools down, i think Torre will put him back on the bench. After all, he sat Pierre when Manny came last year (80 Aug/Sept ABs) and the first part of this year.
20 comments have been left for this post.
So, Ramirez comes back and...what to do with Pierre? Does he have trade value now? Sure, he's got a few years of data showing that he's a pedestrian outfielder, but when you've been playing someone like DeWayne Wise in the leadoff spot, Pierre really doesn't look so bad...
Or does Ned Colletti suddenly think that signing Pierre was a stroke of genius, and continue paying him for the duration of the deal?