Matt Kemp's Suspension Reduced for Dodgers

The suspension handed down to Dodgers outfielder Matt Kemp has been reduced from four games to two, for his part in inciting a brawl against the Rockies last week. No decision has been reached on Rockies catcher Yorvit Torrealba's three-game suspension for his role in the fight, but presumably it will be reduced to one or two games.

Kemp will serve his suspension today and tomorrow, during which time third base coaches and baserunners for the Padres and Tigers will get to enjoy Juan Pierre's terrible arm in center field.

The Dodgers face Padres right-handed ace Jake Peavy today so its possible the right-hitting Kemp would not have played anyway. In two games against Peavy this year, Kemp has not been in the starting lineup, but that was before Andruw Jones' injury left Pierre as the backup center fielder.

Andruw Jones' Slow Start Sows Discontent

It's hardly what you would call a shrill crescendo, but the murmur of discontent over Andruw Jones and the general state of the Dodgers outfield is flying all the warning flags of a gathering storm.

Jones so far in the young season cannot even hit his weight, with Fox Sports Radio's Ben Maller the most recent to join the chorus of boo-birds over Jones' poor performance after signing a two-year contract for more than $18 million a year.

More than just the fact that Jones is not hitting, to some observers it seems he has gained so much weight and lost so much speed that he no longer can field with the same effectiveness that made him a Gold Glover for the Braves.

"He looks terrible," intones Maller, wondering whether Jones will ever reach the 30-homer threshold again, let alone 40. Maller sees Jones as being too heavy, too slow and too old, though Jones has insisted he is the same weight as when he led the league with 51 homers a scant three seasons ago.

Maller is hardly alone in the criticism.

"He doesn't look like the same player to me," remarked Padres broadcaster Jerry Coleman after watching Jones come up short in an attempt to run down a deep fly in a recent game in San Diego.

If Jones .115 batting average were attributable to merely a slow start that would be one thing. But this is nothing new, Jones having hit just .214 for the spring and .222 all last year.

The player Jones usurped in center field, Juan Pierre, is doing even worse at .067, but at least he has an excuse as an everyday player who has been cruelly benched by manager Joe Torre, then pulled in and out of the lineup from day to day. It's hardly a circumstance in which Pierre can be expected to find his rhythm.

So far Pierre and fellow outfielders Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier have borne the punishment for Jones' shortcomings, as Jones is being given every opportunity to play everyday at the expense of the others. How much longer this continues only Torre can tell, but bets are good that unless Jones finds himself in a week or two, he will be permitted to stink up Chavez Ravine for months to come.

Juan Pierre's Consecutive Streak at Risk

Dodgers outfielder Juan Pierre's streak of 443 consecutive games -- tops among active players -- unexpectedly appears at risk as manager Joe Torre threatens to make good on the unthinkable promise he made last month to upstart youngster Andre Ethier -- that Ethier can play his way into the starting left field job this spring.


Ethier -- who has hit .294 with 26 home runs in limited play over the past two seasons -- leads the Dodgers with a torrid .345 mark and five homers this spring -- compared to a mere .200 average for Pierre. Matt Kemp, who is virtually assured of starting in right field, is hitting .305 with three homers.

What once had been behind-the-scenes grumbling about Pierre's $44 million, five-year contract has turned to open hostility as a cry goes out from fandom that Ethier must be awarded the job.

Speculation reached a fever pitch as Torre benched Pierre for a game last week, looked him over as a pinch hitter, then called him in for a closed-door meeting from which Pierre emerged with his head hanging.

Unless the front office comes to his rescue, expect Pierre to receive the news Monday that he has become one of the highest paid reserves in baseball. Though Pierre still figures to receive significant playing time throughout the season, if Torre benches him it would mark a considerable comedown for the man who led the league with 668 at-bats in 2003, 678 in 2004 and 699 in 2006.